Regional softball preview: outlooks for Hillsdale, Northwestern, Triway and Tuslaw

Four local teams remain in the softball playoffs: Hillsdale, Northwestern, Triway and Tuslaw.

They all took different paths to district championships and will now face their toughest competition so far on the regional stage.

Here's a preview of each local regional tournament:

Nordonia Regional (Division II) 

Games: Triway vs. Canfield, Wednesday, 2 p.m.; Mogadore Field vs. Archbishop Hoban, Wednesday, 5 p.m.; Nordonia Regional Championship Game, Friday, 5 p.m.

Outlook: Triway looks determined to get back to the state championship game after blowing through sectional and district play, outscoring opponents 48-0 over 15 innings. On a team full of difference-makers, Carter Wachtel may be the most impactful. Not only is she one of the top pitchers in the state as a sophomore (21-1, 0.75 earned run average with 268 strikeouts and 15 walks), Wachtel also hits for contact and power at the top of Triway's lineup.

Speaking of the lineup, it's also among the best in Ohio, with five players — Hailey Massaro (.548, 7 HR, 61 RBI), Emma Flinner (.534, 8 HR, 47 RBI), Katie Hoffa (.519), Emma Hudson (.519), Haylee Pruitt (.513) — batting .500 or better. Wachtel (.476) and Emily Yacapraro (.488) are both flirting with .500, with on-base percentages that are closer to .600.

Canfield looks to be the toughest team the Titans have seen in the playoffs so far, with pitcher Malena Toth coming off a three-hit shutout of Poland in the district finals. The Cardinals have only allowed one run so far in the playoffs. Hoban also stormed through its bracket, outscoring opponents 39-1.

Field is the Cinderella of the region, dispatching Hubbard and top-seeded Marlington in district play to make it to Nordonia.

Ravenna Regional (Div. III) 

Games: Tuslaw vs. South Range, Wednesday, 1 p.m.; Northwestern vs. Ursuline, Wednesday, 4 p.m.' Ravenna Regional Championship Game, Friday, 4 p.m.

Outlook: Tuslaw might be the second-best team in the region, but bracket luck didn't go its way, with one of the Div. III state title favorites in South Range standing in the way in the semifinals. South Range beat the Mustangs 2-0 in regional play in 2021.

Still, the Mustangs go into the regional tourney with plenty of their own firepower. Pitcher Meridith Rankl (.449, 8 HR, 43 RBI) has shut down powerful offenses this year and has one of the best bats in a deep order. Tuslaw's bats have been inconsistent at times, but the Mustangs have the potential to keep up with top-tier offenses with players like Macaira Fox, Lillian Bucher and Camryn Kiefer in the lineup.

Gretchen Bartels homered twice in South Range's district championship win, bringing some pop to a deep lineup. Kelly Szolek is a top-tier catcher as well.

Northwestern will play a similar underdog role against Ursuline, which marched through its district without a close game.

The Huskies' Olivia Amstutz has hit her stride as a pitcher lately however, shutting out defending district champion Brookside in the district final last week. The sophomore has developed into the Huskies' ace, sporting a 1.82 ERA with more than strikeout per inning. Daylie Rickard and Avery Garver have been on-base machines for the Huskies this year, and other hitters like Amstutz, Audrey Franks and Emma Ewing are difference-makers as well.

Strongsville Regional (Div. IV)

Games: Hillsdale vs. Bristol, Wednesday, 2 p.m.; Hopewell-Loudon vs. Mathews, Wednesday, 5 p.m.; Strongsville Regional Championship Game, Friday, 5 p.m.

Outlook: Hopewell-Loudon enters regional play as one of the favorites, led by slugger Shea Harper. The junior star is batting .561 with 16 home runs and 58 RBIs in 26 games, and leads a loaded lineup that also features Kylee Malagon, Chloe Malagon, Isabelle Beidelschies and Abbe Beidelschies, all of whom bat .427 or better.

However, Hillsdale has seen teams with the talent of Hopewell-Loudon, Mathews and Bristol this season, playing tough competition and really hitting its stride after a few early-season losses. The Falcons haven't lost since April 6 and have seen some of its less experienced players blossom as the season has progressed. Belle Dalton is one of the best hitters in Ohio, batting .700 with eight home runs and 41 RBIs, and Mollie Goon has shown plenty of pop as well, hitting .450 with six homers and 38 RBIs. Hillsdale is one of the hottest teams in the state and certainly has the potential to add state championship No. 8 to the school trophy case in a few weeks.

Semifinal opponent Bristol has allowed just two runs in the playoffs behind the arm of Jaylyn Mullenax, who pitched an 11-strikeout five-hitter in a 2-1 district championship win. Mathews has also limited opponents' scoring, but both Bristol and Mathews enter regional play as the underdogs.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Softball: Previewing regional tournaments for all four local teams