ATHENS — Taking advantage of two Strasburg errors in the first inning, defending D7 state champ Portsmouth Notre Dame scored five runs in the frame and went on to top the Tigers 7-2 in a D7 regional semifinal softball game at sun-drenched Ohio University’s Ohio Field Thursday, May 28.
“Absolutely (the key was the first inning), we played them square after that,” said Strasburg head coach Tom Spidell, whose team had an atypical five errors in the game. “I don’t know — we looked nervous out there,” he added. “I wish I had an answer for that first inning.”
Portsmouth Notre Dame pitcher Ava Rush struck out 10 and walked two in the complete game win.
The Titans outhit the Tigers, 10-7. Leading Strasburg’s offense were Sofia Secrest (two singles, triple), Miley Reifenschneider (double), Olivia Spidell (RBI single), Addi Sibila (single) and Hallie Argabrite (single).
Leading the Titans’ offense were Ava Rush (three singles), Bella Rush (two singles) and Kate Entler (two singles).
The Titans (25-4) advance to Saturday’s regional title game at 2:30 p.m. at Ohio U.
Trailing 6-0 in the third, Strasburg, which stranded nine runners in the game, narrowed the deficit to 6-1 on an RBI single by Olivia Spidell.
The Titans went up 7-1 in the fourth before the Tigers’ Keagyn Kramer walked, moved up on a Sofia Secrest single and scored on a throwing error to close the scoring in the bottom of the seventh.
“I’m proud, it just always tough when it ends this way,” said Tom Spidell whose Tigers hold the all-time Ohio record for state softball titles with 10.
“It’s hard, we’ve got a big senior class, and for it to end the way it did, it’s just tough,” added Spidell.
Seniors Olivia Spidell, Miley Reifenschneider, Ella Gilkerson, Sofia Secrest, Keagyn Kramer, Caradi Hartline and AJ Sundheimer depart after winning two state crowns in softball in 2023 and 2024. In addition, some of those players were on the Tigers’ state championship basketball team this winter.
The Tigers conclude the season at 21-8.
“When your expectations are state, and unless you get there and win it, that’s a tough expectation to have,” said Tom Spidell. “But they know that coming in, and it’s not going to change for next year. We expect to be back at state, and we’re going to work towards that.”
Checking in around Tuscarawas County
Division V
Tusky Valley 3, Pomeroy Moss 1
The Trojans scored one run in the first inning on an RBI single by Hallee Borell and in the fourth inning Tusky Valley added another run after a hit by Ava Beatty. On the mound, Brennen Reichman struck out 14 batters, surrendered one hit and one run. The first hit by Pomeroy came in the fourth inning. The Trojans will now play for a regional championship, taking on Wheelersburg on May 30 at Noon.
Division VI
Garaway 3, Lucasville 1
The regional semifinal opened with three scoreless innings, before Garaway struck for two runs in the fourth inning after a double, single and ultimatley an RBI single by Nadia Pope that drove in two runs. The Pirates were led by Audrey Miller, who started the game tossing 5.1 innings, striking out six batters and allowing four hits and one run. Annabelle King came in relief, throwing 1.2 innings to close the game out with three strikeouts and no Lucasville batter reaching base. The Pirates will now play West Jefferson in the regional championship game on May 29, at 5 p.m.
Division VII
Conotton Valley 5, Symmes Valley 0
Conotton Valley clinched a berth in the regional championship game after blanking Symmes Valley behind seven innings of one hit softball by Madison Kelley, striking out nine batters along the way. With the victory the Rockets will take on Portsmouth Notre Dame on May 30 at 2:30 p.m.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Portsmouth Notre Dame ends Strasburg softball run in regional semifinals
Reporting by Mike Brown, Special to The Times-Reporter / The Times-Reporter
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
