The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
‘Civil War’ is contested under the lights
South’s postseason didn’t culminate quite the way it was hoping, but the Rebels go out on a high note with a 10-0 mercy-rule win over archrival North under the lights at Todd Field in Willoughby.
It may not have been the day the South softball team wanted to end its season, but the way it ended, the Rebels will take that every time.
After a stunning upset loss to Mayfield in a sectional final knocked South out of the postseason May 10, the Rebels regrouped and finished off the regular season with a 10-0, five-inning mercy-rule win over archrival North in the teams’ annual under-thelights meeting May 12 at Todd Field in downtown Willoughby.
Freshman Riley Frizell, as she has all season, led the way for South (19-6) at the mound and at the plate. Frizell dominated on the mound, pitching a no-hitter with seven strikeouts. She allowed only three baserunners, two via walk and another that reached on an error.
She got things started for her team offensively, too, launching a high-arcing two-run home run over the fence in left field in the bottom of the first for an early 2-0 lead. She added a single and a walk, and finished with three runs scored and three RBI in her three plate appearances.
Not one to pat herself on the back, Frizell was quick to credit the contributions of her teammates as key to the big win, while stressing the importance of sending the seniors out on a high note.
“It was a great team win, actually,” Frizell said. “After the loss against Mayfield, we really wanted to do something for our seniors, because we did not want to end our season like that. So we said we were going to play hard for our seniors and get them the big win.”
Senior Ava Scott drove in four runs, while sophomore Mya Matriano hit three singles, scored three times and plated two more. Scott hit a two-run single in the bottom of the third to extend the South lead to 4-0.
The floodgates opened in the bottom of the fourth, as the Rebels sent 11 to the plate and six more runs crossed. With two out in the inning, six consecutive batters reached base, five of those with a base hit, as South kept the line moving. Frizell put an exclamation point on the night by striking out the side in the top of the fifth to end the game.
“Weaker teams probably would have crumbled,” South coach Erin Dodson said regarding her team’s rebound win. “It’s about having a positive attitude, about having the mindset to come out and play our game. Both fortunately and unfortunately, this was the best game we played all year. Graduating (only) one starter, I think that’s a lot of momentum for next year. Riley throws a no-hitter, we start off with two runs in the first inning, then we just kept building.”
North, which couldn’t get any offense going against Frizell, was able to manage a few highlights in the field. Ranger center fielder Val Arnold came up with the web gem of the game, reaching over the center field fence in the bottom of the first to rob Scott of a home run and get North out of the inning.
“Even if we come with our ‘A’ game today, I don’t think we beat South,” said North coach Andy Palermo, who described his team’s season as “up and down.”
“This was the team I think a lot of people have been expecting to see, and unfortunately, with that upset loss to Mayfield, we kind of took the brunt of their anger. Hat’s off to them. They played well today.”
South will graduate two seniors, so with a bright future ahead, the Rebels are eagerly looking forward to next season.
“Hitting is contagious, and that’s exactly what happened,” Dodson said regarding the big fourth inning. “This team can hit, and we kind of put it all together (tonight), but we’re so young. We have one junior and one senior in this current starting lineup. The future is unlimited. It’s about what they put into it and what they’re going to get out of it.”
As for Frizell, who has already earned a softball scholarship to the University of Missouri, this season was a great start for what looks to be a fun road ahead for her and her equallyyoung teammates.
“It was honestly the best year of softball I’ve ever had in my life,” she said. “I’ve made a lot of friendships from (this season). I’m going to miss the seniors more than anything. We have a lot of growing to do with this team, we’re really young, and I can’t wait to play three more years with them.”