'Come back with a vengeance next year': Tallmadge and Aurora fall in softball regional

MACEDONIA — Tallmadge senior catcher Lexi Gray stated she was surprised to receive an interview request after a season-ending loss.

The reaction is understandable because emotions were raw Wednesday evening after the Tallmadge softball team fell short in its Division II state title defense.

However, the fact remains Gray and the other six seniors on the team are leaving Tallmadge with legacies as state champions.

“I'm very proud of the way that we played this year,” Gray said. “It's hard coming off of a state championship and trying to fulfill those shoes again.”

Hopes for a repeat were dashed with Tallmadge's 4-1 defeat to Buckeye in a Division II Macedonia Regional semifinal. Tallmadge finished with a record of 21-8. Buckeye improved to 22-6.

Earlier Wednesday, Aurora (24-2) suffered a 12-2 loss to Canfield (23-3) in the other semifinal held at Nordonia High School. Aurora had its deepest postseason run in school history since 2012, when it also fell in a regional semifinal.

“We've been steamrolling teams all year long, and then you come in today, we're feeling good about who we are, we didn't feel like we needed to make any changes, and the game, it just didn't go our way,” Aurora coach Sam Petrash said. “It happens.”

How Buckeye beat Tallmadge to advance to Division II regional final

Tallmadge outfielders made highlight plays in each of the first two innings to keep Buckeye scoreless.

In the first inning, junior center fielder Leila Staszak threw out a runner at home plate. In the second inning, freshman left fielder Aubrey Almond caught the ball while falling down in front of the fence for the third out with the bases loaded.

But surrendering 10 walks cost Tallmadge. Three of Buckeye's four runs were walked in, putting Tallmadge in a 3-0 hole during the third inning. Tallmadge's deficit grew to 4-0 in the fourth inning, when a throwing error allowed a run to score on a sacrifice bunt.

In the sixth inning, Tallmadge ensured it wouldn't be shut out and trimmed the Buckeye lead to 4-1. Gray led off with a double to the left-field fence and later scored with two outs when senior Ashlyn Severns' pop up near third base wasn't fielded.

Tallmadge threatened to come back in the seventh inning, but it had a runner thrown out at home plate and left two more stranded.

“The heart of this team, it's we never give up, and it's nice to see that even when we're down, everyone still tries to do their best and everyone's up for the challenge,” said Gray, who's committed to play softball at Baldwin Wallace University.

Of the 30 players who were in the Tallmadge program this season, 23 are set to return next season, Blue Devils coach Brittany Lightel said.

“Coming back from a state championship win, we come in with a target on our back, and we still make it this far,” Lightel said. “So, obviously, the seniors, they're onto bigger and better things, but I had to tell my underclassmen, 'You know what it feels like. You know what it feels like to lose. Some of you know what it feels like to go all the way. So come back with a vengeance next year and just get to this point and further.'”

How Canfield defeated Aurora to advance to Division II regional final

Aurora fell behind 1-0 in the third inning when Canfield sophomore leadoff hitter Jenna Triveri reached base on a single to left field and later scored.

But the floodgates didn't open until Canfield scored five runs in the fifth inning. Junior Sydney Lutz picked up two RBIs with a one-out single to right field after one of the runners had reached safely on an error. Another Aurora error contributed to a sacrifice bunt by senior Malena Toth resulting in two runs, and senior Faith Morell delivered an RBI single to left field to give Canfield a 6-0 advantage.

Like Tallmadge, fellow Suburban League American Conference member Aurora didn't stop fighting. It cut its deficit to 6-2 in the sixth inning when sophomore Lailah Bohanan smashed a two-out, two-run double off the fence in left field. It was one of three Aurora hits in seven innings against starting pitcher Toth.

But the Canfield offense kept producing, Aurora committed two more errors and Canfield boosted its lead to 12-2 with six runs in the seventh inning.

Aurora senior pitcher McKennah Metzger took her first loss after compiling 20 wins, a single-season school record. Canfield finished with 14 hits but also capitalized on defensive lapses.

“The errors contributed to that definitely,” Petrash said. “McKennah was pitching her heart out there, and they started putting some good swings on her. There were situations where we felt they might go small and try to put a bunt down. You pull your corners in, and then they beat one right past the third baseman. So it was just a combination of things.”

When will Buckeye and Canfield meet in the Division II regional final?

Buckeye and Canfield are scheduled to play for the regional championship at 1 p.m. Friday, Nordonia athletic director Rob Eckenrode said. The title game had originally been slated for a 5 p.m. start.

Last year, Tallmadge defeated Canfield 9-0 in the state championship game, but a rematch this postseason wasn't meant to be.

Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Tallmadge, Aurora lose in OHSAA softball regional semifinals