The high school softball state tournament has arrived, and the four remaining Division II teams — including the lone Akron-area squad to make it this far — are stacked.
Kings Mill Kings (28-1) and Riverside (27-4) open things at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 6, in the first semifinal at Firestone Stadium. Walsh Jesuit (23-1) and Westerville Central (27-2) follow, with a first pitch scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Here’s the scouting report on all four teams:
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Scouting the Kings Knights
How they got here: The Kings beat Cincinnati Winton Woods 22-3 and then stopped Riverside Stebbins 9-0 to win the Southwest 2 District. Kings then beat Little Miami 8-0 and Clayton Northmont 2-1 to win Region 5. Kings has won 16 games in a row. Its only loss came to Milford (4-2) on April 17.
State history of Kings: The Thunderbolts had a runner on third in the top of the seventh of the regional final, but Neely McElhaney struck out Jabria Bickerstaff to send Kings to its first state semifinal appearance after a regional final showing last season.
Who to watch: The Knights bat .402 as a team and are led by Julia Lowry (.477, 11 HRs, 37 RBIs), Olivia Smith (three HRs, 19 RBIs, 30 runs), Madison Titler (four HRs, 26 RBIs, 28 runs), Alexis Fera (six HRs, 37 RBIs, 22 runs) and Delaware State pledge Leah Mitchener (.417, four HRs, 24 RBIs, 27 runs). Indiana University-Indianapolis commit McElhaney is 19-1 with a 0.70 ERA and 204 strikeouts.
Scouting the Riverside Beavers
How they got here: The Beavers beat Cuyahoga Falls 11-0 and Solon 11-1 to win the Northeast 2 District. Riverside then beat Avon 9-1 and Green 10-3 to win Region 8. The Beavers have won 12 of their last 13 games.
State history of Riverside: The Beavers hope to win back-to-back state titles in their only two state appearances. Riverside beat Mt. Vernon 8-6 to win its first state championship last season.
Who to watch: Riverside has a .414 team batting average and is led by Oakland University commit Clara Granchi (.611, 26 RBIs, 59 runs; 20-1, 2.31, 154 strikeouts). The Beavers also have strong hitters in Maddi Proud (.478, seven HRs, 45 RBIs, 44 runs), Emma Wilhelm (.469, three HRs, 44 RBIs, 31 runs, 44 RBIs), Becca Tornow (.469, eight HRs, 40 RBIs) and Maddy Kevern (.389, 10 HRs, 30 RBIs, 27 runs).
Scouting the Walsh Jesuit Warriors
How they got here: The Warriors beat Akron North 16-0 and North Royalton 13-2 to win the Northeast 6 District. Walsh then beat Perry 12-0 and Amherst 6-2 to win Region 6. The Warriors have won 23 games in a row. Their only loss came to Baldwin, Pa., (6-1) on March 21.
State history of Walsh: The Warriors scratched a 10-year itch when they beat the Comets to advance to state. Walsh won state titles in 2002, 2004 and 2016, and lost in the state semifinals in 2013.
Who to watch: Walsh has an absolute superstar in Michigan State signee Ella Girard (.643, five HRs, 38 RBIs, 31 runs) and Tampa pledge Katie Lippencott (14-1, 1.92, 123 strikeouts; .324, two HRs, 21 RBIs). Mia Berquist (.577, seven HRs, 35 RBIs, 27 runs), Brynn Mineard (.506, four triples, HR, 37 RBIs, 19 runs) and Gianna Terlop (.452, 11 HRs, 39 RBIs, 31 runs) follow.
Scouting the Westerville Central Warhawks
How they got here: The Warhawks beat Bishop Watterson 11-1 and Pataskala Licking Heights 5-0 to win the Central 3 District. Central then beat Oregon Clay 9-3 and Whitehouse Anthony Wayne 1-0 to win Region 7. The Warhawks have won 20 games in a row.
State history of Westerville Central: The Warhawks are making their second trip to the state final four. They were last there in 2019 and lost 4-3 to Lakota West.
Who to watch: Freshman Hannah Pullins (.591, nine doubles, 44 runs, 20 RBIs), Lexi Latier (.495, two HRs, 16 doubles, 41 RBIs, 30 runs), Christelle Crosier (.462, nine HRs, 40 RBIs, 42 runs), Jane LeMasters (two HRs, 20 RBIs, 29 runs) and Haley Hickock (.329, three HRs, 20 RBIs, 20 runs) are the hitters to watch. Elliot Long (23-1, 1.73, 229 strikeouts) is Central’s ace.
Brad Bournival can be reached by email at bbournival@usatodayco.com and is on X at @bbournival.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Scouting Walsh Jesuit, Westerville Central, Riverside, Kings softball
Reporting by Brad Bournival, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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By Brad Bournival, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
