South coach set to return after 2-game suspension

South softball coach Erin Dodson will be back in the dugout May 10 after serving a two-game suspension.

“She was suspended for two games for violation of the school’s athletic department policy,” said South athletic director Jim Mormino, declining any further comment.

Second-seeded South is scheduled to host the winner of seventh-seeded Lakeside and 10thseeded Brush in a Division I sectional final on May 10. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.

In Dodson’s absence, the Rebels won two games and took control of the Western Reserve Conference.

The Rebels (18-7, 10-1 WRC) defeated Kenston on May 7, then upended league-leading Madison, 15-11 on May 8 to avenge an early-season loss.

South still has North, Kenston and Mayfield remaining on its WRC schedule, but holds a half-game lead over Madison (15-3, 10-2). Riverside dealt Madison its other league loss.

In a high-scoring affair over Madison on May 10, the Rebels legged out 13 hits — three by Kenna Matriano and two by Kalie Eshelman — to defeat the Blue Streaks. Each also had three RBI.

Riley Frizell improved her record to 9-3 on the mound.

Dodson declined to comment on her suspension, but is looking forward to the coming weeks.

“We are just taking it game by game,” Dodson said. “We have set some lofty goals for ourselves this season and need to play our game every game. We still have not played a complete game. We need to put it all together.”