It’s tournament time for area teams

The spring sports season is short and softball teams play tournaments to add games. Sports Editor Jon Behm tells who will play where in the coming days. Plus the Top of the Crop.

Already the shortest season of the OHSAA calendar, spring sports season spans slightly over a month from March 25 to May 6 — and that’s if the weather coop- erates.

So, it should come as no shock that teams enjoy tournament play — both near and far — to try to maximize the days available to take the field.

The Morning Journal area is no exception.

Twelve area teams will participate in a total of eight tournaments as far away as Louisville, Ky. and as near as Elyria, LaGrange and Wellington.

As stated, though, there isn’t much time for these tournaments to happen, meaning some will overlap.

So how do we, as fans, decide what we want to see?

Here’s a quick guide to the area tournaments to help make your decisions:

AKRON RACERS OHIO INVITATIONAL (APRIL 7-9) >>

You have to start early with these tournaments, and Columbia was the first to jump in. Originally slated to play three games on April 7-8, rain and snow forced the Raiders to play a pair of games on April 9 against Revere and Akron Springfield, with Columbia emerging victorious in both by scores of 3-2 and 6-4, respectively.

AKRON RACERS SPRING SHOWCASE (APRIL 14-15) >>

Firelands will make its annual trek to Akron to participate in the Spring Showcase. The Falcons, playing out of Pool C, face Newton Falls at 6:30 p.m. on April 14 before playing a doubleheader on April 15 against

Dropped out: Rocky River (4-3) Watch list: Rocky River (4-3), Avon (4-3), Fairview (3-3) Crop comments: The top spots of the Crop are such a tight race that the slightest

Revere and New London. WENDY’S SPRING CLASSIC (APRIL 20-22) >>

Elyria will participate in the 24th annual Ashland tournament at Brookside Park that brings in some of the top teams in the state. The Pioneers, participating in the round robin yellow pool, will face Eastwood on April 20 and will have a doubleheader against North Union and Akron Hoban on April 22.

AKRON RACERS ROCK N FIRE TOURNAMENT (APRIL 21-23) >>

If you would rather stay a bit closer to the Cleveland area, Olmsted Falls will be participating in another of the Akron Racers tournament series. The Bulldogs are slated to face Chardon falter can knock you down. That is exactly what happened to Amherst, which drops to No. 3 after a 3-2 week that saw losses to tough Gahanna Lincoln and Hilliard Bradley teams . ... Elyria and Keystone remain undefeated and will remain as the top two until proven otherwise . ... Columbia vaults to No. 7 following a 5-0 week that included two wins over watch list team Fairview and a pair of wins at the Akron Racers Ohio Invitational over Revere and Akron Springfield . ... Lorain takes a steep tumble to No. 10 following a 1-3 week that saw the Titans lose twice to No. 6 Vermilion. Lorain would have dropped out had it not been for a lopsided 20-0 loss to Holy Name that forced Rocky River out, but the Pirates could be due for a quick bounce back with a nonconference slate that features Shaker Heights, Laurel and Our Lady of the Elms up next.

Note: Records as of April 12.

NDCL on April 22, followed by a pair of games against Hubbard and Austintown Fitch on April 23.

J.B. FIRESTONE INVITATIONAL (APRIL 21-22) >>

If you really just don’t want to drive to far to see only one area team play, the Black River’s J.B. Firestone Invitational is the place for you. Avon Lake, Elyria Catholic, Firelands and Oberlin will play in the annual showcase.

PREBIS MEMORIAL (APRIL 28-29) >>

The annual classic split between LaGrange and Wellington Community Parks will not disappoint, with Keystone, Elyria, Amherst, Midview, Avon, Columbia, Wellington and Olmsted Falls taking place in the showcase that brings top teams from across multiple states to Northeast Ohio.

ELYRIA SOFTBALL SHOWCASE (MAY 5-6) >>

The postseason tuneup will feature area teams Columbia, Elyria, Elyria Catholic and Midview not only facing each other, but also some of the top teams in Northern Ohio like Perkins, Edison and Revere.

Mo cycle

In a 12-8 win against Lutheran West on April 12, Fairview senior Mo Wolansky achieved what is generally regarded as one of the toughest things to do in softball or baseball: hit for a cycle.

Not only did she get the cycle, going 4-for-5 on the day, but she also did it in order, notching a single in the first, a double and then a triple in the fifth and a home run in the seventh.

Wolansky also scored three runs while driving in two.

Raiders on the edge

The Columbia Raiders are off to a 6-0 start as of April 12, but the wins have not come without excitement.

A 4-0 victory over Fairview on April 10 has been the widest margin of victory for Columbia, with the Raiders claiming four onerun victories and a two-run victory as well.

Patriots play

And on the eighth try, Open Door played.

Following eight cancellations and postponements, the Patriots defeated visiting Lawrence, 15-0, on April 10. Hannah Kardar was key to the Open Door victory, as she notched two hits (a double and a triple).