Amherst, Keystone excel as teams compete in weekend tournaments

Several area softball teams returned to the tournament circuit this weekend after an almost two-year absence due to the novel coronavirus.

Teams from Amherst, Clearview, Elyria, Firelands and Keystone made weekend trips to tournaments across Northeast Ohio, with all five coming away with varying degrees of success.

Wendy’s Spring Classic

At the Wendy’s Spring Classic, hosted in Ashland, featured Amherst, Elyria and Keystone in a field of 16 teams from Ohio.

In their first trip to the tournament, Amherst walked away as Pool A champions.

The Comets went unbeaten in their three games over the weekend, defeating Elyria, Norwayne and Madison.

Amherst pitcher Kate Kastelic picked up wins in all three of the Comets’ outings in 18 innings of work Kastelic struck out 18 hitters.

Keystone also walked away as champions of its pool, defeating Centerville and Canfield.

The Wildcats suffered their first loss of the season to Hillsdale, falling 3-1 to the Falcons in their second game of the tournament.

A 5-4 win over Canfield in their final game of the day gave Keystone another title in their 18th trip to Ashland for the spring classic.

Elyria finished the weekend at 0-3, with close losses to Amherst and Norwayne.

Akron Racers Spring Showcase

Two area squads made appearances in Akron at Firestone Stadium, former home of the Akron Racers on April 17.

Clearview lost its opening game of the tournament, 13-2, to Medina Highland.

The Clippers fell behind early, before a rally in the fourth inning brought them within one.

A pair of RBI singles from Brooke Rebman and Madison Pennington made it a 3-2 game, before Highand put up a ten spot in the top of the fifth.

Firelands fell in its opening game against St. Joseph Academy, one of the top teams in Division I.