Norton knocks out reigning state champs; Walsh, Hoover win district softball titles
SOFTBALL
LaGrange Division II District Final
Norton 5, Keystone 2
The Panthers (18-7) sure know how to make an entrance into the Division II regional semifinals.
They did it by knocking out the reigning state champion and seven-time defending district champion Wildcats (22-6) in a game that was never in doubt.
"It was such a great feeling," Norton pitcher Chloe Bird said. "This is something Norton hasn't done in 21 years. I knew going out there into that last inning that game was ours. I was super excited to be out there those last moments."
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Up next is a date Wednesday with either Oak Harbor (20-8) or Wauseon (13-6) out of the Genoa District.
For now, Norton will celebrate a two-decade drought ending.
"It's really exciting, especially because we lost last year in the district final to Revere," Panther shortstop Bailey Acord said. "It really felt like a milestone that we beat."
Norton scored three runs on two wild pitches and a fielder's choice in the third and then rode the arm of Bird, who struck out six.
Acord bombed a leadoff home run to left field to end the scoring for the Panthers in the fifth and it was all over but the final out.
"It's pretty sweet," Norton coach Dick Castilow said. "But the kids just go play. They didn't seem phased by the game at all. They just did what they do. Chloe pitched a great game and we didn't give into hitters."
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Massillon Division I District Final
Walsh Jesuit 2, Boardman 1
Timely hitting and phenomenal pitching lifted the fifth-seeded Warriors (17-3) over the 14th-seeded Spartans (12-15).
It’s the first regional trip since 2019 for Walsh, where the Warriors will play Mentor District champion North Canton Hoover (17-6) on Wednesday at Youngstown State.
“It is a dream come true,” Walsh pitcher Natalie Susa said. “It’s more than I can put into words right now. Last year, going down in the district finals, coming back this year and knowing this is the big step, this meant a lot.”
McKayla McGee and Sienna Tepley had RBI singles in the first and second inning, respectively to put Walsh ahead early.
Susa (13-2) struck out 12 and gave up an unearned run in the third before catcher Caleigh Shaulis made arguably the biggest play of the game in the seventh inning.
With one down and Josie Porter on second, Shaulis had the ball pop out of her glove for a split second. She picked it off, fired a strike to Tepley’s glove and Porter slid into the leather for the second out.
“That play was monumental,” Tepley said. “If we don’t make that play we don’t score and it’s in extra innings. It got Natalie hyped to strike the next girl out. She needed one more strike and you saw what she did. She grounded out to me.”
Mentor Division I District Final
North Canton Hoover 6, Jackson 2
The second-seeded Vikings (16-6) were led by Faith Reciosky (three singles, two runs) and Sadie Carroll (triple, RBI) to win a district final and set up a rematch with Walsh, which they beat 6-0 in the regular season.
Hoover pitcher Sydnee Koosh (12-4) limited Jackson to four hits over seven innings. Jackson's Julia Gossett hit a home run.
Hubbard Division II District Final
Field 6, Marlington 5
Carlee Chambers tied things up for the sixth-seeded Falcons (21-3) in the seventh inning and two infield hits and a sacrifice fly by Tia Ulrich upset the top-seeded Dukes (20-2). Up next, is a regional semifinal with Hoban on Wednesday.
Akron Division II District Final
Triway 10, Springfield 0
Alyssa Hochstetler’s infield single to lead off the top of the third was the only baserunner Carter Wachtel allowed for top-seeded Titans (26-1). The returning state runner-up will face Canfield on Wednesday.
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BASEBALL
Macedonia Division I Sectional Final
Ellet 3, Nordonia 0
A day after he earned a save in the City Series postseason championship game against Firestone, Ellet pitcher Cameron Allen (6-0) was masterful in a home sectional final win.
Allen pitched a shutout, allowing just two hits. Despite saying his mechanics were off, Allen had eight strikeouts and was aided by excellent defense.
