Lakewood’s softball team proved to be one of the state’s top 16 teams in Division I, and the Lancers went down swinging May 28.
Lakewood (18-12) took a 1-0 lead before eventually falling 5-1 to Lancaster in a regional semifinal at Olentangy. The Golden Gales (22-7), who are the defending regional champions, won their 17th consecutive game.
Lakewood freshman right-hander Allie Stimmel continued her impressive postseason, holding Lancaster scoreless until the Golden Gales broke through, scoring four runs after an error in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Riley Williams homered to give the Lancers the lead in the top of the fourth. Averie Adams and Jaycie Montie added a hit apiece, and Stimmel struck out seven.
BASEBALL
Northridge takes runner-up
Northridge made a late charge, scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, but the No. 1 Vikings were forced to settle for a Division V district runner-up finish, falling 8-5 to No. 7 Columbus Academy in a final at Beavers Field.
Kash Reeves recorded two hits, a run and three RBIs to lead the Vikings (14-10), who were playing in their first district final since 2019. Collin Matheson added a double and two runs, Riley Reeves two hits and Noah Mason a hit and an RBI.
Will Higgins struck out five and allowed five hits and three runs in five innings of relief for Northridge. Cooper Leibas, a former Newark Catholic student, struck out 10 in a complete game for Academy (14-16).
NC blanks Liberty
Hal Gillespie struck out 11 without a walk in a one-hit, five-inning shutout, pitching Newark Catholic to a 10-0 victory against visiting Liberty Christian in a Division VII district semifinal.
Kylen Eskins doubled and singled, scored a run and drove in a run to lead the No. 1 Green Wave (18-7), who play No. 2 Fairfield Christian (19-8) for a district title at 10 a.m. May 29 at Beavers Field. Kane Stephey added a double and three runs, and Max Moore a hit and three runs. Gillespie, Owen Przymierski and John Eiginger had a hit and an RBI each.
Jackson Cecil singled for the Eagles (8-14).
Heath edged late
Buckeye Valley scored a run in the bottom of the sixth inning, sending visiting Heath to a 6-5 defeat in a Division IV district semifinal.
Trevor Enders tripled, doubled and singled and drove in two runs to lead the Bulldogs (14-12). Dominic Morris and Quentin Sunkle added two hits and two runs apiece. Macksen Matthews had two hits and a run.
The No. 3 Barons (20-5) play No. 2 Licking Valley for a district title at 5 p.m. May 29 at Denison University.
Johnstown falls on road
Sevi Chiddention, who notched two hits, delivered a two-run single for Johnstown in a 12-2 loss at No. 4 Highland in a Division IV district semifinal.
Landon Myers added two hits and a run, and Braeden Archibald doubled for the No. 6 Johnnies (11-15).
TRACK
Chavis headed to state
Mitchell Chavis covered a distance of 143 feet to place third in the discus for the Newark boys during the Division I super regional championships at Pickerington North. Chavis qualified for next week’s state meet.
Watkins Memorial’s Ethan Martinez, Pierce Lott, Connor Black and Chase Marcum crossed in a time of 7 minutes, 56.23 seconds to place fourth in the 3,200-meter relay to also qualify for state.
In the girls meet, Licking Heights’ Phoebe Sayre placed fourth in the shot put (33-10) to advance to state.
Heights’ Abel McGowan added a fifth-place finish in the boys long jump (21-1 1/2), and Watkins’ Raegan Miller tied for eighth in the girls high jump (4-10).
Morris qualifies for state
Marley Morris covered a distance of 36 feet, 7 1/2 inches to place third in the girls shot put for the Heath girls during the Division III regional championships at Muskingum University. Morris qualified for next week’s state meet.
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Roundup: Lakewood softball, Northridge baseball see playoff runs end
Reporting by Kurt Snyder, Newark Advocate / Newark Advocate
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
