HARWELLPHOTO.COM
Suburban League softball teams already have flexed their muscle in sectional tournament play. Total effort is what you'll see from teams looking to advance as demonstrated by Highland outfielder Taylor Domasky.
As the spring season heads down the home stretch we have many Suburban League teams and individuals looking for the big stage and some SL stars already have found the location for their next act.
Baseball
The tug-o-war that is Suburban League baseball currently finds Green one game ahead of Tallmadge in the loss column. The Bulldogs (17-4, 9-2) won a huge game at Revere on Friday after squeezing out the home game against the Minutemen 11-10.
Green dominated Wooster 9-0 in a Canton Division I sectional final and have punched their ticket for next week's district semifinals. The Bulldogs are the No. 3 seed in the bracket.
“We continue to be a force offensively as we are hitting .393 as a team,” Green coach Jon Wallace said. “We need to pitch and field better if we are going to achieve the goals we set before the season."
Junior outfielder Evan Keeslar was the batting hero in the first win over Revere with a single, a double and three RBI. His double proved to be the decisive hit.
Softball
Copley, under the direction of fourth-year Glenn McCoy, clinched the outright Suburban League title on Wednesday with a 24-0 win at Barberton.
The Indians (16-1, 13-0) blasted four home runs and now have one SL to finish on Monday against Wadsworth. McCoy's team was leading 2-0 when the game at Weatherstone was stopped a third time for lightning.
McCoy recently had a brief hospital stay after taking a bruise on his shin from a batted ball during a drill. The bruise opened and became infected.
McCoy did check himself out of the hospital and made it to the field last Friday for their showdown game with Green.
“I promised the team I would be here for this game and I did,” McCoy said. “I’m not feeling that great but I can get by for now."
Staying in Green, coach Brian Tharp’s softball team is a gritty, talented group, and a dangerous one in the Massillon Division I District.
Tharp likes his team's ability to manufacture runs
“We have had a number of tough one run losses and with our difficult schedule I do think we have the ability to make something happen in the playoffs,” Tharp said. “The girls play hard and that's all we can ask."
Tharp’s Bulldogs blanked GlenOak on Thursday in a sectional opener by the score of 7-0. Marisa Tharp had three singles and scored three runs in the game for the Bulldogs.
Green (14-10) was scheduled to play defending Division I state champion Massillon Perry on Friday in a playoff game.
Against the powerful Indians of Copley last week, the Bulldogs found themselves down 8-2 after three innings but rallied only to fall 8-7.
“We had the top of the order up late. I thought we might get one of those late-game rallies, but we just did not get the (key) hit,” Tharp said. "The Suburban League is real tough this year so you have to take advantage of those chances."
Senior twins, Marisa and Olivia Tharp, combined for five hits in the loss.
Suburban teams Cloverleaf and Highland had impressive sectional wins on Friday eliminating Northeast Ohio Conference opponents.
The Colts took down Strongsville 3-0 behind pitcher Kristen Kilzer, while Highland nipped North Royalton 3-2.
Coach Mandi Myser's Highland team completed a 9-5 slate in the Suburban League and sits 14-9-1 after a huge playoff win over the Bears.
“I don’t know how this season will end but the girls have been great to work with. Our district is very talented and anyone can win on any given day,” she said.
Highland eliminated Wadsworth from SL contention with a 5-3 win earlier in the week.
Revere (6-10, 2-9) is improving in a rugged league and its climb can be traced in part to the comeback of a bright young player.
Sophomore Anna Demjanuk is coming back from a serious car injury which occurred during her freshman year. She had a severe leg injury requiring two separate surgeries.
She made her first start last Saturday and won the game and is now 2-0 on the season as she has allowed just four earned runs in 16 innings, to go along with 11 strikeouts.
“It is pretty exciting to get her back as she has had a long road back,” Revere coach Lisa Simpson said.
Oher pitchers have stepped up for the Minutemen, including Liz Pappas (2-2) with 22 strikeouts in 31 frames and Laura Weidinger with 41 innings in the circle.
Signings
This week the Wadsworth wrestling team had three of its top performers sign their letters of intent with colleges.
Sheldon Brandenburg (160) and Nate Ball (140) were runner-up finishers at the 2011 Division I OHSAA state meet. Brandenburg signed with Cleveland State, while Ball is headed to Lake Erie College.
Alfredo Gray (130), among career wins leaders at Wadsworth, signed with Kent State University. Gray took fifth at the 2011 state meet.
Green AD Mark Pfaff also had these college announcements: Luke Davies-football—University of Mount Union, Sam Dorando-football-- University of Mount Union, Alex Ciocca-baseball---University of Mount Union, Rick Brewer-basketball—Wayne College in Orrville and Morgan Jackson-golf—Walsh University in North Canton.