The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Keystone advances to state title game
Campbell pitches shutout and Herrington scores winning run on a gamble in semifinal
Keystone is back in the Division II state final for the seventh time in program history and first time since 2016 after surviving Fairfield Union in a 1-0 victory May 31 at Firestone Stadium.
No one can say it was easy, though, and the top-ranked Wildcats had a tougher challenge on their hands with unranked Fairfield Union (14-11) than most anyone expected.
The Wildcats will face Beloit West Branch for the Division II championship on at 10 a.m. on June 2 at Firestone Stadium.
It took a full turn through the
lineup before Keystone (33-0) could get anything going on the bases as Falcons freshman Laiykn Teasley held her own against one of the top hitting lineups in Ohio across all divisions. In the end, an error in the fourth inning set up the lone run as each team managed a mere two hits apiece.
Madi Herrington led off, reaching base when Fairfield Union’s shortstop overthrew to first base,
allowing Herrington to get to second. After Autumn Acord moved Herrington to third with a hard single to center field, Madi Nunez did what she has done all postseason, though not the way she planned.
Nunez hit a fly ball in foul territory along the first base line, and when the Fairfield Union second baseman made the catch, Keystone coach Jim Piazza sent Herrington home on a gamble that paid off in a trip to the state championship.
“That wasn’t exactly what I was going for but whatever works,” Nunez said with a laugh. “We’re just always ready when we’re base running.”
Teasley had done what most pitchers who have faced Keystone had yet to do this season — keeping the Wildcats confused and off-balance at the plate, and coach Jim Piazza said he knew that was the moment to try to get on the scoreboard.
“That’s a situation to maybe steal a run because not a lot of people would be that aggressive,” Piazza said. “My guess was the second baseman was going to catch it and be happy she caught it and take those two extra steps that would’ve bought time for us . ... If not, it’s still 0-0, we’ve still got our defense ... nothing’s hurt, but it turns out that was the play of the game.”
While perhaps many were surprised by Teasley’s effort for Fairfield Union, the same certainly can’t be said of Keystone starter Syndey Campbell, who improved her record to a spotless 28-0 by shutting the Falcons down as she has every other opponent this season.
Campbell pitched a complete-game shutout, allowing two hits and a single walk, while the Falcons managed four base runners all game — two on errors.
“(Campbell) had a lot of movement on her ball … they were having a lot of trouble putting it in play where we wanted to put it in play,” Fairfield Union coach Allison Kinniard said.
“We played a good game. We just couldn’t get it going offensively and, unfortunately, it came down to us making one mistake that cost us the game.”
Herrington and Acord had the only two hits of the day for the Wildcats who were held to their lowest scoring output since April 3 in a 2-0 win over Groveport Madison.