The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Area teams gear up for the postseason
Sports Editor Jon Behm breaks down the high school softball tournament brackets and gives his predictions for the postseason. Plus, the Top of the Crop and statistical leaders.
The road to Akron starts next week. The brackets are in, so it’s time to have some fun. Here’s the favorites and dark horses for all of the Morning Journal area. D-I AVON LAKE DISTRICT
Favorite: Amherst Don’t forget: Elyria, Midview
Darkhorses: Avon, Westlake
Breakdown: This district was seeded as expected. There’s a clear-cut top, middle and bottom, and no one jumped those boundaries.
So, why is Amherst the favorite? A combination of reasons.
First, you can’t discount the defending champions, particularly when they are playing at a similar level to where they were last year. Additionally, the Comets have played a schedule that was postseason directed, with the Comets faring well against tough competition that they would likely see in regional play.
With that said, you can’t discount Elyria or Midview. The Pioneers have a young team with some veteran players to hold things together. If they learned from their experience at the Wendy’s Spring Classic, they are poised to surprise. As for the Middies, don’t forget that they hold a victory over Amherst this year and feature one of the top pitchers in The Morning Journal area in Lauren Landers.
Avon and Westlake are both teams that have gotten hot at times this season. When hot, they both look great. Can they heat up starting May 9? D-II LAGRANGE DISTRICT
Favorite: Keystone Don’t forget: Holy Name, Fairview, Rocky River Darkhorse: Firelands Breakdown: If we are being bluntly honest, this is Keystone’s district to lose, as it always is. However, this is possibly the tightest year this district has seen in a while.
Everyone knows what Keystone can do. The combination of hitting and pitching makes Keystone a tough matchup. Holy Name has the hitting to make a run and, should they catch the Wildcats on an off day, could top them.
Fairview and Rocky River are both teams with strong bats as well, however, both leave a bit to be desired at times in the pitching category. Getting into a scoreest with the Wildcats will not work in either team’s favor.
Firelands is the X-factor in this district. The Falcons have played some bad softball at times, but appear to be putting it together now and are a far cry from the
same team that dropped its first two games of the season to Keystone. D-II MILAN DISTRICT
Favorite: Clyde Don’t forget: Bellevue, Clear Fork Darkhorse: Vermilion Breakdown: Yes, Clyde is not the No. 1 seed in this district. But, as it has proven recently, seed doesn’t matter — the Fliers will be a tough out. Clyde has been to three of the last four district finals and, even with a No. 3 seed, should be there again.
While Clyde has been to a district final a lot, it has only gotten to the regional level once, mostly due to Bellevue and Clear Fork. The duo have combined to make three of the last four district finals, with Bellevue returning as the reigning district champion. Clear Fork is probably the bigger threat with an 18-1 record.
Don’t discount the Sailors. Vermilion has played a tough Sandusky Bay Conference schedule and will have a chance to prove it deserved
the No. 4 seed in the first round against Upper Sandusky. A strong pitching staff with timely hitting could carry the Sailors to a district title. D-III AVON LAKE DISTRICT
Favorites: Columbia, Wellington
Don’t forget: Independence
Darkhorse: Elyria Catholic
Breakdown: Columbia is the No. 1 seed, but Wellington is No. 2 in digit only, as the Dukes could easily be 1-B of this district. Either team could emerge from this district without anyone questioning how it happened. The duo is slated to meet in a Patriot Athletic Conference showdown on May 8 before the start of the tournament, which could turn out to be a district final preview.
Independence, like much of Northeast Ohio, has had bad luck when it comes to rainouts, allowing the Blue Devils to play only 12 games so far this season. Independence has turned in a 9-3
record, though, against some decent Chagrin Valley Conference competition. The Blue Devils could be considered for the darkhorse section.
Elyria Catholic takes the darkhorse title, though, as the Panthers have come on strong lately. The winners of five straight, Elyria Catholic is meshing at the correct time and could surprise plenty in this district. D-IV COPLEY DISTRICT
Favorite: Hillsdale Don’t forget: Mogadore Darkhorse: Cuyahoga Heights
Breakdown: This district is Hillsdale’s to lose, as it should be. Since joining the Copley District in 2014, the Falcons have made two district finals, winning it once. The No. 3 team in the D-IV Ohio High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association poll should run the table.
The best competition should come from Mogadore. Mogadore plays an interesting schedule that makes it a bit tough to predict its playoff success this year, but it has done what it needs to do against all competition: win.
Vermilion coach’s 500th
It took an extra inning, but Vermilion coach Bill Matthews joined the 500 win club on May 3.
The Sailors topped SBC foe Huron, 7-6, in eight innings to give Matthews No. 500.
After the Tigers scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to knot the game at 6-6, Becca Oates scored in the eighth for the win, increasing the Sailors’ record to 14-4 overall and 8-3 in the SBC.
Matthews, a OHSFSCA Hall of Famer, picked up 486 wins during his time with Amherst.
Poll
Week three of the Ohio High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association poll had minimal change when it came to The Morning Journal area.
Keystone remains at No. 2. Even though the Wildcats did not receive a first-place vote, Keystone increased its points from 79 last week to 96. Hebron Lakewood remains in first place with 109 points.
Slap bunts
• Brookside’s Tori-Ann Aliff was 4-for-4 with a triple, two doubles, two RBI and four runs scored against Lutheran West on April 28.
• Elyria’s Madison Cruzado was 2-for-5 with a home run, double, two runs and six RBI in a 17-7 win against Brunswick on May 2.