Baseball, softball all-Lorain County teams

The baseball and softball all-Lorain County teams are announced. Plus, Sports Editor Jon Behm breaks down the softball regional action.

Elyria vs. Parma

What: Division I Clyde Region semifinal When: Noon, May 24 Where: Clyde High School, 1015 Race St., Clyde For the record: Elyria returns to regional play for the first time since 2014, but it’s not like this is the Pioneers’ first rodeo. In topping Amherst in a district final, Elyria claimed its 18th district title . ... Elyria brings a six-game win streak into the Clyde Region while continuing its quest for a 12th state appearance . ... The Pioneers cracked the state poll in its final week, coming in at No. 10 . ... Parma has proven its toughness this postseason, topping strong teams such as St. Joseph and BrecksvilleBroadview Heights along the way . ... In its district final against BrecksvilleBroadview Heights, the Redmen showed their offensive prowess, notching 10 hits, including an outstanding game from Jaylin Narvaez, who was 3-for-4 with a home run and a pair of doubles, driving in five of Parma’s eight runs, scoring the other three. ... Don’t discount the arm of senior pitcher Andrea Scali. A first-team All-Ohio pitcher last year and Kent State signee, Scali gave up only one hit while striking out 16 to a normally potent Brecksville lineup . ... With that being said, the likes of the Elyria lineup is one that the Redmen have not seen all year . ... The Pioneers have solid hitting throughout their order, led by freshman Riley Zana and senior Dierra Hammons. Zana is hitting a team-leading .615 with 34 RBI. Hammons, a freshman during the Pioneers’ 2014 state semifinal run, is hitting .478, belting four home runs . ... Freshman Izzy St. Peter will need to stifle the Redmen bats, but has proven more than capable of that while posting a 14-3 record and 2.56 ERA.

Behm’s pick: Elyria

Keystone vs. Napoleon

What: Division II Tiffin Region semifinal When: 5 p.m., May 24 Where: Tiffin University Sports Complex, 2375 CR 26, Tiffin

For the record: It’s a Wildcats on Wildcats showdown for the right to play in the Tiffin Region final . ... Keystone’s softball legacy is well heralded. The Wildcats are heading to their fourth straight regional appearance after claiming their 31st district title in program history. This is the 10th time Keystone has made a regional appearance in the last 11 years . ... Napoleon’s regional history is not nearly as deep. The Wildcats have often been the No. 1 seed in the Miller City District, but have failed to make regional play until this year. ... Napoleon upended state No. 7 Wapakoneta with a seventh-inning rally to claim the title . ... Offensively, Napoleon can get hot, but tends to bounce back and forth between highscoring and low-scoring games . ... Napoleon is led at the plate by Jenna Pilkington and Aubrey Shroyer. Pilkington leads the team with a .458 batting average, while Shroyer is hitting .456 with 41 hits. The long ball is where Napoleon does its damage, smacking 22 home runs this year, led by Pilkington, Missy Smith and Taylor Rieger with six each. ... Even with their firepower, Napoleon will probably find itself severely outgunned by Keystone’s loaded arsenal that features Sammie Stefan (.553 avg., 50 RBI, nine home runs), Marlie McNulty (.506, 35 runs, 27 stolen bases), Brooke Piazza (.500, 27 RBI) and many others . ... Even if the Keystone bats are held in check, Napoleon will have to find a way to get hits off of either Lauren Shaw (122, 0.95 ERA, 131 strikeouts) or Sydney Campbell (12-2, 0.73 ERA, 117 strikeouts).

Behm’s pick: Keystone

Elyria Catholic vs. Massillon Tuslaw

What: Division III Massillon Region semifinal When: 11 a.m., May 24 Where: Massillon Washington High School, 432 20th St. SE, Massillon

For the record: The Panthers bring an 11-game winning streak with them to Massillon for their second regional appearance in three years . ... Massillon Tuslaw has been waiting for a regional appearance for a while, with May 24 marking the first time the Mustangs have played in a regional game since 1994. ... Elyria Catholic has been a tough team for opposing pitchers to figure out all year, as the Panthers have received contributions throughout their lineup. In the Avon Lake District final, Elyria Catholic got hits from seven players, with five players scoring and three driving in runs . ... The balance is further evidenced by the Panthers’ season stats. Six RBI separate the Panthers’ top-five — Meghan Allegretto (20), Ashley Cascio (17), Bridget Pronesti (17), Sam Filiaggi (17) and Olivia Madera (14). Five Panthers are hitting over .300 — Filiaggi (.418), Allegretto (.397), Kaylie Griffin (.343), Pronesti (.323) and Cascio (.315). ... There is one thing that cannot be denied of Tuslaw after its district final victory over Northwestern — the Mustangs aren’t afraid to take risks. In Tuslaw’s 4-3 victory, its scored a pair of runs in the seventh inning via suicide squeeze bunts. ... While the Mustangs boast a solid 24-5 record, will the lack of regional experience haunt them, as opposed to Elyria Catholic, which has a lineup where the majority remembers the 2015 regional experience.

Behm’s pick: Elyria Catholic

Behm’s record: 22-6