The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Keystone juggernaut keeps on rolling
The Wildcats’ offense has been punishing teams this season while pitcher Sydney Campbell has two perfect games. Plus, the softball Top of the Crop.
If offense is contagious, Keystone has the flu.
Through 12 games this season, the Wildcats have outscored their opponents, 165-5.
They have scored at least 10 runs or more nine times.
They have scored at least 21 runs or more four times.
Nine of their 12 wins have been shutouts, including the last five by a combined score of 86-0.
They are batting .441 as a team with an on-base percentage of .539. They have also stolen 49 bases.
“We’re happy,” coach Jim Piazza said. “We still have some improving to do, which is good, but I think we’re farther ahead than where I thought we would be at this point.”
And as good as the Wildcats (12-0, 6-0 Patriot Athletic Conference) have been, what stands out the most can’t be found in the box scores.
Instead, team unity has been the real difference maker.
“The kids, their mindset right now and the effort that they’re putting forth has been a huge help to our success,” Piazza said. “They get along and they’re helping each other. I think that’s been the key to everything.”
The results have been favorable for Keystone, which is averaging nearly 14 runs a game.
“It’s amazing,” junior Autumn Acord said of the team’s success. “I think people underestimated us before the season started because we lost Lauren (Shaw) and Sammie (Stefan). It’s great to know that, although they’re gone, we have other people that are willing to step up and do what they did.”
That includes Acord, who leads the Wildcats in nearly every offensive category, including hits (20), runs (23), RBI (27), doubles (7) and home runs (four).
Every time Acord steps into the batter’s box, she has just one thing on her mind.
“I’m thinking pick Sydney (Campbell) up because she’s throwing great. You have to have your pitcher’s back,” Acord said.
And while the offense has provided more than enough run support, Campbell and freshman Madi Herrington have shown they don’t need much to work with.
Campbell, a junior, is 10-0 with an 0.13 ERA and two perfect games, which came on back-to-back days April 11-12. Herrington is 2-0 with an 0.50 ERA. The two have combined for nine shutouts, striking out 114 batters compared to only nine walks in 66 innings pitched.
“It’s awesome getting to work with Madi because for the past two years I’ve gotten the chance to work with Lauren Shaw, who was amazing,” Campbell said. “I kind of took what Lauren helped me with, just being confident out there, and relayed that information to Madi. I think it’s really helping.
“I’m really thankful to get the chance to work with her because she’s going to be very amazing.”
Sophomore Marlie McNulty feels the same way.
“I always feel confident with Sydney or Madi on the mound,” said McNulty, who leads the Wildcats with 14 stolen bases on 14 attempts. “I feel like they’re going to do their job and I have to do my job to support them also. I think everybody has the same mindset on the team.
“They want to do good for Sydney and Madi, and Madi and Sydney want to do good for us.”
So far, so good for Keystone, which is ranked No. 1 in the state in Division II.
The Wildcats remained undefeated with a 22-0 win over Brooklyn on April 18. It marked the third time in the past five games they have scored at least 21 runs or more.
The win also gave Piazza 429 wins in his career at Keystone, passing Dave Leffew for the most wins in any sport at the school.
“I’m so excited for him to get that. He deserves it,” senior Brooke Piazza, his daughter, said. “He puts in so much work day in and day out. Even when we’re at home he’s still thinking of something, like a new drill, that he can do to make us better, and I’m so excited that I get to be a part of the record-breaking win.” So is the rest of the team. “It’s amazing,” McNulty said. “My sister came through this program also, and I knew I’ve always wanted to be a part of this because it’s so special. It’s an awesome experience and I’m so excited. He makes everything just enjoyable and I think that’s awesome. It’s an extremely great achievement and definitely well deserved, too.”
Heading to Vermilion
Fans looking for some top-notch softball this weekend need look no farther than Vermilion.
The Sailors will be hosting the inaugural Mel Stainbrook Invitational on April 20-21, and some great teams will be making an appearance.
Slated to play in the invitational along with the Sailors are New Riegel, Woodridge, Bellevue, Perry, Buckeye and Eastwood.
Each team will play three games — one Friday and two Saturday — with the exception of Perry, which will play only two games on Saturday.
Vermilion will face New Riegel on Friday at 5 p.m. On Saturday, the Sailors play Woodridge at 11 a.m. and Perry at 2:30 p.m.
A Saturday to remember
Olmsted Falls may have played only one game at the Akron Racers Spring Showcase last weekend, but the team made the 7-4 win against Nordonia count.
The Bulldogs set the school record for doubles in a game, roughing up the Knights with 10 doubles.
The win continued what is looking to be a breakout season for the Bulldogs. Olmsted Falls entered its April 19 game with Westlake at 7-3 on the year and 4-1 in SWC play, sharing the conference lead with Midview — a team Olmsted Falls defeated, 6-3, earlier this year.
Polls are in
The Ohio High School Softball Coaches Association released its first poll of the season on April 16 and, as expected, the Morning Journal area is well represented.
In Division I, Elyria came in at No. 3 with 79 points, pulling in five firstplace votes. The Pioneers trailed Perrysburg (No. 2, 81 points) and the team they beat for the 2017 D-I state title, Lebanon (No. 1, 121 points, seven first-place votes).
In Division II, Keystone starts the season on top, pulling in 80 points with four first-place votes. The Wildcats were trailed closely by Oak Harbor (76 points, three first-place votes). Keystone topped the Rockets, 2-0, in the Tiffin Region final last season.
In Division III, Wellington came in at No. 8 with 24 points. Defending state champion Warren Champion was No. 1 with 78 points and six first-place votes.
Sports Editor Jon Behm contributed to this article.
Dropped out: Westlake 5-4 Watch list: Westlake 5-4, Firelands 7-4, Fairview 4-2, Elyria Catholic 3-4, Columbia 4-4
Crop comments: Keystone keeps winning, and winning big, leading to a jump to the top spot. And the Wildcats don’t look like they’re letting go of No. 1 anytime soon. ... Elyria edged Brunswick before a narrow loss in a rematch against the Blue Devils five days later, leading to a drop . ... Amherst played only two games this week, but made them both count, winning by a combined score of 29-0 . ... Olmsted Falls topped Avon Lake and Nordonia. That makes the Bulldogs 5-1 in Ohio this year . ... Midview rebounded from its loss to Olmsted Falls with a pair of wins this week, but tough games against Hebron Lakewood, Gahanna Lincoln and Central Crossing all got washed. Those games could have led to a large leap for the Middies . ... Wellington found a way to fit in four games this week, and make them all count, bringing the Dukes’ winning streak to six games. ... Avon had a pair of tough games with Amherst and Westlake to start the week, but rebounded with a 15-5 drubbing of Berea-Midpark to prevent a sharp drop . ... North Ridgeville has lived on the watch list so far, but jumps into the Crop after a 4-1 week that included a win over Westlake . ... Lorain took a head-scratching 13-4 loss to Bay, but rebounded a day later with a 3-2 win over Euclid. That, combined with other movement, leads to a spot jump for the Titans . ... Rocky River takes a slide in part due to a lack of games, but also because the Pirates dropped a pair to Elyria Catholic before drubbing Warrensville Heights, 20-1. With strong teams on the watch list, Rocky River is in danger of falling out of the Crop . ... Westlake falls from No. 8 to the outside after some streaky play. The Demons lost to No. 8 North Ridgeville before topping No. 7 Avon, but then dropped a 13-4 decision to BereaMidpark, a team Westlake defeated 18-17 earlier this year.
Note: Records as of April 18.