Nordonia's best scoring chance came in the top of the first inning, when the Knights had runners on second and third with one out. Allen escaped the jam by getting a pop out and a strike out.
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Ellet scored all three runs in the fourth when it drew two walks to start the inning off Knights starting pitcher Dom Perrine. Ellet scored after a balk and a fielder's choice by Allen to make it 1-0. Back-to-back RBI singles from catcher Levi Lehmen and designated hitter Camden McLeod gave Ellet a 3-0 lead.
Ellet will face Walsh Jesuit in a district semifinal at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Nordonia.
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Macedonia Division I Sectional Final
Walsh Jesuit 16, Madison 0
Ryan Piech (5-2) struck out eight of the nine batters he faced and Logan Oakes pitched two shutout innings to lead the host Warriors (19-4). Madison managed two hits.
Walsh's John Simecek went 2-for-2 with a home run, and Kasey Kish and Topher Salek chipped in two doubles apiece. Kish also scored two runs and Salek had had two RBIs. Henry Kaczmar had two hits, two RBIs and two runs.
Macedonia Division I Sectional Final
Massillon 11, GlenOak 4
Tyler Hackenbracht went 4-for-4 and Trey Roberson had two hits and three RBIs to lead the host Tigers (16-8) past the Golden Eagles (15-10). Sam Snodgrasss and Brennen Crowe each had two hits and one RBI. Crowe also stole home.
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Strongsville Division I Sectional Final
Wadsworth 9, Grafton Midview 0
University of Akron recruit John Allen pitched six shutout innings and Skyler Kries worked a scoreless seventh to lead the host Grizzlies. Wadsworth's Kyle Figuray totaled two hits, three runs, two RBIs, Ben Leopold added two singles, a double, a run and an RBI, Daniel Hall had two hits and an RBI and Ethan Green had one hit and two RBIs.
Canton Division I Sectional Final
North Canton Hoover 12, Stow 1
A grand slam by Nick Vardavas in the bottom of the fifth led Hoover (15-7) to a sectional title at Dick Miller Field. Vardavas also pitched a complete-game four-hitter, surrendering no earned runs and striking out nine in five innings. Luke Roach and Deacon Heather added two hits each, and Carson Dyrlund also hit a home run for the Vikings.
Canton Division I Sectional Final
Lake 4, Aurora 3
Connor Campbell pitched his seventh complete game and Ty Perrin and Caleb Collins each hit an RBI single for host Lake (15-10).
Canton Division I Sectional Final
Dover 10, Cuyahoga Falls 0
The host Tornadoes won with a two-hitter to knock the Black Tigers out of the tournament. Senior Ayden Hall went the distance in five innings to get the win.
Euclid Division I Sectional Final
Jackson 10, Brush 0
Caiden Goodwin (5-1) and Aiden Castile limited Brush to one hit in five innings and led host Jackson (19-7). The offensive leaders were Alex Snyder (single, triple, three RBIs); Carter Mottice (single, run, two RBIs) and Garrett Wright (single, two runs).
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Richfield Division II Sectional Final
Revere 8, St. Vincent-St. Mary 3
Ryan Shimek totaled a single, two doubles, two RBIs and two runs to guide visiting Revere to a win at Summit Lake Park's George Sisler Field.
Revere (12-12) scored four runs in the fifth inning with Devin Donich, Ryan Hodgson and Nolan Wertz each hitting an RBI single and Dillon Carlquist plating another run with a sacrifice fly.
Revere's Nolan Williams, Donich, Hodgson and Wertz each had two hits. Williams also scored three runs, Donich had two RBIs and two runs and Hodgson had two RBIs.
STVM (15-10) was led by Michael Brownowski (three singles) and Shane Adamczyk (two singles, two RBIs).
— Compiled by Brad Bournival, Michael Beaven, Don Coughlin and Michael Leonard
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Walsh, Hoover reach the round of 16 with district final softball wins
