AKRON — South Range’s dream season ended in heartbreak Sunday as the Raiders dropped the final contest of the season, losing 10-0 to Sherwood Fairview in six innings in the Division III state title game.
The Raiders, who were notorious this season for hitting balls deep into the outfield, struggled to do that against Fairview.
“Unlike the rest of our season, we didn’t really hit the ball very hard and when we did, it was some pop-ups,” South Range coach Jeff DeRose said. “They made some great plays as well. I think Sam Susany hit and the second baseman made a heck of a play on a line drive.
“Defensively, I don’t think that we fielded as well as we have all year. I was asked yesterday after our game what it’s going to take to win tomorrow’s game and basically I said exactly what didn’t happen today. I said we’ve got to hit the ball and make plays on defense.”
Fairview pitcher Paige Ricica kept South Range at bay throughout the contest. South Range (30-4) recorded just three hits in the loss.
“She threw rise balls,” Raiders pitcher Bree Kohler said. “I felt like we all went for the first pitch and we didn’t really get into the count.”
The season ended on a low note, but the ride to the final had plenty of highs. The Raiders had fewer losses than they had games in which they scored 15 runs or more. They posted victories over powerhouses Champion and Ursuline in the district and regional finals, and tied a program-high 30 wins. The 2021 Raiders made it to the program’s second state final and will add another trophy, albeit silver, to the case.
Both seniors on the team will be continuing their softball careers at the next level with Jillian Strecansky moving on to play at Marietta College and Kohler staying local, playing for Youngstown State.
Kohler struck out five batters in her final game in the maroon and gold and is glad she got to see the end of the year, even if the outcome wasn’t ideal.
“It feels really good that we got to play in the last game possible,” Kohler said.
With eight players on the roster making their first appearance on a high school field this season, there were obvious questions. Those were quickly answered as the underclassmen provided plenty of talent for the team.
“Just going into the season, not really knowing half the team, I mean half the team is sophomores and freshmen so we didn’t know any of their capabilities, and then to go through the season and realize that they were really good, and we had a good team was just a blessing this year for my senior season,” Strecansky said.
One of those players is sophomore catcher Kelly Szolek. Szolek stepped into the role as the team’s starting catcher and made sure to credit the seniors for her quick adaptation to the varsity game.
“I didn’t have my freshman season due to COVID, so coming in as a sophomore, it was an amazing ride to get here,” Szolek said. “I couldn’t have asked for better teammates, friends, or seniors in Bree and Jillian, so I’m forever thankful for this experience and these girls.”
Only two teams from Ohio beat the Raiders this season, with Fairview winning once and Poland beating South Range twice. The only other loss South Range suffered was to Clover from South Carolina in a spring tournament.
The Raiders return all but two players to next season’s team and had four sophomores in the starting lineup this season. With another year of development for the sophomore class, DeRose looks to be back in Akron this time next year.
“They were amazing,” DeRose said about his sophomores. “Who knows if they’ll be in the same positions next year, but they’re half of our starting nine. Then, when you throw in Maddie Dado, a freshman in centerfield and Gretchen Bartels coming out of the woodwork. She was a JV player and she was a very good hitter, that’s why she’s been starting for us, the last 18 or 20 games.
“We’re only losing two starters, a key pitcher of course, but we’ll be back. I mean we’ve got strong pitching behind Bree.”
byauger@tribtoday.com
FV: 0-2-4-0-0-4-10-12-0
SR: 0-0-0-0-0-0–0-3-3
SR–Bree Kohler, wp (6IP, 5K, 3BB)
FV–Paige Ricica, lp (6IP, 3K, 0BB)
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