Tag Archive for: Maplewood

MAPLEWOOD RUNS THE SHOW AT NAC CHAMPIONSHIPS

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ORWELL OH-  Maplewood’s girls track squad left no doubt who runs the NAC this year, storming to the team title with 147 points and flexing across just about every event.

The Rockets were loaded with individual firepower and backed it up with some gutsy relay work. Morgan Himes brought the heat in the hurdles, sweeping the 200 and 300. Torri Shipman blazed the 400, Reagan Mahan locked down the 800, and Mackenzie Edgar pulled off a distance double in the 1600 and 3200. Harley Agardi kept the momentum rolling in the 100 hurdles.

And when it came to the relays, Maplewood made it look easy. The 4×400 squad of Mahan, Shipman, Edgar, and Himes ran it clean to the title. The 4×800 crew—Edgar, Ava Liptak, Anna Cook, and Mahan—handled business to grab more big points.

Maplewood wasn’t just a one-trick pony either. The sprints and field events chipped in, with Olivia Morris, Anna Cook, Elyse Pinkerton, and Emily McDowell holding it down in the 4×100, while Morris, Cook, Ava Calvert, and Molly Blose kept the 4×200 rolling. In the ring, Wriley Boyd and Joanne Postlethwaite brought the power in shot and disc to stack even more points.

Grand Valley (100), Badger (88), Lordstown (79), and PV (67) rounded out the top five, but this one belonged to Maplewood from the jump. They showed up deep, fast, and ready to run through the NAC.

THAT’S CHECKMATE

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CORTLAMD OH- Maplewood High School’s Claire Urchek keeps piling up the accolades. After being named YSN’s Basketball Freshman of the Year, Urchek has seamlessly brought her competitive edge to varsity softball, where she’s quickly become a pivotal player—while maintaining straight A’s in the classroom.

In a recent interview with Anthony Hartwig on YSN, Urchek detailed her journey from basketball to softball, crediting her multi-sport experience and off-season hitting lessons for a quick adjustment. “Basketball was a lot, but I got through it pretty well,” she explained. “During basketball season, I was taking hitting lessons, so that helped with softball too.” Juggling academics with a packed athletic schedule is no easy feat, but Urchek takes it in stride. “Balancing schoolwork with everything else [has been the hardest part],” she admitted. “Softball games are long and take up the whole night.” Even so, she reports all A’s and is focused on finishing the school year strong despite a wave of essays and her first finals.

Urchek also spoke about the close-knit bond of the Maplewood softball team, where many players have years of experience together. “It’s pretty cool, actually, to be a part of and we’ve been playing for a long time, a lot of us have,” she said, emphasizing how this chemistry fuels the team’s recent success. Being coached by her mother has proven to be both familiar and motivating for Urchek, who says, “She knows her stuff, so I get to talk to her about a lot of things… Sometimes we have disagreements, but I think that’s good, to learn from each other.” Sports are truly a family affair in the Urchek household—her father coaches her brother’s baseball team, and sibling rivalry keeps things competitive at home.

With three more years of high school ahead, Urchek’s goals are as ambitious as her work ethic. “I want to go far, bring my team far. I want to go to state. That’s probably my end goal for any sport,” she declared. Claire Urchek’s determination and composure, whether balancing the demands of two varsity sports or navigating a challenging academic schedule, make her a name Maplewood fans will be cheering for well into the future.

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LAKEVIEW DOUBLES UP CROSS TOWN RIVALS

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CORTLAND OH-  Lakeview came out swinging Friday and never let up, cruising past Maplewood 14-7 in a game that saw the Bulldogs stack runs early and hold off a late Rockets push.

The Bulldogs wasted no time jumping ahead, dropping five on Maplewood in the first. Carter Doran ripped a two-run single, Jacob Shaker lifted a sac fly, and a defensive miscue brought home two more.

