Top teams gather at Prebis

It’s Prebis week in LaGrange and the host Keystone Wildcats couldn’t be any more excited.

“The girls were just talking how this is their favorite week of the year,” Keystone coach Jim Piazza said.

Over the next two days, some of the top teams in and outside of the state will take to the fields at LaGrange Community Park and Wellington Community Park for the 12th annual Prebis Memorial Classic.

This year’s tourney features eight area teams, including Keystone, which is ranked second in the Division II state poll.

Entering April 27, the Wildcats were 15-3 overall and 12-0 in the Patriot Athletic Conference, outscoring their foes,

169-21.

Their three losses came during a weekend trip to Kentucky early this month.

“This weekend is a great gauge for all the teams, us especially, to see where we’re at because we’re going to face three really tough teams,” Piazza said. “We already did that in Kentucky and now we’re going to see how much we improved from that trip.”

Keystone opens the tournament today against Perry before wrapping up Saturday with games against Hilliard Davidson (ranked 10th in the Division I state poll) and Male (ranked third overall in the Kentucky state poll).

“Those are three solid teams,” Piazza said. “We

know what we’re going to face and that’s what the whole purpose of this is. We accept the challenge. We’re going to see what we can do, learn from our mistakes and get better.”

Amherst

The Comets see the Prebis as somewhat of a final tune-up before postseason play begins next month.

“It will be really interesting to see how we do against teams that are consistently in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, so we’ll see where we’re at,” Comets coach Lacey Reichert said. “We just hope to come out and compete at a high level.”

Entering Thursday, the Comets were 13-6 overall and 12-1 in the Southwestern Conference.

Following their game against Anthony Wayne (ranked third in D-I) April

28, Amherst will conclude the tournament with games against Perrysburg and Holland Springfield.

“The girls are looking forward to it,” Reichert said. “They know we’re playing a competitive schedule. They know we’re going to have to play our best all three games and that we’re not going to get away with errors. They look forward to the competition, and when you have a pretty solid team, you want them to look forward to these big games.”

Avon

The Eagles are back in the Prebis Memorial Classic with three games against Bellevue, St. Francis de Sales and Hilliard Davidson.

Entering Thursday, Avon was 9-6 overall and 8-4 in the Southwestern Conference, and coach Ken Matuszak

likes how his team has been steadily improving all season.

“We started the year with five freshmen and several players up from the JV team last year,” he said. “Youth and inexperience was evident early on, but the girls have been working at improving their game.”

The Eagles will look to keep improving at the Prebis, which Matuszak said should make for a fun weekend due to the atmosphere and talented teams involved.

“This is a great tune-up for the state tournament in a few weeks,” he added. “The Prebis is a great collection of local and state powerhouse softball teams.”

Elyria

That includes the Pioneers, who are 11-3 on the season, including a 10-0 mark in the Greater Cleveland

Conference.

Riley Zana has had a great start to her high school career, as the freshman leads the team in hits (31), RBI (27), doubles (six) and is tied for the lead in home runs (four) with Dierra Hammons.

She will look to continue her tear at the plate this weekend as Elyria is slated to take on Hilliard Bradley, Male and Perry.

“The Prebis tournament is always a great weekend of softball,” Pioneers coach Ken Fenik said.

“Coach Piazza gets the best competition around and it’s very challenging. This tournament is a great warm-up for sectionals and districts.”

But, as Fenik said, it’s not just all about softball.

“Besides softball, they make great hot dogs, and the players get to see their friends from other high

schools,” he said.

Columbia

The Raiders will head to Wellington Community Park this weekend for games against Nordonia, Poland Seminary and Margaretta.

Midview

The Middies open the Prebis with Perrysburg, followed by games against Medina and Bellevue on Saturday.

Olmsted Falls

The Bulldogs will travel to Wellington today and Saturday for games against Brunswick, Wellington and Toledo Whitmer.

Wellington

The Dukes won’t have to travel very far as they will take on Girard and Olmsted Falls at Wellington Community Park.