5 things to watch: Analyzing the Ohio high school softball tournament

May 11—The Ohio High School Athletic Association's softball tournament began Monday with a handful of sectional semifinals, and it is time to take a look at what to expect from some of the area's top teams.

Here are five things to watch as the tourney advances through sectional, district, and regional play on the road to the state final four June 3-5 at Firestone Stadium in Akron.

No. 1: Springfield or Anthony Wayne?

Although there are never any guarantees of deep tourney runs, especially in the diamond sports of softball and baseball, it would seem that the two top Division I seeds from the Northwest District are a cut above the rest of the competition.

Those two are Northern Lakes League powers Anthony Wayne (18-1 overall, 8-0 NLL), which is the No. 1 seed and ranked No. 8 in the latest D-I state coaches poll, and Springfield (19-2, 8-0), which is the No. 2 seed and ranked No. 7 in the state.

They have yet to meet in league play, with both NLL matchups having been postponed by bad weather. They are set for makeups on May 13 and 24, and then seem destined to meet again in a regional semifinal May 26 at Clyde.

Coach Ron Myers' AW Generals will open tourney play at home on Wednesday in a sectional final against Northview, which defeated Lima Senior 22-1 on Monday. Anthony Wayne would then most likely see Start in a May 18 district semifinal at Maumee's Rolf Park, and either Perrysburg or Findlay in a district final there on May 21.

If the Blue Devils of Springfield coach Rob Gwozdz are to set up their half of the regional showdown, they must also win three times. Springfield hosts a sectional final Wednesday against Sandusky, then would advance to district play at Fostoria. Their likely semifinal foe would be Clay, and a win there would set up a tough test against Three Rivers Athletic Conference champion Whitmer (20-5, 12-0).

The Rolf Park and Fostoria district winners meet at Clyde on May 26 at 2 p.m., and the winner of that game would advance to the noon regional final at Clyde on May 29, most likely against either sixth-ranked Amherst Steele or ninth-ranked North Ridgeville, the top seeds from their respective districts.

Anthony Wayne has been led in the circle by the pitching duo of Brooklyn Patchen (9-0) and Lauren Curry (8-1), and the Generals offense is paced by Abby Kennelly (.568), Kennedy Cowan (.538, 7 home runs, 40 RBIs), Emily Liskai (.516, 3 HR, 24 RBIs), Curry (.508, 7 HR, 29 RBIs), and Trinity Nowicki (.480, 8 HR, 26 RBIs).

Springfield's Mady Yackee is 19-2 pitching, and the Blue Devils' top hitters have been Courtnee Chappetta (.479, 5 HR, 28 RBIs), Maddie Darrah (.465, 22 RBIs), P.J. Turner (.459, 17 RBIs), Sydney Schwieterman (.426, 4 HR, 28 RBIs), and Yackee (.409, 2 HR, 21 RBIs).

If this AW-Springfield regional matchup is to be derailed, it would most likely be by Whitmer, which would need a strong pitching effort in the district final from senior Tegan Wietrzykowski. The Panthers present a solid hitting threat led by hard-hitting sophomores Sophia Wygast and Aliveah Warner.

No. 2 Will Oak Harbor and Wauseon square off?

In the Division II tourney, top-seeded Oak Harbor (16-7) of the Sandusky Bay Conference's Bay Division could see No. 2 Wauseon (13-6) of the Northwest Ohio Athletic League in the May 22 district final at Genoa.

Oak Harbor's Rockets open at home with a sectional final on Thursday against either Rossford or Rogers, and won't likely struggle there. But, the Rockets should expect a major test from St. Ursula in a May 19 district semifinal at Genoa.

Oak Harbor is led by pitcher Reagan Schultz (13-6, 3.51 ERA), who is also hitting .38 with three homers and 16 RBIs. The Rockets have also gotten top plate production from Ellie Hanselman (.493, 17 RBIs), Alyse Sorg (.465), Porter Gregory (.458, 19 RBIs) and Remi Gregory (.412, 34 RBIs).

