The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Keystone’s Campbell rewriting record books
Sydney Campbell’s perfect game against Oberlin on May 4 was her third of the season and the Wildcats pitcher is taking aim at state records. Plus, the softball Top of the Crop.
Any hope of opponents that they would be able to score on Keystone after the graduation of Lauren Shaw are mere dreams.
Most teams are struggling to even get a hit against the Wildcats this season. Why? Junior Sydney Campbell. With a perfect game against Oberlin on May 4, the Wildcats’ pitcher entered not only the Keystone record books, but the Ohio one, too.
The perfect game, during which Campbell struck out 10 of the 15 Phoenix batters she faced, was the third of the season for the junior, which puts her in a tie for 13th in the Ohio High School Athletic Association record book for perfect games in a season. It also knots the mark for the Keystone record with Shaw (2016) and Amie Leffew (1999).
And with one more regular season game to go against Firelands on May 5 and a playoff run that could result in a maximum of seven postseason games, there is not only a chance for Campbell to claim the Keystone record, but also a few other Wildcat and state records as well:
• ERA in a season: Campbell is currently at 0.12, which ranks No. 13 in state history. The Keystone record is 0.16, set by Kristie Malinkey in 2006.
• Wins in a season: Campbell is currently 21-0. The Keystone record is 260, set by Malinkey in 2006. The minimum to qualify for the OHSAA record book is 27 wins.
• Consecutive wins: Dating back to last season, Campbell has won 30 straight. That tops the Keystone record of 26 set by Malinkey in 2006 and currently ranks in a tie for ninth in the Ohio record book. The state record is 51, set by Convoy Crestview’s Jamie Perkins (2003-06).
• Consecutive shutouts: Campbell tied the Keystone mark earlier this season by throwing eight consecutive shutouts, matching the mark set by Leffew in 1999. The duo are tied for 15th in the Ohio record book.
Champs are here
The Morning Journal area experienced a great amount of conference success during the 2018 season. Two teams have already claimed a conference title, with two more races coming down to the wire between two Journalarea teams. One other conference race is down to the wire between a Journalarea team and one outside the area, meaning the Journal area could claim five titles out of a possible seven.
• Greater Cleveland Conference: Elyria and Medina are the frontrunners with a respective 10-1 and 11-1 GCC record. Brunswick is also still in the running at 10-2 — splitting the season
series with both Elyria and Medina. Elyria and Medina have yet to play each other in the 16-game conference season. The first of those two showdowns is scheduled for May 11 at Medina, while the second is slated for May 18.
• Lake Erie League: Lorain claimed the Lake Erie League title after going 10-0 in conference play. The Titans did not leave any doubt that they were the best the LEL had — Lorain outscored its opponents, 172-32, in conference showdowns. Lorain has not lost a conference game in three years.
• Patriot Athletic Conference — Stars Division: Keystone claimed its 11th straight PAC Stars Division title and 12th in the 13-year history of the conference. The Wildcats ran through their competition to a flawless 16-0 record, winning by a combined score of 245-5. Just four teams scored on the Wildcats in conference play. Keystone has now won 40 straight PAC games and 79 of its last 80 conference games.
• Patriot Athletic Conference — Stripes Division: Three of the six teams in the division are still alive, but it is really a two-horse race. Fairview and Columbia are in a virtual tie for the lead, with Fairview holding a 7-3 conference record and Columbia at 8-4 in the 16-game conference season heading into their May 10 games. Fairview holds two head-tohead wins over the Raiders. Clearview (5-7 PAC) is still alive, but a win by Columbia or two wins by Fairview would mean the Clippers would need to win out to have a shot, which would include a victory over Fairview in the process, as Fairview and Columbia each have a strong shot at finishing 12-4.
• Southwestern Conference: The title is Midview’s to lose. The Middies are in first, holding a 13-2 conference record with three games to play — two against Avon and one against Lakewood. The only team that could take the title from Midview is Amherst, which finished its conference slate at 15-3 to keep the pressure on the Middies. The duo split the regular season series, with Amherst winning, 4-3, on April 23 and the Middies claiming a forfeit victory on April 2 after it was discovered the Comets had used a player with an eligibility issue.
Emphasis on the student before athlete
Two Morning Journal-area teams were recently honored by the Ohio High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association.
Westlake and Open Door were both recipients of the 2018 Team Academic Award, given annually to the teams with the top statewide GPAs.
Open Door was named the top non-weighted GPA team. The Patriots boast a 3.88 GPA, besting West Branch, Chesapeake, Sherwood Fairview and Belore for the honor.
Westlake came in at fifth for weighted GPA. The Demons posted a 3.978 GPA.
Polls are in
The Ohio High School Softball Coaches Association released its fourth poll of the season on May 7 and the three area teams that were in the third poll have made the cut for the fourth week in a row.
In Division I, Elyria jumped a spot from No. 8 to No. 7, despite dropping from 57 total points last week to 48 this week. The Pioneers also received a first-place vote. D-I state runner-up Lebanon remained in first with 122
points and seven first-place votes — an increase from 119 points and six first-place votes last week.
In D-II, Keystone remains the team to beat, ranking No. 1 with 108 points and 10 first-place votes, the same totals as last week The lead on the No. 2 team decreased by four points. Oak Harbor is no loner chasing the Wildcats, as Kenton Ridge passed the Rockets for the No. 2 spot with 78 points and a firstplace vote.
In D-III, Wellington held pat at No. 7, totaling 30 points. The Dukes’ point total increased from 23 last week. Defending state champ Warren Champion remains at No. 1, but saw its point and firstplace vote total decrease to 87 and six, respectively.