TICKET PUNCHED; RAIDERS DODGE LATE RALLY TO HEAD TO STATE

YOUNGSTOWN OH- Ursuline vs South Range was the match up that every local softball fan wanted from the beginning. They had to wait a while. The two power houses missed each other in the regular season, and went on separate sides of the region in the super district tournament format. Both teams won their way to the regional finals setting up the clash that everyone had been waiting for. On the last day of May, Ursuline and South Range met on the diamond with a trip to the state semifinals on the line. The game did not disappoint, as the Raiders dodged a late seventh inning rally to come out on top 3-2.

Before first pitch, you could feel the anticipation of this matchup in the air. It seemed as if the entire community, fans of the teams or not came out to watch this matchup. The game was originally scheduled for Saturday, but weather pushed it back a couple more days to the final stroke of May.

As the designated away team, South Range had the opportunity to strike first and put the pressure on. They did just that as Bree Kohler reached on an error, and Reagan Irons singled to right field. With first two Raiders on board, Ursuline got what might have been a breath of air in a out on the base paths, snagging Kohler heading for third. However, Juli Stachowicz put the pressure right back on with a 2 run HR to give the Raiders the early lead.

A big question coming into this game was how Bree Kohler would fair inside the circle against an offense that came in to the game having already scored 319 runs on the season. Ursuline had not been held under 4 runs all year, and had never struck out more than 9 times in a game. Kohler however set the tone from the jump setting the Irish down 1-2-3 in the first.

The Raiders would continue their aggressiveness against Ursuline’s starter Paige Ogden in the second frame. After the first two hitters were retired, Bree Kohler was hit by a pitch, she then took second on a wild pitch. In the middle of the at bat, with Kohler now in scoring position Mike Kernan made his pitching change to Emily Holland. On the first pitch Holland threw, Irons hit a weak ground ball that dribbled down the first base line. Not being sure if it would stay fair, Holland waited until the last second to make a diving effort at securing it and getting it to first, but it was too late to retire Irons, with the slow developing play, Kohler used her speed to come around from second and score ahead of the throw back home. The Raiders now led 3-0.

From that point on, the game would turn into a pitcher’s duel between Kohler and Holland. Two pitchers who are signed to play at the division 1 level in college. In fact, all 5 seniors on the field between the two teams are continuing their softball career in college. Holland only allowed one hit after the second inning, and through 6 Kohler allowed just 3 hits.

It was only a matter of time until this high powered sleeping giant of an offense for Ursuline woke up, and they did with 3 outs remaining in their season. Holland led off the inning with her second hit of the day, it was the third straight inning that Ursuline was able to get their lead off hitter aboard. This time they took advantage. After a strike out, Mia Opalick stepped to the plate carrying a 0-2 mark with 2 strikeouts. It did not matter one bit to her though, as she caught up to a pitch up in the zone and sent it over the wall for an electrifying 2 run HR to cut the Raider lead to 3-2. All of the sudden Kohler was on the ropes, the Irish could tie the game with one swing. She bounced back to get Layni Bednar to fly out to second. Down to their final out, it was up to the Barbato sisters to make something happen for the Irish. Liza Barbato kept the season alive and set the table for her older sister with a single, she would then advance to second on the throwing error. Maris Barbato stepped to the plate as the winning run. The future Toledo Rocket took one pitch, a ball before stepping back in. Then, a crack of the bat made both fan bases stop breathing for a split second. A fly ball to deep right field. But it just didn’t have enough, junior Taylor Smesko squeezed it just shy of the warning track to start the South Range celebration.

South Range is making their second trip to the state tournament. Their first coming in 2016, where the Raiders were state runners up. They lost to Wheelersburg in the final 8-3. The Raiders are slated to play Johnstown on Friday at 10:00 AM at Firestone Stadium in Akron. Johnstown beat Williamsburg 2-1 in their regional final.

Ursuline finished their season at 27-3 and had one of the most prolific seasons we’ve seen in the area in quite some time. Ursuline scored 321 runs on the year while their pitching staff only allowed 68. Coach Kernan was named YSN coach of the year for his efforts with this group. The Irish spent some time as the number 1 ranked team in the state of Ohio.

The final line for winning pitcher Bree Kohler was 7.0 IP 6 H 2 ER 1 BB 12 K. Stachowicz led the Raiders at the plate going 2-3 with 2 RBI and a HR. Irons was also 2-3 with 1 RBI.

Ogden is credited with the loss for the Irish. She went 1.2 IP 4 H 3 ER 0 BB 2 K. Holland pitched 5.1 IP in relief and gave up only 2 hits. No runs were charged to her, and she struck out 1. Holland was the only Irish hitter with multiple hits, she went 2-3 at the plate. Opalick went 1-3 with 2 RBI and a HR.