Lakeview kept their foot on the gas in the second, hanging a six-spot thanks to RBI knocks from Shaker, Jackson Stuart, and Isaiah Lantz, plus a couple of bases-loaded freebies. By the end of two, it was already 11-0.

Maplewood made some noise in the fifth, scoring six runs with just one hit—taking advantage of walks, hit-by-pitches, and a little chaos. But the Bulldogs stayed in control, tacking on a few more and letting their early explosion carry them the rest of the way.

Jozef Kuchcinski got the win on the bump for Lakeview, tossing four scoreless innings while giving up just three hits. He didn’t rack up strikeouts but kept the Rockets off balance all night. Kenyan Clover took the loss for Maplewood after getting tagged for 11 runs—only five earned—over two innings of work.

Offensively, Lakeview racked up 13 hits. Lantz and Stuart each picked up three knocks, while Shaker and Doran drove in three runs apiece. The Bulldogs stayed clean in the field, turning a double play and committing zero errors.

For Maplewood, Ryan Sexton led the charge with a 2-for-2 day at the plate. Six different players knocked in a run during their fifth-inning surge, and the Rockets showed patience with nine total walks, two each from Sexton and Luke Shipman. Lakeview is back at it Saturday with a matchup against Boardman.

MARKER SILENCES MIGHTY CLIPPER BATS

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CORTLAND OH-  In a game that served as a big test on both ends before tournaments, Maplewood have themselves a boost of confidence by beating Columbiana 5-0 on Friday.  Columbiana is the 5 seed in division 5 while Maplewood is the 2 seed in division 7.  Both teams have district semifinals to look forward to on Monday.

The story of this night though was the Rockets freshman pitcher Addison Marker.  The Rockets Ace kept a Columbiana lineup that averages 11.5 runs per game scoreless all night.  Marker scattered 8 hits, but walked no one on her way to the win. She also sat down 10 hitters via the strikeout.  She gave Columbiana their first shutout loss of the season.

The Maplewood offense made the most of their 6 hits.  Ava Calvert went a perfect 3-3 with 2 RBI to lead the charge. Claire Urchek was only retired once all night as she walked twice, and got a hit and a RBI.  Market managed to help herself out with a RBI on a 1-4 day.

Columbiana’s offense wasn’t without opportunity.  They outhit Maplewood 8-6, but couldn’t get timely base knocks.  Cam Perkins was the only hitter that had multiple hits going 2-3.  Caitlynn Pleska went 1-4 and reached on an error.  Maryn Hepler, Ella Dota, Addison Brode, Alivia Bell, Anna Yonker, and Kayla Hogan all had hits for the Clippers.

Brode didn’t have a bad day in the circle.  The freshman arm threw 6 innings gave up 6 hits and struck out 7.  4 out of the 5 runs were earned for Brode, and she walked 3.

Looking forward, Maplewood will host the district semifinals on Monday where they’ll welcome Rittman.  Columbiana will also host a district semifinal on Monday as they bring in Tuslaw.

MAPLEWOOD MOWS DOWN AQUINAS

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CORTLAND OH- Maplewood came out swinging and never let up, steamrolling St. Thomas Aquinas 19-2 on Wednesday in the sectional final behind a monster day at the plate from Lauran Krieg.

Krieg was locked in from the jump, driving in four runs on three hits—including a pair of RBI singles in the first and another knock in the second. She was the spark in a first-inning explosion that saw the Rockets hang 11 runs on the board before the Knights could even blink.

Maplewood’s lineup was relentless. Addison Marker ripped a triple, Raegan Krieg laced a double, and Emily Perline knocked in two more with a single. Throw in a couple walks, a few more base knocks, and a defensive miscue by Aquinas, and it was all gas, no brakes from the home dugout.

The Rockets tacked on five more in the second, with Claire Urchek cashing in two runs, Krieg adding another RBI, and Paige Clower knocking in one more to make it a full-blown rout.

