Watkins Memorial, Heath win OHSAA regional softball titles
Watkins Memorial is heading back to the state softball tournament, and Heath will be there to join the Warriors.
Watkins beat Lancaster 3-1 on Saturday to repeat as Division I regional champions. Earlier, Heath gained revenge, beating John Glenn 12-5 to win the Division II regional title.
Johnstown baseball had its season end in heartbreaking fashion, falling 5-4 in 10 innings to Buckeye Valley in a Division II district final.
Watkins started its regional final with a bang as Taylor Gerhardt and Hannah Hunt hit back-to-back home runs to leadoff the bottom of the first inning. That was enough for Carsyn Cassady, who struck out five in a six-hitter.
Jordyn Wycuff also singled home Gerhardt for the Warriors, who play Holland Springfield at 3 p.m. Thursday at Firestone Stadium in a state semifinal.
Heath also struck first against John Glenn and kept right on hitting. Renae Cunningham and Shelby Moore each homered in the first inning.
Cunningham had a game to remember, homering again and also adding a triple and a double, racking up six RBI. She also struck out 11 in five innings, and Kyndall Spicer also homered for the Bulldogs, who play Triway at 10 a.m. Thursday at Firestone Stadium in a state semifinal.
Clay Bruning took a shutout into the seventh inning for Johnstown, but Buckeye Valley rallied for three runs to force extra innings. The Johnnies regained the lead in the top of the 10th, but the Barons scored twice in the bottom of the inning.
Benji Perez had a two-run single for the Johnnies in a three-run fifth inning. Chase Boroff singled to lead off the 10th and scored on an error.
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Watkins Memorial, Heath win OHSAA regional softball titles
