AKRON — Two Stark County softball teams — Perry and Jackson — took the field Saturday, June 7 in the Ohio High School Athletic Association state tournament at Firestone Stadium.
Perry’s Cinderella run ended late Saturday morning in a 2-0 loss to Painesville Riverside in a Division II state semifinal. Jackson, making its first state tournament appearance since 1986, lost 8-4 to Centerville late Saturday afternoon a Division I semifinal.
Here’s how each game unfolded through our live updates.
Jackson softball scores once more, but loses to Centerville
The Centerville Elks are advancing to the Division I state title game after defeating Jackson 8-4. The Polar Bears got one more run in the seventh when Emma Smith doubled to start the inning and later scored on Gabbi Williamson’s RBI ground out.
Centerville adds on, leads by 5 heading to the 7th
Another two-run double by Caitlyn Belcher gives the Elks two big insurance runs in helping them push their lead to 8-3.
Jackson down to its last 3 outs
Jackson went in order in the top of the sixth and still trails 6-3.
Centerville lead remains 6-3 heading to the 6th
After a scoreless bottom of the fifth by the Elks, their lead remains 6-3 as the Polar Bears come to bat to open the sixth.
Jackson gets one run back, trails by 3 in the 5th
Gabbi Williamson’s RBI single scored Emma Smith in the fifth to cut Jackson’s deficit to 6-3. The Polar Bears had a chance to do more damage in the inning, but left the bases loaded. Madi Moden and Morgan Christopher followed Williamson’s single with singles of their own to lead the bases with two outs before the Elks got out of the inning.
Centerville pushes lead back to 4 runs
A two-out, two-run double by Caitlyn Belcher restored Centerville’s four-run lead in the bottom of the fourth. She doubled off the fence in left center to give the Elks a 6-2 lead heading to the fifth.
Jackson answers, cuts deficit in half in the 4th
Jackson scored twice in the fourth. Morgan Christopher singled to center to score Madi Moden, whose one-out double got the rally going. Courtney Helle later added an RBI single, cutting Jackson’s deficit to 4-2.
Centerville loads bases to open scoring with big 3rd inning
Centerville scores first Saturday, taking a 4-0 lead heading into the fourth thanks to its four-run third. The Elks got an infield single, a walk and another single to load the bases to start the frame. A second walk in the inning, to Chayse Adkins, forced home the game’s first run. Caitlyn Belcher followed with a fielder’s choice to drive in the second run. Lillie Hopf’s sacrifice fly scored Centerville’s third run. Hannah OConner’s RBI double to left center made it 4-0.
Jackson does not threaten in the 3rd
Jackson goes in order in the third inning, the first time it didn’t put a runner on base in an inning.
Centerville leaves one on base in 2nd
The Elks got a hit from Olivia Castle and nothing more in the second inning, as the game remains scoreless.
Jackson leaves one on base in 2nd
Courtney Helle singled for Jackson in the second, but the Polar Bears did not score. They’ve had three baserunners through two innings.
Centerville softball puts runners, but also does not score in 1st
Like the Polar Bears, the Elks threatened in their half of the first but did not score. They had two baserunners, on a walk and a single. Jackson erased the walk with a caught stealing and Centerville stranded the second runner.
Jackson softball threatens, does not score in top of 1st
Jackson’s Emma Smith opened the game by getting hit by pitch before Ava Chevalier reached on an infield single. A sac bunt put runners at second and third for Jackson with one out, but the Polar Bears could not cash in. A line out into a double play ended the threat with no runs scoring.
Jackson vs. Centerville softball state semifinal set to start soon
Jackson’s game, scheduled for a 3 p.m. start, will begin around 3:20. Jackson is the visiting team and will bat first.
Riverside 2, Perry 0 | Division II state semifinal
Riverside softball shuts out Perry, ending Panthers’ run
Perry made things interesting in the seventh, but Annaliese Davis was able to complete Riverside’s 2-0 win. Perry managed five hits off Davis, but two of those game in the seventh, back-to-back two-out singles to spark its best threat of the day. But the Panthers could not push across a run against Davis, who struck out eight out and walked none in her complete game.
Aubrey Creatore and Eliana Turner had the two-out singles for Perry in the seventh.
Perry heads to the 7th still trailing 2-0
Riverside put two runners on in the sixth, but could not add to its lead. Rebecca Tornow’s leadoff hit was later followed by an intentional walk to Annaliese Davis, but Riverside couldn’t get an insurance run. The Panthers are down to their final three outs to try to extend their season.
Perry gets another hit, but nothing more in the 6th
Lacy Zapotoczny’s two-out single gave the Panthers their first baserunner since the third. But Perry was unable to do anything with the runner and still trails 2-0.
Riverside softball maintains lead heading into the 6th
After a scoreless bottom of the fifth by Riverside, the game heads to the sixth inning with Riverside leading 2-0.
Perry retired in order in 5th
Annaliese Davis delivered a shutdown inning as a pitcher a half inning after her home run as hitter gave Riverside the 2-0 lead. She retired the Panthers in order for the second straight inning, and third time today. She’s allowed just two hits while striking out eight.
Riverside’s Annaliese Davis delivers first big offensive moment
Annaliese Davis hit a two-out, two-run home run in the fourth to give Riverside a 2-0 lead heading into the fifth. Davis, who is pitching shutout, hit her home run well over the 225-foot sign in center field.
Perry softball goes in order in 4th
The Panthers went 1-2-3 in the fourth, the second time they’ve been retired in order.
Perry vs. Riverside softball remains scoreless as semifinal goes to the 4th
Perry pitcher Anna Keller retires the side in order for the second time today, as the game remains scoreless through three innings.
Riverside’s Annaliese Davis gets two more strikeouts, strands Perry runner
Another leadoff single, this one by Jocelyn Frantz, didn’t produce a run for Perry. The Panthers were unable to advance Frantz after her hit. Annaliese Davis struck out two more Panthers, giving her six through three.
Riverside softball puts runner in scoring position, Anna Keller steps up
Riverside’s Emilia Jeras led off the bottom of the second with a double. Perry pitcher Anna Keller got the next three hitters out, one by strikeout. The game remains scoreless.
Perry softball gets game’s first hit, still scoreless
The Panthers opened the second inning with a single by Allie Dennis, the game’s first hit. Riverside’s Annaliese Davis retired the next three Perry hitters, striking out two. She has four Ks through two innings.
Perry pitcher Anna Keller answers
Like her Riverside counterpart (see below), Perry pitcher Anna Keller struck out two in the first inning while retiring the side in order.
Riverside pitcher Annaliese Davis starts strong
Annaliese Davis retired Perry in order to open the game, striking out the first two Panthers. Riverside is coming to bat in the bottom of the first.
Perry vs. Riverside OHSAA softball state semifinal gets underway
The Panthers are the visitor today and will bat first.
Perry High School softball’s state tournament history
The Panthers have won a state title in each of their last three trips to the state tournament, all since 2010. This is their sixth state tournament appearance overall.
Perry won state titles in 2021, 2018 and 2010. The Panthers lost in the semifinals in 2003 and 1988.
Softball state tournament schedule | Saturday, June 7
This article originally appeared on The Repository: OHSAA softball tournament 2025 | Centerville defeats Jackson; Riverside defeats Perry
Reporting by Chris Beaven and Cliff Hickman, Canton Repository / The Repository
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