Marker shut things down in the circle, tossing two no-hit innings with three Ks and zero walks to pick up the win. Perline came in and locked it down the rest of the way.

Maplewood piled up 18 hits in total, with Clower, Katelyn McCartney, Krieg, and Marker all racking up multiple hits. Urchek showed patience with a pair of walks, and the Rockets as a whole worked five free passes.

Aquinas managed just two hits on the day, one each from Powell and Falkner, with Powell picking up the lone RBI. Next up, Maplewood hosts Columbiana on Friday, looking to keep the bats hot and the wins rolling. Their next postseason game will be Monday at home against Rittman.

MAPLEWOOD GETS THE BOUNCES

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SOUTHINGTON OH- Runs were tough to come by Monday, but Maplewood did just enough to edge out Chalker 3-2 in a tight one where both pitchers were dealing.

Chalker struck first in the opening frame with a two-run single, but Maplewood didn’t flinch. The Rockets answered in the third, tying it up on an RBI knock and a bases-loaded walk.

The go-ahead punch came in the fourth—a clutch single that pushed Maplewood out front 3-2. That was all they needed.

Addison Marker went the distance in the circle, tossing a complete game with 10 strikeouts, six hits allowed, and just two runs given up. She also helped her own cause with a hit and an RBI.

At the plate, Maplewood scratched out four hits but made the most of their chances. Calvert, Marker, and Krieg each drove in runs, while Claire Urchek stayed patient and drew three walks, swiping two bags along the way. The Rockets also turned a double play to help seal the deal defensively.

Chalker’s ace was solid as well—seven innings, three runs (two earned), and seven punchouts—but got little run support after that first-inning burst. Hudak drove in both runs and went 2-for-3 at the plate, but the Lady Cats couldn’t find another breakthrough.

Maplewood now shifts focus to the postseason, opening tournament play at home Wednesday against St. Thomas Aquinas.

HUBBARD RESPONDS TO BEING DOWN EARLY

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HUBBARD OH-  Hubbard took care of business Friday, knocking off Maplewood 7-4 in a scrappy, back-and-forth battle.

Maplewood drew first blood in the top of the first thanks to a bases-loaded walk, but Hubbard answered in the third and didn’t look back. A walk from Johnny Reyes tied things up, Gabe Rusnak brought in another with a sac fly, and Zack Svensson came through with a two-run single to give the Eagles a 4-1 lead they wouldn’t give up.

AJ Cheney got the start and battled through four innings, giving up just two hits and an unearned run while fanning four. He walked five but worked out of jams when he had to. Maddox Pieton came in late and shut the door for the save.

At the plate, Svensson and Rusnak did the heavy lifting with two RBIs each. Svensson and Geno Leshnack each racked up two hits, and the Eagles kept the pressure on with four stolen bases. They also flashed the leather with a double play to help seal the deal.

Maplewood didn’t go quietly. Ryan Sexton drove in two, Gabe Erwin stayed hot with a 3-for-4 day, and Zach Suba added a pair of knocks of his own. Maplewood worked seven walks and turned two slick double plays defensively, but it wasn’t enough to erase Hubbard’s lead. Next up, the Eagles get right back to it with a matchup against Harding on Saturday.

MAPLEWOOD PULLS AWAY FROM PYMATUNING VALLEY

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CORTLAND OH- Maplewood came out swinging and didn’t let up Thursday, torching Pymatuning Valley 12-2 in a game that ended with a statement inning and a strong outing on the hill.

Ethan Nelson couldn’t miss at the plate—going a perfect 3-for-3 and driving in a pair. He scattered base hits like clockwork and played a key role in the Rockets’ big innings.

Coleton Logan was flat-out nasty on the mound. The righty punched out 11 and gave up just two runs across five and two-thirds. Pymatuning got to him early with a two-run double in the first, but he locked in from there and slammed the door shut.

