10th title on the horizon? Strasburg softball knows history is on the line
When it comes to some of the greatest team accomplishments in Ohio high school sports history, the Strasburg High School softball program stands among the very elite.
Just walk into the Tigers’ gymnasium and gaze up at the many impressive Orange, White and Black banners — nine of them to be exact — that proudly proclaim, “Strasburg Tigers, State Softball champions.”
The tradition-rich Tigers tied an Ohio record last June when they successfully repeated as Division IV state softball champions following an 8-2 win over Hopewell-Loudon at Akron’s historic Firestone Stadium.
Their latest state title elevated the Tigers into a three-way tie for most state softball championships in Ohio High School Athletic Association history. They are tied with Akron Springfield and Warren Champion for that prestigious honor.
State wrestling: Title dreams end for Carrollton's Kail Snair, IV's Leroy Steagall
“Because of Strasburg’s tradition, I think a lot of times people think it’s easy for us, and that’s really not the case,” said Strasburg head softball coach Tom Spidell in how his team handles the perennial elevated expectations for the program. “They work so hard, and it’s not just in-season. These girls have been working since they were 4 and 5 years old, because they’ve seen what it takes (to win a state crown) and what the expectations are. They’ve worked hard all the way up through and have played together as a team.”
So, as the veteran Tigers, with five returning starters, and their throng of supportive fans, prepare for another campaign, there’s an extra air of excitement in the city and around Tuscarawas County of what this season could bring. A 10th state title in the sport would break the tie and make them the all-time winningest program (in terms of state crowns) in Ohio softball history.
“It’s very special,” says Tigers’ All-Ohio senior pitcher Amelia Spidell, an Ohio Dominican commit and the daughter of head coach Tom Spidell. “In terms of preparing for it, I’ve just tried to stay calm and collected and just do what I know how to do.
"At the end of the day, everyone has been working so hard. I know we’re good enough to do it (break the all-time state title record), it’s just executing at this point. I’m really excited about the chance to make history — this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with three-peating and all of it.
“Last year, we just talked about tying the record and being one of the teams to go back-to-back since my aunt (Tammy Spidell who pitched the Tigers to three state titles in ’87, ’88 and ’89) played,” said Amelia Spidell. “Honestly, this year, it hasn’t been spoken about, but I know all the girls know. It’s just one of those things, we all have that common goal, so there’s not really much that needs to be said regarding it, because we all know what’s on the line. Honestly, we’re just trying to play pressure-free and just enjoy ourselves while working toward that goal.”
Tom Spidell said his team is energized by their great following of fans.
“It’s very special,” he said. “You go up there (to Firestone Stadium) for the biggest divisions (in the state tournament games) and sometimes their crowd isn’t near what ours is. It seems like the whole town takes the time to come up and support us. It’s a lot of fun, and we always call it the ‘Sea of Orange’ because they’re always in orange shirts. It’s very special.”
Tom Spidell, who guided Strasburg to a 29-2 record along the way to the state championship last spring, knows there will be many challenges ahead before anyone can even begin to think about the long and sometimes unpredictable tournament trail that leads to Akron. But, at the same time, Spidell and his team don’t shy away from all the possibilities.
This year’s team returns five starters, led by pitching ace Amelia Spidell.
The numbers that Amelia Spidell posted last season boggle the mind. She pitched 157 innings while posting a record of 21-2. She struck out 286 batters while walking just 26 and finished with a minuscule ERA of .0803.
“Honestly, whenever I’m thinking about what I’ve learned most about pitching isn’t anything physical,” Amelia Spidell said. “Obviously, you have to practice and work hard to get to where you want to be, but pitching in the game of softball is 90 percent your mental game and 10 percent your physical game. So, really what I’ve had to work on the most isn’t necessarily my physical, because pitching does not come easy or natural to me, so I’ve really had to work hard. It’s just having that positive mindset and believing you can do anything you set your mind to and not letting your head go down a negative route.”
“She’s had a tremendous career,” said Tom Spidell of his daughter. “Going into her senior year she’s developed into a leader on this team. We kind of saw that a little bit last year, even with the senior class we had. A couple times she kind of took the team and had a talk with them. Her leadership is going to be very important to us this year to get us back to where we want to go.”
The Strasburg coach didn’t hesitate a second when asked about Amelia’s best pitch as a left-hander.
“I think her best pitch is her two-seam fastball,” he said. “It kind of moves like a curveball but it’s still just a fastball. When she has it going right, it moves a lot. We’ve had some other right-handed pitchers that have tried to throw a two-seam fastball, and it just doesn’t seem to move like it does with a lefty.”
Amelia Spidell set a new OHSAA Division IV state tournament record last season when she struck out 18 batters in the Tigers’ state title win over Hopewell-Loudon.
The Tigers’ staff will include three pitchers this spring, including Spidell, junior right-hander Lauren Harvey and sophomore right-hander Miley Reifenschneider.
In the field, the Tigers’ position players include Harvey and Reifenschneider at first base and senior Ada Richards at second on the right side. The shortstop and catcher positions will alternate between sophomore Ella Gilkerson and sophomore Olivia Spidell and the third basemen will be freshman Addy Sibila or Reifenschneider. Vying for the left fielder’s job are sophomore Addison Sundheimer and freshman Rayelle Watkins, while the centerfielder will be sophomore Sofia Secrest and the right fielder will be junior Rylee Becker.
“She (Becker) is a slapper and a bunter and has been really working on her overall hitting, so we’ll have her in that second spot where we’re hoping Amelia gets on and Rylee can slap a bunt and move her over and get her into (scoring) position,” Tom Spidell said.
The Tigers’ top returning hitters include leadoff hitter Amelia Spidell (.473 with three home runs last year), Olivia Spidell (.486 with four home runs), Becker and Ella Gilkerson (a team-leading seven home runs last season).
The returning starters include Olivia Spidell, Gilkerson, Becker, Richards and Amelia Spidell.
Strasburg has once again loaded its schedule with many Division I teams.
“We always try to make the schedule as tough as possible,” said Tom Spidell. “At the beginning of the season we’re going down to Myrtle Beach again and we’ll play five games against three Ohio teams that are all Division I as well as Morgantown from West Virginia and Yorktown (Pa.)."
Strasburg will once again be the favorite to repeat as the Inter Valley Conference North champion but Spidell says Conotton Valley will be a strong league contender as well.
“I think the challenge is going to be Conotton Valley again, with Masy Baker there pitching, and they have some younger girls who played last year,” said the Strasburg coach. “They’re going to be a very solid team. They’re definitely our biggest (IVC) competition.”
The Strasburg assistant coaching staff includes Brock Lauvray, Rachel Montgomery, Carly Mayle and Strasburg graduate Hayley Reiger, a volunteer assistant. Reiger was the starting second baseman on last year’s title team.
The Tigers will open the 2024 season Saturday in Sugarcreek against the Garaway Pirates.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Strasburg softball aiming for 10th OHSAA state title in program
