'We knew it was going to be a big day': Norwayne shocks Triway to win district title

CRESTON — Norwayne faced a titanic challenge in Thursday’s Division III district championship game.

State contender Triway was in the way, looking for a fourth straight district title. Undoubtedly, Norwayne was the underdog on its home field.

Norwayne met the challenge and then some in capturing one of the biggest wins in program history, coming up with big hit after big hit in a 6-4 win to stun Triway and win the district title. The Bobcats move on to next week's regional semifinals against perennial power Warren Champion (nine-time state champion), clashing with the Golden Flashes on May 22 at Roehm Athletic Complex in Berea.

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"We came in and we knew we were going to face a really, really good team," Norwayne coach Bree Gill said. "I give all the credit to the girls. They didn't back down. They weren't scared. There was no fear in them whatsoever. They wanted to rise to the challenge and they did."

After a regular season with twists and turns, including a third-place Wayne County Athletic League finish, Norwayne proved itself as a giant killer Thursday.

"Waking up, knowing we were playing Triway, we knew it was going to be a big day," Norwayne sophomore CJ Moore said. "I think we all went to school with confidence, knowing we were going to do well at night."

Facing Georgia Tech-bound pitcher Carter Wachtel has been a daunting task for any opponent over the past four years. She's been one of the best players in the state since stepping on the field as a freshman in 2021.

Norwayne’s bats weren’t as electric as they were earlier in the week during a 13-8 win over Mapleton, but they were certainly alive against Wachtel, who pitched a 16-strikeout no-hitter in the district semifinal. The Bobcats traded power hitting for a flurry of base hits, putting the bat on the ball in a way Triway hasn’t seen often over the past four years.

Still, the Bobcats trailed 3-2 heading into the top of the seventh, needing their most clutch inning of the season to survive another day.

They got it.

The first three batters reached base — Riley Gwinn on a single, Emrie Schmidt via hit by pitch and Zoe Gadosik via error — before Kylie Heyden drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game at 3-all.

Then it was Moore's turn.

Moore drove a ball to deep left field to plate the go-ahead runs, giving the Bobcats a 5-3 lead. Abby Workman's third hit of the game later in the inning made it 6-3, giving herself a cushion heading into the bottom of the seventh.

"I saw it was going to be an inside pitch and I knew I could turn on it and drive it," Moore said. "So I took the opportunity to do so."

In the circle, Workman displayed grit, taking a line drive to the leg in the seventh inning before closing the game out with the tying run on second base.

"The seventh inning was very nerve wracking," Workman said. "They're a good hitting team. I knew they could come back."

Outside of surrendering a solo home run to Wachtel during Triway's first at-bat of the game, Workman kept Triway's powerful offense at bay, allowing just four more hits the rest of the way. Two of Triway's four runs were on passed balls as well.

But Norwayne's offense was the story Thursday, coming up with 11 hits against Wachtel and putting the ball in play to force four Triway errors. Wachtel still finished with 12 strikeouts, but the Bobcats had as much success against her as anyone has during the playoffs over the past four years. Seven Norwayne players recorded hits, including three from Workman and two from both Moore and Heyden.

"Last night, we had (former Norwayne star and current Ohio State pitcher) Kennedy Kay come pitch to our team," Gill said. "Mostly, my purpose in that was to take away that initial fear factor. We've never seen Carter and you get in there and she throws hard. I think that helped."

Wachtel was quick to give credit to Norwayne after the game.

"They're a great team. They just stayed on it and made adjustments throughout the game," Wachtel said. "They were loud the whole game. Their energy was great. They did well."

Triway's loss wrapped up the best four-year run in program history — and one of the best four-year runs in Wayne/Holmes area history. The Titans won three district titles, two regional titles and won the 2022 Division II state championship.

Wachtel finished her career as one of the best players in Wayne/Holmes history, striking out more than 1,000 batters and pitching on the biggest stage Ohio high school softball has to offer. Fellow four-year starter Hanna Massaro (2-4) was a huge reason why Triway won the state title in 2022 and has been a cornerstone of the program as well.

"Wins and losses, they come and go," Wachtel said. "Winning state is obviously a huge accomplishment and all the things that we've done. But (what I'll remember most) is definitely the girls I've gotten to play with and the relationships that I've had. These are some of my best friends. That's what I'll take away from this. That's what I'll remember; not the score of this game."

In addition to Wachtel and Massaro, Callie Robson, Livi Grabowski, Michelle Lyons, Samantha Schumacher and Emma Yoder played their final games for the Titans.

"Every single one of them has worked so hard," Wachtel said. "In four years we've accomplished so much but we've grown closer. I've been playing with Hanna forever and we were so close when we came in and we're even closer (now). We've shared all these joys and heartbreak. We've done it all. I'm so proud of (all the seniors)."

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Softball: Norwayne rallies in the seventh to stun Triway