9 central Ohio softball teams ready for OHSAA regional: Here's a look at the field
Nine central Ohio high school softball teams across three divisions find themselves four wins from the ultimate goal – a state championship.
Only three of the nine were in the regionals a year ago. Three-time defending Division I champion Watkins Memorial, its semifinal opponent Hilliard Bradley and West Jefferson in Division III are the exceptions.
All regional semifinals are scheduled for Wednesday, followed by finals Friday.
Here is a look at the regional tournament from a central Ohio perspective:
Watkins Memorial headlines Division I field
The rest of the big-school field is coming for Watkins Memorial (28-1), which faces Bradley (25-1) in the first semifinal at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Big Walnut. This is the last go-round for a Warriors core that includes the battery of Michigan State-bound pitcher Carsyn Cassady (26-0, 0.31 ERA, 300 strikeouts, 11 shutouts) and Ohio University signee Jordyn Wycuff (.653 batting average, 11 home runs).
Ranked second in the final state poll and 13th nationally by MaxPreps, Watkins Memorial has outscored its opponents 307-41. Junior infielder and Houston commit Maleya Thompson has 12 home runs.
Cassady’s 100th career win came in Saturday's 10-0, five-inning district final rout of Olentangy Orange. She has 1,045 career strikeouts.
“What I was doing when I was young in years prior, I’ve developed and mastered more recently,” Cassady said. “College is on the way, but there’s a lot of motivation in knowing you don’t want the last game to end, not this soon.”
Senior Jillian Meszaros and freshman Mickey Moody have split pitching duties for sixth-ranked Bradley, and Moody closed out a 3-2 district final win over Dresden Tri-Valley. The Jaguars scored twice in the first inning and once in the fifth, leading off both innings with bunts.
“They’re always looking for ways to grab something extra,” coach Kevin Moody said. “That’s why they play so well together. They’re always anticipating.”
Fifth-ranked Lancaster (27-3) faces Teays Valley (20-7) in the second semifinal at 5 p.m.
Lancaster is in its second regional in three years, and the Vikings are in for the first time since 2018. Teays Valley will join the Golden Gales in the OCC-Buckeye this fall.
Toledo signee Reese Poston and Louisiana State commit Ashlin Mowery, a junior, are the dynamite pitching tandem for a Lancaster team that has given up only 33 runs.
Freshman Avery Stratton homered in the eighth inning Saturday to lift Teays Valley past Marysville 8-7 in eight innings.
“I knew we’d have a gritty bunch,” Teays Valley coach Derrick Hastler said. “We don’t take anything for granted, but I knew they could do some good things if they all performed like they were capable.”
Granville, Jonathan Alder, Logan Elm advance in Division II
Jonathan Alder (21-4) rolls into Wednesday’s 2 p.m. regional semifinal against Logan Elm (19-8) at Pickerington Central on a nine-game winning streak, but coach Dave McGrew admits it’s not the loudest team he’s had.
The Pioneers have only three home runs this season and have relied more on contact, including some key bunts. Pitcher Alyssa Miller was injured earlier in the year but has dominated of late, allowing just three runs over the past two weeks.
“We’ll do whatever we have to do,” McGrew said. “Some games, we will bunt, some we won’t. It’s been a great group.”
Logan Elm is one of three district champions from the MSL-Buckeye, along with Teays Valley and Liberty Union in Division III. Lucy Caplinger’s two-run single in the seventh inning Friday was the winning hit as the Braves upset top-seeded Thornville Sheridan 2-1 in a Southeast District final.
Sophomore pitcher Sadie Binkley limited Sheridan to two hits and struck out seven.
No. 6 Chillicothe Unioto and No. 8 Dover meet in the other semifinal.
Granville (27-3), ranked second in the final state poll and in its first regional since 2018, faces No. 9 Lewistown Indian Lake (24-2) in a semifinal at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Wright State. No. 3 Springfield Kenton Ridge or seventh-ranked Greenville awaits in the final.
Liberty Union, West Jefferson advance in Division III
While Liberty Union (20-6) won its first district title in 13 years with only two senior starters, West Jefferson (12-11) returns to regional for the second year in a row despite being seeded 10th in the district.
Liberty Union, the third seed, scored all nine runs in the last two innings of a district final to upend top-seeded Fairbanks 9-5. The Lions’ senior starters are Brooklyn Brockman (2B) and Macie Wollenberg (OF), and sophomore Suzie Shultz has anchored the pitching staff.
Liberty Union faces No. 7 Carlisle (27-3) in a semifinal at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Centerville. The winner gets No. 5 Casstown Miami East or Bethel-Tate.
“Fifteen (girls) have bought in,” coach Shaun Hochradel said. “We faced adversity when our starting shortstop (Addi Osterman) went out for 18 games. We faced it (Saturday in the district final) and they answered the call.”
West Jefferson plays in a strong Ohio Heritage Conference that includes Fairbanks and Division IV district champion Mechanicsburg. The Roughriders face Coldwater (18-11) at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Findlay, and the winner gets No. 6 Oak Harbor or Castalia Margaretta.
Freshman Jenna Mannon (.566, 30 hits, 10 home runs) leads the offense and splits pitching duties with senior Lexi Swaney.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: OHSAA softball playoffs: 9 central Ohio teams ready for regional
