Strasburg, Conotton Valley among sectional softball champions
Amelia Spidell pitched a complete game, giving up two runs on three hits with 12 strikeouts, as No. 1 seed and state-ranked Strasburg defeated No. 10 and Inter-Valley Conference North Division rival Central Catholic 10-2 for a Division IV sectional softball championship at Franklin Park Thursday night.
The Tigers, who are ranked No. 2 in the state in the coaches' poll, improved to 21-3 and will play No. 3 Caldwell in a district semifinal Monday at 5 p.m. at Cambridge.
Spidell helped her cause with a double, three walks, and two runs scored.
Maggie Richards added a double, two walks, two RBIs and three runs scored, Sydney Sibila chipped in a single, double, and two RBIs and Audrey Allensworth had a single and two RBIs for the Tigers.
Emma Gilkerson walked twice and scored twice.
One night after throwing six innings of one-run, three-hit ball against No.5 ranked Conotton Valley, Emily Garbrandt was once again called upon to lead the Saints from the pitching circle.
Garbrandt limited the Tigers to three runs on five hits through three innings before leaving the game due to an injury that occurred during her only at-bat as she was struck by a pitch on both hands.
In the fourth inning, the Saints' Jordyn Caldwell led off the inning with her team-leading and career-high seventh home run of the season that shattered a car windshield in the right field parking lot.
The next batter, Megan Peltz laced a double up the right-field line. After moving to third on a sacrifice bunt by Maddie Ferrell, Peltz scored on a sacrifice fly by Delaney Savage. This cut the Strasburg lead to 3-2, but that was as close as the Saints could get.
Conotton Valley 10, Shadyside 0
Masy Baker tossed a two-hitter and struck out 16 and No. 2 seed and state-ranked Conotton Valley pounded out 11 hits as it topped No. 12 Shadyside for a six-inning Div. IV sectional championship, its second in as many years.
The Rockets, ranked No. 5 in the state, will play No. 6 seed and IVC rival Newcomerstown in a district semifinal Monday at 5 p.m. at Tusky Valley.
Baker and Ellie Bower each had two hits with each having a home run. Daphne Stuber, Jordyn Braun, and Kelsey Edie had two hits each and Braxton Neilson added a single.
Baker added 16 more strikeouts to her total of 245 on the season.
Garaway 10, Fort Frye 0
Meghan Petitte hit a grand slam and Isabella Tetreault tied a school record for the most shutouts in a season as No. 4 Garaway shut out visiting No. 11 Fort Frye in a five-inning Div. III sectional final at Sugarcreek.
The Pirates will play No. 1 Martins Ferry in a district semifinal on Monday at 5 p.m. at Harrison Central.
It was the fourth grand slam for the Pirates in the past two weeks as Petitte drove in half of her team's runs Tetreault helped her cause with a single, double and three RBIs.
Tusky Valley 10, Cambridge 3
Megan Jones hit her first career home run, Charity Ramser had a solid day at the plate with two hits and Kylie Rohr got the pitching win as No. 5 Tusky Valley recorded a mild upset of No. 3 and host Cambridge for a Div. III sectional title game.
The Trojans will take on No. 2 Harrison Central in a district semifinal Monday at 5 p.m. at Conotton Valley.
Harrison Central 15, Union Local 5
No. 2 Harrison Central defeated No. 8 Union Local in a Div. III sectional final at Cadiz.
The Huskies will take on Tusky Valley in a district semifinal Monday at 5 p.m. at Bowerston.
Newcomerstown 7, Toronto 3
No. 6 Newcomerstown recorded a mild upset of host and No. 5 Toronto in a Div. IV sectional final.
The Trojans will take on IVC rival Conotton Valley in a district semifinal Monday at 5 p.m. at Zoarville.
Black River 9, Fairless 4
No. 10 Black River topped No. 13 Fairless for a Div. III sectional title in the Norwayne Northeast District.
Regular season
West Holmes 10, Wooster 6
West Holmes knocked off Wooster for an Ohio Cardinal Conference win.
Among the West Holmes hitters were Keegan Uhl (single, double, home run, two RBIs), Kenzie Woods (single, double, triple, RBI), Felicity Cline (single, triple, two RBIs), Jocelyn Lucas (two singles), Maddie Clark (RBI double) and Kali Woods (two RBIs).
Clark was the winning pitcher.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Strasburg wins yet another OHSAA sectional softball championship