After falling behind 2-0, Maplewood answered with a five-spot in the bottom of the first. The bats were loud and relentless—Webster, Logan, Sexton, Suba, and Nelson each knocked in a run to flip the game in a hurry.

They tacked on another in the second, but it was the sixth where the wheels fully came off for the Lakers. Maplewood piled on six more runs on four hits, with clutch knocks from Nelson, Shipman, and Erwin, plus a pair of bases-loaded walks that helped blow it wide open.

Maplewood totaled 14 hits and showed patience at the dish, drawing eight walks. Nelson and Erwin led the hit parade with three each, while Sexton, Erwin, Nelson, and Suba all drove in a pair. Logan also swiped two bags as the Rockets ran wild on the basepaths.

Ty Vickery did what he could for PV with a 2-run double and clean work behind the plate. Sean Croston added a hit, and the defense stayed sharp with a clean sheet in the field. Next up, Maplewood hits the road to take on Hubbard on Friday with momentum fully on their side.

ROCKETS WALK OFF CAPS OFF DOUBLE HEADER SWEEP

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CORTLSND OH-  Maplewood came out swinging and stayed hot all day, sweeping a doubleheader against Pymatuning Valley with a convincing win in Game 1 and a walk-off thriller in Game 2.

Game 1 – Maplewood 10, PV 1

The Rockets wasted no time setting the tone in the opener. A three-run bomb in the first lit the fuse, and Maplewood never looked back. A six-run fifth inning put the game out of reach, thanks to patient at-bats, clutch hits, and a couple of free passes that piled on the damage.

Maplewood’s starter brought the heat in the circle, striking out eight over four innings and holding the Lakers to just two hits. The offense backed her up with 10 hits, including three from both the long ball hitter and Claire Urchek. The Rockets also drew eight walks and turned a slick double play in the field to keep things clean.

Game 2 – Maplewood 9, PV 8 (8 innings)

Game two was a different story—pure chaos. The Lakers jumped ahead early and held the lead for most of the game. But Maplewood had some late-inning magic brewing. Down three in the seventh, they rallied to tie it up and forced extras.

Then came the dagger—a walk-off single in the eighth to cap the comeback and sweep the series.

The Rockets piled up 12 hits in the win. Woomer was the hero at the plate, going 4-for-5 with four RBIs, including the game-winner. Urchek, Krieg, and Marker all chipped in multi-hit games, and Marker showed discipline at the plate with three walks.

In the circle, Marker battled through a gritty eight-inning complete game, giving up 11 hits but never losing her edge.

The Lakers didn’t go quietly, putting up 11 hits of their own and getting multi-hit days from several bats. But in the end, they couldn’t keep the Rockets from pulling off the sweep.

Maplewood rolls into Friday’s showdown with Mathews riding a wave of momentum and confidence after a gutsy doubleheader sweep.

MAPLEWOOD RISES TO THE CHALLENGE

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CORTLAND OH-  Maplewood took care of business Wednesday, riding a big night at the plate from Tyson Webster to a 10-4 win over Chaney.

Webster was a tough out all game long, going 3-for-4 with a pair of singles and a double, helping set the tone early for the Rockets. Maplewood jumped on the board right away in the first, using a walk, a dropped third strike, and a base hit to grab a quick 3-0 lead.

They kept it rolling in the third with back-to-back RBI knocks and a double ripped down the line to stretch the gap.

On the bump, Maplewood got a solid outing from their starter, who tossed four innings of two-hit ball while striking out eight. The bullpen finished things off clean, locking down the win.

Maplewood finished with 10 hits on the night. Webster and another bat in the lineup each collected three hits, and the Rockets ran wild on the basepaths—swiping 10 bags in total.

Chaney had their moments late, collecting a few hits and swiping five bases of their own. They also flashed the leather, turning two double plays to keep it from getting worse. Maplewood heads to Hubbard on Friday, looking to stay hot.