THE UNDERDOGS ARE ON THEIR WAY!
AKRON, OH- There may never have been an underdog with more bite than the South Range Lady Raider Softball team, and after Thursday night’s contest, they’re hoping the doubters kept receipts in an 11-4 triumph over South Webster in the OHSAA State Semi-Finals.
South Range jumped on the board early, with Giada Pauline’s RBI single in the first. They extended their lead in the third after an error and an Ashley Rupert single brought in runs.
South Webster tied it up in the bottom of the third with Jaiden White’s single and Bella Claxon’s double. But South Range turned it around in the fifth, exploding for five runs on six hits. Pauline’s two-run single was the highlight of the inning.
Jayli Wilt took the win for South Range, allowing seven hits and four runs over seven innings, with six strikeouts and two walks. White took the loss for South Webster, pitching all seven innings and giving up 11 runs on 19 hits, striking out four and walking none.
Keira Brogan went 3-for-5, Brogan doubled in the first and seventh innings and singled in the fifth to set the tone for the Raiders.
South Range’s offense was on fire with 19 hits. Brogan, Pauline, and Rupert each had three hits. Pauline was especially clutch, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs. Anna Aey, Solena DeJesus, and Heidi Bartels also had multiple hits.
For South Webster, Bella Claxon drove in three runs, going 2-for-3 in the game.
South Range’s dominant performance at the plate and solid pitching secured their victory, clinching their spot in the Division III Title game at 12:45 Saturday against Liberty Union.
