Walsh Jesuit and Hoover will meet in regional round or later for 5th time in 10 seasons
MENTOR — The more things change in high school softball ... well, they really don’t.
Sixth-seeded Walsh Jesuit earned its second consecutive district title Wednesday with a 12-2 victory over 12th-seeded Perry.
Their prize for winning the Mentor Division I District is a date May 24 with Massillon district champion Hoover.
Again.
It’s the second year in a row the Warriors (15-5) will play the Vikings (15-9) and the fifth time in the last 10 seasons the two schools will meet in a regional semifinal or later.
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“Hoover is just really good, and they get better during the season,” Walsh coach Tony Scibelli said. “They’ve been here so many times that they don’t get rattled.”
The Vikings didn’t in their 1-0 win over Jackson to set up a rematch of last season’s 10-4 regional semifinal win over the Warriors.
Eight-time state champ Hoover owns wins in 2022, 2017 and 2014 over Walsh. The three-time state champion Warriors beat the Vikings in 2016.
“Both us and Hoover capitalize when we need it,” Walsh third baseman Sienna Tepley said. “We always strive to be our best selves by May, which is what takes us through. It’s whoever has the best momentum going through that thrives on.”
Walsh Jesuit softball is catching fire at the right time
In a season they’ve dedicated to injured Minnesota commit Natalie Susa, Walsh has figured it out at the right time.
The Warriors have won five in a row and are hitting on all cylinders right now.
They’ve scored 28 runs on 31 hits in three tournament games and pitcher McKayla McGee (10-4) has been on a tear in the circle and at the plate. She was 2-for-3, including a game-ending three-run home run and two-run single.
“We’ve been playing really clean in the field and our bats have really been on fire,” Walsh senior Zoey Schmitt said. “It’s going to be a great game with Hoover.”
Before Walsh could think about the Vikings, it had to get past a Perry team with a lot of momentum itself.
The Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the third on a bunt single by Delaney Dietrick. The lead was short-lived as Schmitt’s two-run double tied it and Caleigh Schaulis’ double gave the Warriors the lead.
A run-scoring single by Andrea Mansbery and two-run base knock by Natalie Eich made it a five-run inning and pushed Walsh forward.
“That got the offense going and got us hyped,” McGee said. “Once we get going, we’re not going to stop.”
Eight of Walsh’s starting nine reached base and seven came around to score at least once.
“If they score one, we’re going to score 10,” Schaulis said. “We always go over and beyond. We just keep that high energy and stay up.”
Panthers pride will be on display next season
Playing in the Federal League always helps, but Perry loses only Shayla Turner, Jasmine Frantz and Grace Miller to graduation.
Add to that the tradition of winning two state titles in the last five seasons and the Panthers will be ready for 2024.
“We’ve taken some major strides since last year,” coach Scott Daugherty said. “We started a lot of these girls as sophomores. The things that we needed to get better at was game play and in-game situations. Really the only way to get better is to see it live. To get to a pressure game like this will serve us well.
“We’ve been through this a lot at a Perry where we get to a district final and lose. It’s really disappointing, but some of the greatest teams suffered the same disappointments.”
Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Walsh Jesuit, Hoover will meet yet again in OHSAA softball postseason
