The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Keystone nearing milestone mark
Wildcats need one win to be first in Ohio with 1,00 victories
When Keystone faces Oberlin, it could become the first softball program in the state to win 1,000 games.
For over 20 years, the Keystone softball program has set the bar for success in Ohio. Four state championships, 18 state final four appearances and a national championship are some of the incredible accomplishments accumulated by the Wildcats.
On April 13, they’ll get a chance to add another. When it faces Oberlin, Keystone could become the first softball program in the state to win 1,000 games.
“You go back and think about everybody that has had a part in it, all of the great players and coaches. And it’s pretty exciting,” head coach Jim Piazza said. “It’s exciting for the whole program and what it has accomplished. The amount of people that were involved in this is the amazing part.”
Piazza took over the Wildcats’ head job in 2003 and has elevated the program to unheard of levels of success. Over his 18 years as the head coach, Piazza has compiled a 489-60 record, including a 9-0 start in 2021.
“I was very fortunate enough to have a person like Larry Shaw show me the way. I’ve had some great people show me, you don’t go this far doing it yourself. It takes a village,” Piazza said.
“The kids you have to trust you, you have to trust the kids. And there’s just a lot of things that go into making the program successful.”
Shaw was a Lorain County coaching legend, serving as head coach for a variety of sports at several schools. But his biggest contributions came at Keystone, where he was (at various times) the boys basketball and softball head coach.
Shaw took over the Keystone softball program for several seasons, before handing the reins to Piazza
in 2003.
Since then, Piazza has helped a countless number of players continue their careers at the next level and impacted many more lives in the process of leading Keystone’s softball Death Star.
“To me those are more important than the wins,” Piazza said. “We’ve had doctors, producers of TV stations, nurses and it goes on and on. To hear how successful they are and how they’re having kids and now their kids are coming through the program, those are the exciting things for me. That’s why our program is successful.”
Tradition is a word that Piazza likes to use when
describing his program. He and his coaching staff make sure their players and even prospective players know what it means to put on the Keystone jersey, and that’s a large reason why the program has been so successful.
“These kids all the way down to elementary school can’t wait to play for us and they dedicate their time and their efforts and to make sure that our programs stay successful,” Piazza said. “It means a lot to our community and our parents. It’s a big thing around here and we’re excited to be able to continue that and continue to work hard.”
Lorain County softball greats like Sydney Campbell,
who finished her career at 70-4, including a 29-0 junior campaign, and Morning Journal softball Player of the Decade, Sammie Stefan, have come and gone through the Keystone program.
Those two players and many others are testaments to what Piazza preaches.
“We tell our kids we’re playing for all the people who laid the groundwork for us, and paved the road to success, and we don’t want to be the group to let that down,’ Piazza said.
So when Keystone’s 2021 squad takes the field on April 13 eyeing history, they’ll be doing it not just for themselves. But for every player, coach and fan who has ever been a part of the Keystone program.
Madi Herrington, Keystone Kerrigan Williams, Keystone Faye Clark, Brookside Ashlee Aliff, Brookside Larren Rounds, Firelands Emma Ody, Avon
Liz Berki, Avon
Cassidy Kettleman, Amherst Elise Aniol, Columbia
Kayla Dykin, Avon
Rachel Miller, Amherst McKenzie Cornwell, Amherst Kennedy Kerr, Keystone Jessica Gerhardinger, Keystone Madison Pennington, Clearview Elizabeth Allen, Clearview Amanda Demmerle, Avon Jessie Dean, Avon
Payton Regal, Wellington Maile Oswald, Wellington Mallory Mclellan, Avon Lake Jenna Jaffee, North Ridgeville Lindsey Reavis, Amherst Hailey Reichert, Clearview Kiley Boutin, Avon Lake Autumn Behlke, North Ridgeville Taylor Graham, Avon
Elaina Rodriguez, Avon Jessica Chapman, Keystone Brooke Rebman, Clearview Alex Hlaves, Clearview Teddi Hardoby, Wellington Emma Barnes, Midview
Jessi Morlock, Columbia
Izzy D’Alessandro, North Olmsted Izzy Reich, North Olmsted Emma Kretchmar, Vermilion 17 17 17 16 13 12 12 12 11 11 11 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 9 9 9 9 9 8 8 8 8 8 7 7 7 7 7 7 6 6 6
Lily Cassell, Keystone
Kate Kastelic, Amherst Leah Musall, Brookside Elizabeth Allen, Clearview Payton Regal, Wellington Katie Barnhart, North Ridgeville Kayla Dykin, Avon Autumn Behlke, North Ridgeville Jessie Dean, Avon
Jenna Christner, North Olmsted Maile Oswald, Wellington Jessi Morlock, Columbia
Lily Cassell, Keystone
Leah Musall, Brookside Elizabeth Allen, Clearview Kate Kastelic, Amherst Kayla Dykin, Avon
Jessi Morlock, Columbia Payton Regal, Wellington Katie Barnhart, North Ridgeville Autumn Behlke, North Ridgeville Jessie Dean, Avon
Avery Orille, Avon Lake Maile Oswald, Wellington Lindsay Revmatas, Avon Lake Jenna Christner, North Olmsted Danielle McGolthlin, Vermilion Izzy Reich, North Olmsted Morgan Potts Vermilion Jasmine Willis, Midview Grace Pierce, Bay 80 66 56 55 54 50 47 42 34 34 32 22 18 13 12 11 11 10 10