The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Seniors leave as winners
Elyria won state title in 2017, advanced to final four in 2019
The seniors on Elyria’s softball team started their careers at the top of the mountain, winning a state championship in 2017. Despite losing their final season to the coronavirus pandemic, they are all going out as winners.
Not as state champions, but leaving a legacy that will last a lifetime at the high school, especially with longtime Pioneers head coach Ken Fenik.
“I would rather have a bunch of good kids that I can get to improve than having a superstar. It just seems like the supporting cast is what makes it all go,” Fenik said. “This group this year had awesome chemistry, last year was one of the most fun years I’ve had coaching, because all the girls got along and there was no drama. So needless to say this year I was really looking forward to it.”
The Pioneers featured nine seniors on their roster, many of whom were a part of the 2017 state championship team, as well as the state final four appearance in 2019.
Three of those seniors were members of that ‘supporting cast’ that Fenik said was so instrumental to the team’s success, Adrian Petrisko, Madison Olszewski and Mallory Phares.
“This group this year had awesome chemistry, last year was one of the most fun years I’ve had coaching ...” — Coach Ken Fenik
Olszewski wasn’t a major part of the Pioneers 2017 state championship, but the freshman had responsibilities as a backup pitcher. A year later, Olszewski made the switch to first base, improving upon her first-year numbers, quintupling her plate appearances and hitting.
“My freshman year was probably one of my favorite years, I mean who doesn’t love winning a state championship,” Olszewski said. “My sophomore year I became a first baseman, which was really weird, seeing as I’m only 5-foot2, and then my junior year I made the switch to third base and shortstop and I’ve enjoyed every second of it since.”
In her junior season, Olszewski made the jump from contributor to a key member of the offense, hitting .406 with 28 RBI. In her senior season she was set to take on even more responsibilities as a pitcher, splitting time with ace Izzy St. Peter.
“This year I was going to swap time with Madison and Izzy both trying to go to that two-person platoon pitching during the games,” Fenik said. “In the offseason Madison was probably one of our hardest workers and she probably
Elyria’s Adrian Petrisko fields a ball hit to the outfield during the Prebis Memorial Softball Tournament in 2019. improved the most pitching wise from where she was as a freshman. So that’s why she was going to earn her time this year, because I really thought she was ready.”
Petrisko and Phares made up two-thirds of Elyria’s starting outfield, combining to commit one error in the 2019 season. Both were members of the 2017 championship, but with different stories on how they reached that point.
“I think the best thing for me was my freshman year I started out on JV and I think that really helped me shape into a good player,” Phares said. “Then I got called up to varsity right before the playoffs and all of the sudden I was starting. I think that really helped shape me over the years.”
Phares scored four runs and had two RBI during her freshman season that ended in a state title, and improved upon that each of her next two seasons, finishing her career as a .421 hitter.
Petrisko was a runner for Elyria in the state championship win, but she quickly blossomed into one of the Pioneers’ key players. After missing half of her sophomore year with a broken ankle, Petrisko returned in the leadoff spot, where she hit .424 in 2019 scoring 24 runs on 39 hits.
“My junior year was good because of that trip to the final four,” she said. “I was actually able to experience it which was fun.”
All three Pioneers will continue their careers in college, with Olszewski (Cedarville) and Phares (Tiffin) playing softball, while Petrisko will play volleyball at Mount Union.
Before the season was canceled, the Pioneers had one last practice as a team, one that Olszewski described as one of their best.
“We had a practice right before the whole pandemic started and I think it was one of the best practices I’ve had in my past four years,” Olszewski said.
Now months later, she and her teammates know it was one of their last together as teammates. But after all that they accomplished in three seasons together at Elyria the trio, and all nine seniors on the roster, can move forward knowing they left a legacy that won’t fade any time soon.