The Crestwood Red Devils’ softball team is showing a knack for winning road playoff games, as the Red Devils surged late to defeat Orange 21-10 in the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division IV Northeast 4 sectional championship last Thursday evening in Pepper Pike.
“It just solidifies what we are doing and shows the growth of where we are at to be able to do it on the road again as a lower seed,” said Coach Matt Helm. “It definitely shows the things that are there, and our record does not really indicate who we are all of the time.”
It marks the second consecutive season that that Crestwood (7-11, 3-7) has captured a sectional championship and the third straight season that the Red Devils have earned one road playoff victory,
If the Red Devils defeat Portage County rival Field in the OHSAA Division IV Northeast 4 district semifinal on Tuesday, they will have a chance to compete in the regional semifinal after playing either Portage County foe Streetsboro or Norton in the district championship at Massillon Washington on Thursday.
“Field’s pitching is phenomenal, and it always has big hitters,” noted the third-year coach. “Their fielding is on point, so we are going to be going into it with a challenge for sure and probably the best team we have seen all year.”
On Thursday, the teams traded runs throughout the game as they combined for 22 runs in the first six innings.
Clinging to a 12-10 lead entering the top of the seventh frame, after the Lions had trimmed Crestwood’s lead to 11-10 in the bottom of the fifth inning by scoring five runs, capped off by a three-run home run to center field by junior catcher Kelsey Lewis, the Red Devils countered with 10 unanswered runs in the top of the 7th to put away the Lions.
After the first two Crestwood hitters recorded outs, the Red Devils seized their opportunity to increase their lead when freshman left fielder Ava Macik reached base safely on a fielding error, scoring a run from second base, extending the lead to 13-10.
Sophomore first baseman Hailey Pesarchick delivered a RBI-single to center field which plated another run as junior second baseman Abby Hayes scored on the relay throw, followed by a RBI-single to center field off the bat of freshman right fielder Kaitlyn Roberts which scored Pesarchick as she took home on the relay throw. Sophomore pitcher Bella Stier then hit a two-run triple to right field and freshman third baseman Jillian Hayes belted a RBI-double to center field, plating freshman catcher Jocelyn Johnson on the relay throw.
According to Helm, Crestwood hitters have grown more comfortable in the batters’ box each game and have worn down opposing pitchers.
“I preach non-stop quality at-bats, even if you are going up there and striking out but you have seen seven or eight pitches because we will live with it,” he added. “That will come back and help us in innings later.”
Helm acknowledged that Crestwood got off to a slow start in the game as the Red Devil batters were overly aggressive at the plate but credited his team for staying composed and letting the game come to them.
The Lions’ offense went silent in the final two innings, as Stier came on for relief and hurled two innings of shutout ball, surrendering no hits, no walks and striking out two batters.
Helm noted that Stier’s off-speed pitches provided a new look for the Lions, who had dealt with high-speed pitches from junior Grace Harper in the first five innings.
“That was exactly what she was in for, so it was a good situation overall,” Helm said of Stier’s relief work. “I had them both warmed up anticipating that situation.”
In addition to Stier providing flawless relief work, Helm said that the entire team rose to the occasion to fuel the offense as the Lions opted to avoid pitching to Johnson, one of the Red Devils’ hottest hitters, walking her in all six plate appearances.
Helm said that Orange’s insistence at not pitching to Johnson struck a chord with the other hitters.
“Even with the bases loaded they walked her,” he said. “It hurt for the fact that we could have gotten potentially more runs out of it, but it fired up a few of the other ones.”
As the Red Devils advance in the postseason, Helm looked back at their playoff success over the last three seasons, as each year a playoff victory came in a road duel, demonstrating Crestwood’s resilient mentality.
