Division IV
Strasburg-Franklin Holds off Late Surge from Lincolnview to Win Eighth State Championship
AKRON, Ohio - Strasburg-Franklin defeated Van Wert Lincolnview in the 2022 Division IV state championship game 3-2 in Akron Saturday at Firestone Stadium. This is the eighth state championship title in the program's history, which is tied for second in OHSAA history.
Strasburg-Franklin started the scoring off in the fourth inning when junior Maggie Richards doubled to right center, scoring senior Emma Gilkerson. Richards advanced to third after a groundout, junior Audrey Allensworth laid down a bunt to score Richards making the score 2-0 heading into the fifth.
After a scoreless fifth inning the Tigers of Strasburg-Franklin added another run in the sixth when Gilkerson singled to left field scoring junior Hayley Reiger to add to their lead 3-0.
In the seventh inning the Lancers made a rally off the bat of Freshman Grace Brickner who singled to center field, scoring senior Andi Webb. Freshman Ashlyn Price singled to center to score senior Zadira King. Freshman Allie Miller tried to score from 2nd base off the bat of Price but would be thrown out from center field to end the game.
This was Lincolnview’s first appearance in the state championship.
Division III
Wheelersburg Wins Second Softball State Championship in Program History
AKRON, Ohio - The Wheelersburg defeated the Tuslaw in the 2022 Division III Softball state championship 5-2 at Firestone Stadium.
Wheelersburg started the game off strong, jumping to a 2-0 lead from the bat of sophom*ore AndiJo Howard who singled to left field, scoring sophom*ore Haley Myers and freshman Catie Boggs.
After a scoreless second inning Wheelersburg went right back to work scoring two more runs in the third inning after a single up the middle from sophom*ore Sydeny Skiver that scored Meyers.
The Mustangs rallied in the fifth inning to score two runs. A sacrifice bunt would score junior Madeline McBride, after an error from the Wheelersburg infield the Mustangs runners advanced into scoring position. A sacrifice fly from senior Macaira Fox would score junior Brooklyn Mazzocca to make the score 4-2 Wheelersburg.
Wheelersburg went on to score one more in the seventh inning when junior Macee Eaton hit a solo homerun to cap off the day.
This was Massilion Tuslaw’s first appearance in the state championship game.
Division I
Lakota West Softball Brings State Championship Back to Cincinnati for the First Time in 30 years
AKRON, Ohio - West Chester Lakota West beat Holland Springfield 9-2 Saturday in the 2022 Division I State Championship at Firestone Stadium.
Lakota West started the first inning strong when senior KK Mathis hit a one out home run, scoring fellow senior Molly Grace to give them a 2-0 lead early. Holland Springfield scored right back in the bottom of the first with a home run off the bat of senior Maddie Darrah to make the score 2-1.
After a scoreless second inning Lakota West senior Haley Hibbard singled up the middle to score Mathis. After two errors from Springfield, Lakota West scored two more in the third adding to their lead making the score 5-1.
Lakota West continued scoring in the fourth inning as senior Lily Volmer and Hibbard both added an RBI on the day making the score 7-1.
Mathis added another hit in the sixth inning, doubling to center field. Hibbard singled to right field to score Mathis, adding another RBI and making the score 8-1. Springfield ended their scoring in the sixth inning when sophom*ore Ava Littin hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Darrah.
Lakota West capped off the day in the seventh when senior Belle Hummel singled to center field, scoring junior Tionna Bright making the score 9-2. Springfield did not score in the seventh.
This was Springfield’s first appearance in the state championship.
Division II
Triway Tops Jonathan Alder for First State Title
AKRON, Ohio – In 2021, Wooster Triway made school history with its first trip to the softball state tournament and finished as state runner-up. On Saturday, the Titans completed their goal of winning a state championship, as they knocked off Plain City Jonathan Alder, 2-1, in the Division II title game at Firestone Stadium.
Top-ranked Triway (30-2) scored single runs in the first and fifth innings and sophom*ore pitcher Carter Wachtel struck of 10 and allowed only two hits to earn the win.
Senior Haylee Pruitt doubled home a run in the first inning and senior Emily Yacapraro single home a run in the fifth. Alder had tied the game in the top of the fifth when sophom*ore Shanna Higgins hit a sacrifice fly.
Second-ranked Jonathan Alder (26-2) was making its fifth trip to the state tournament. The Pioneers won the 2019 state tile and now have two runner-up finishes.
