The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Wildcats unbeaten in regular season
Wildcats roll over Firelands to finish regular season unbeaten; primed for postseason run
For the third time in the history of Keystone’s prestigious softball program, the Wildcats completed a perfect 27-0 regular season by beating Firelands, 10-0, in five innings on May 5.
For the first time since 2012 and third time since 1999, the Wildcats ended the regular season with a perfect record headed into the state tournament.
The other two times the program went unblemished through the regular season, Keystone won state championships.
“It feels great knowing that no matter what, no matter who we
play, we’re going in with the same confidence level and just go out there with the same approach and get it done,” junior pitcher Sydney Campbell said. “If one person doesn’t get the job done, the next person is there ready to have their back.”
Keystone coach Jim Piazza gave all the credit to his players and the hard work they put in behind the scenes to make another incredible season possible.
“It means we’re doing the right things in practice and we’ve still got a lot of stuff to work on and
the kids know that, but it’s a credit to them to stay focused and put the time in,” Piazza said. “They did a great job in the offseason for conditioning and when the season started and early we couldn’t get on a field. All that extra work we’ve been able to put in the gym was phenomenal and all the credit goes to them.”
Attacking the Firelands pitching and looking to capitalize on the errors committed by the Falcons, the big blow for the Wildcats came off the bat of sophomore Emma Miller, who pinch-hit and rocked her first varsity homer, a two-run shot that gave Keystone an 8-0 advantage in a pivotal sixrun fourth inning.
“I feel like once we get started and get hits going, it turns into a rally and even if someone strikes out, we just pick each other up and it’s the same thing every game,” Miller said. “For me, it felt good coming off the bat. It’s a great feeling always. Recently I came up from JV and (coach Piazza) has put me in whenever he needs me and I’m just glad to help out the team.”
Miller had five home runs on the JV team and responded in a big way when her number was called.
Top to bottom, that’s just what the Wildcats do, they make teams pay.
Making the Falcons pay for four errors on the day, Piazza said he tells his team to hit the ball hard and anything can happen.
“You’re not going to get a hit every single time. That’s the biggest thing is that if we hit it hard and can force mistakes. That’s the time to build on it,” Piazza said. “When things happen, mentally you can start working and that’s one of the things we worked on in the offseason as far as handling mistakes. It’s OK to make them, you’re going to be OK and these kids have done a great job of believing in themselves.”
Ending the game with a lot of hugs and celebration all around, the Wildcats know they are in elite company as of now, but a new season begins in the playoffs and they have to come out swinging.
“It’s amazing, I’ve always played softball, so coming in and getting to win all these games is an amazing feeling everybody has been a part of,” Miller said.
Adding to her thoughts, Campbell knows it’s a one-and-done season now, but her Keystone teammates are a confident bunch headed to familiar territory.
“We’re very confident. We are still going to go out there with the same approach,” Campbell said. “We try not to get too cocky. We just go out there and get the job done.”