St. Ursula is led by pitcher Jenna Lutz (11-4 record), who is hitting .618 with four homers and 23 RBI. Brynn Anteau (.607) and Taylor Walterreit (.500) add plate support for the Arrows, who have played a challenging schedule.

Wauseon's Indians have a tougher road, beginning with a home sectional final against either Maumee or Sandusky Perkins, and then a district semifinal May 19, likely against Clyde.

Wauseon is paced by pitcher Macee Schang (12-6, 3.50 ERA, 150 strikeouts), who is also hitting .443 with seven homers and 26 RBI. Olivia Gigax (.457, 14 RBIs) and Jettie Burget (.449, 2 HR, 23 RBIs) add offense for the Indians.

No. 3 Can Otsego make a deep run?

The Otsego Knights (14-3, 9-0) of the Northern Buckeye Conference are the top seed in the D-III district at Maumee's Rolf Park, and are ranked No. 9 in the latest state poll.

They appear poised to get to at least win a district title led by pitcher Lexi North (14.3, 1.43 ERA, 147 strikeouts), who is also hitting .466 with three homers and 20 RBIs. Also key in the Knights' offense have been Summer Berry (.560, 2 HR, 35 RBIs), Eve Serrato (.524, 5 HR, 28 RBIs), and Araha Burgy (.385, 3 HR, 25 RBIs).

Otsego opens with a sectional final at home on Friday against the Genoa-Tinora first-round winner, and then would likely see either Evergreen or Liberty Center in a district semifinal at Rolf Park on May 17. If they win, the Knights appear headed for a May 20 district-final clash with perennial NBC power Eastwood (18-8), which had won the four prior NBC titles (2016-19), but are in somewhat of a reload mode after that great four-year run.

The Eagles are paced offensively by Lily Escobedo (.578, 2 HR, 35 RBIs), Delaney Maynard (.544, 10 HR, 39 RBIs), and Taylor Souder (.458, 16 RBIs).

No. 4 Will Elmwood create an NBC regional matchup?

Although they might have missed their chance to topple Otsego for this year's NBC title, the Elmwood Royals (19-4) might be able to get a shot at the Knights in D-III regional play.

But, earning the chance at revenge won't be easy, even with Elmwood being the top seed at the Lima Bath district. After opening at home with a sectional final Friday against the Fostoria-Patrick Henry winner, the Royals would likely face No. 4 seed Paulding in the district semifinal on May 18.

Then comes the hard part, a potential district-final test on May 21 against No. 2 seed Fairview, which is currently ranked No. 8 in the state poll.

The Royals have Maddie Milligan (19-3, 1.62 ERA) in the circle, and have gotten solid offensive output from Madison Hoiles (.554, 4 HR, 48 RBIs), Kensie Mareches (.539, 13 RBIs), Lainey Bingham (.500, 3 HR, 25 RBIs), and Katie Kieffer (.476, 2 HR, 17 RBIs).

If Elmwood does meet Otsego in the regional semifinal at Elida, that game is set for May 26 at 2 p.m.

No. 5 Could Gibsonburg's tough luck change?

In the past three Ohio softball tournaments (2017-19), Gibsonburg's Golden Bears suffered heartbreaking losses in regional play.

In 2017, it was a 5-3 regional-final loss on an eighth-inning, walk-off home run by Carey that ended the Bears' 26-1 season. In 2018, Gibsonburg saw Tinora rally in the seventh in the seventh inning to a 4-3 regional-final win. And, in 2019, it was a 4-3 loss to Convoy Crestview in a regional semifinal.

Just getting back to the Findlay regional this year will be difficult.

The third-seeded Golden Bears (15-7) enter tourney play with a home sectional final on Thursday against the Arcadia-Toledo Christian winner, but then likely must get past two fellow SBC River Division members in district play at Oak Harbor.

First would be No. 2 seed Hopewell-Loudon (15-4) in a May 18 semifinal, and then top-seeded New Riegel (22-1) in the May 21 final.

New Riegel is Ohio's second-ranked D-IV team.

Gibsonburg has been led by pitcher Jenna Bloomfield (13-7, 3.33, 196 strikeouts), who is also hitting .523 with 12 homers and 42 RBIs.

First Published May 10, 2021, 6:15pm