Richland County Softball Power Poll gets interesting, Rams still hold strong and No. 1
MADISON — The Richland County Softball Power Poll just got very interesting.
What looked like a runaway last week has now turned into a two-team race with a few more ready to pounce if there are any more slip-ups. Let's check out this week's Richland County Softball Power Poll.
1. Madison (11-2)
The Rams suffered back-to-back losses last week falling to Mount Vernon in their two-game OCC series 12-11 and 6-5. Dropping two games to a Division I team that won four consecutive league championships before seeing that streak ended last year by one run in each of those matchups are not terrible losses. In Game 1, the Rams were stunned giving up six runs in the bottom of the seventh. In Game 2, the Rams had a 4-2 lead in the top of the sixth so they were just one or two key defensive plays away from winning those games, but sometimes, that is how softball goes. They did rebound in a big way with a 10-2 win over Huron on Thursday to get back on the winning side of things. Bri Bowles added to her career-record home run total and Olivia Schulz had three hits while Kyleigh Reiter had two hits and two RBIs in that win. The two losses really made the power poll championship a race again and a busy week ahead has the Rams hoping to put this thing out of reach. They travel to Tiffin Columbian, have Ashland for a two-game series, and then they play Perrysburg on Friday and North Ridgeville and Midview on Saturday at the Prebis Memorial Invite at Keystone. Could be a big week for the Rams.
2. Ontario (11-4)
The Warriors went 3-0 since the last power poll and put themselves back in contention for a championship. They beat Galion 13-6 and 18-1 in their Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference series before heading to the Wendy's Classic on Friday beating Poland Seminary 3-2 before the entire event got rained out the rest of the weekend. The Warriors struggled in Game 1 against Galion but eventually scored seven runs in the top of the 11th inning to come away with the win. Joslynne Frazier clubbed two home runs while Taylor Mullins had one. Frazier had six RBIs for one heck of a night. The next night was a bit easier with the 18-1 victory. Mullins homered again with a grand slam and Trista Jewell had a big night with four hits and four RBIs. In the win over Poland Seminary, Mullins and Frazier both homered again as their two big hits were the difference in the game. Mullins now has 10 home runs on the season and has homered in six consecutive games which is tied for the sixth-longest streak in Ohio High School softball history. Everyone will be watching to see if she can push it to nine games as the Warriors play Pleasant twice and Bucyrus once this week.
3. Shelby (10-7)
The Whippets had a nice week going 2-1 since the last power poll, but they lost their one-game lead in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference title race in the process. After beating Highland 8-1, they turned around and took a 3-1 loss to hand them their first league loss of the season. They are now tied with River Valley and Ontario at 7-1 in MOAC play. But the big win of the week came in a 6-5 decision over Lexington as the Whippets scored two runs in the top of the seventh on a two-run double by Demi Hipp to put them ahead. Alyssa Booker then slammed the door in the bottom of the seventh to send the Shelby faithful home happy. That is a big win, especially with the tournament draw coming up on Sunday. Shelby could get a favorable seed and maybe get an easier path to a district berth. First, they have some business to take care of as a two-game series with River Valley looms on Tuesday and Wednesday before a home game against Upper Sandusky on Thursday.
4. Clear Fork (8-6)
The Colts exploded for two MOAC wins last week over Pleasant winning 18-15 in a marathon game and then 12-6 in Game 2. The Colts had 15 hits in Game 1 highlighted by a Renee Anders home run and a four-hit day from Anders and Mel Blubaugh. Andrea Swainhard had a four-RBI game as well. In Game 2, Blubaugh and Katrina Rogers both slugged home runs as those two and Anders all had three RBIs apiece. Anders is starting to make a strong case for player-of-the-year considerations as she is hitting .532 with 21 RBIs and four homers on the season. The Colts are going to need her as well as everyone to put up a successful week as they travel to Northwestern, take on Marion Harding in a two-game series and travel to Highland on Friday for a league makeup game.
5. Crestview (6-5)
The Cougars slipt their two games since the last power poll beating South Central 10-1 before falling to Monroeville 8-2. The loss to Monroeville puts two Cougars two games back of the Eagles in the Firelands Conference title race so they have some work to do if they hope to get back in it. Luckily, they have one more game with Monroeville to play as Game 2 got rained out. But, they have no time to look ahead. They play Loudonville, New London twice, South Central, Fremont St. Joseph, Strongsville and Riverside for seven games in six days this week. Weather permitting, the Cougars could make a huge charge up the rankings next week if they can win all seven. Chesnie Patton had a huge game in the win over South Central with five hits and five RBIs while Sophie Durbin had four hits. Patton also threw a 3-hitter with 14 strikeouts. Not too shabby for a sophomore.
6. Lexington (8-8)
Lady Lex has a decent week last week with two wins over Mansfield Senior 19-0 and 15-3 before falling to Shelby 6-5 on Thursday to round out the week. Kylie Galownia had a big night in Game 1 against the Tygers with three hits and four RBIs before twirling a one-hit shutout with six strikeouts in five innings. In Game 2, she had three hits and four RBIs with a home run so she is really starting to heat up at the plate and that spells good news for Lady Lex. Lex needs some signature wins on its resume to make a charge in the power rankings and maybe sneak into the Top 5. Lady Lex had New Philadelphia in a two-game series before hosting River Valley on Saturday. Those are three very tough opponents and could help Lex gain some momentum heading into the tournament draw on Sunday.
7. Plymouth (7-5)
The Big Red lost their only game since the last power poll falling to Monroeville 12-2. Aryssa Horne did provide some fireworks with a mammoth home run in the second inning but the Big Red couldn't grab any momentum from it. Plymouth has now lost five of their last seven games and they hope to get back on the winning side of things with games against Mapleton, Monroeville and Loudonville this week.
8. Lucas (4-9)
The Cubs are starting to find some momentum after two wins since the last power poll pushed them to 4-9 on the season. They beat Mount Gilead 17-5 and Buckeye Central 11-8. Marissa Caugherty and Isabel Alt both slugged home runs in the win over MG. Alt actually hit for the cycle as she went 4-for-5 with five RBIs with a single, double, triple and home run becoming (unofficially) just the 20th player since 2014 to hit for the cycle in an Ohio high school softball game. Her 3-run home run in the bottom of the fifth put the game over the run rule. The Cubs will try to continue their winning ways this week against Mansfield Christian and East Knox.
9. Mansfield Senior (2-7)
The Tygers make the move up to No. 9 this week after going 1-2 since the last power poll with their lone win coming against Mansfield Christian 20-8 in five innings. Hannah Nolan, Isabella Blevins, Chadalyn Whitmore, Ellie Snyder and Makenzie Melvin all had two hits apiece. Melvin earned the win in the circle allowing eight runs on five hits with five strikeouts in five innings of work and the Tygers now have two wins on the season. The Tygers have two games against Wooster and one with Mount Vernon on the schedule this week.
10. Mansfield Christian (1-9)
The Flames went 0-1 since the last power poll falling to Mansfield Senior 20-8. Abby Heininger did have two hits while Noel Cline and Talia Byrom had two RBIs apiece. The Flames play Lucas, Fredericktown, Crestline, Genoa Christian and Tree of Life this week.
jfurr@gannett.com
740-244-9934
Twitter: @JakeFurr11
Last Week's Rankings
Madison
Ontario
Shelby
Crestview
Plymouth
Clear Fork
Lexington
Lucas
Mansfield Christian
Mansfield Senior
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Madison Rams are No. 1 in Richland County Softball Power Poll
