Varsity Softball earns Sectional Championship with 12-2 win at Rocky River

Midview Varsity Softball earned a 12-2 road victory over host Rocky River High School in its OHSAA Division III Sectional Final on Thursday (May 15) evening.

The Middies faced adversity even before the first pitch as they had to adjust physically and mentally without their starting catcher who missed the game with an injury. However, the whole team rose to the challenge to keep its season alive and advance in the tournament.

Midview jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the third frame when sophomore Savannah Holcomb and junior Nina Ballachino hit back-to-back doubles and sophomore Savannah Presser followed with a RBI single. The No. 19 Pirates answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning.

The Middies then took complete control with a six-run fourth. Senior Briana Farkas led off with a single and junior Leah Mentzer had a one-out single. Freshman Olivia Price, who made her first career varsity start behind the plate, followed with a sacrifice bunt that Rocky River threw away allowing both runs to score. That error proved costly as sophomore Dezirae Thomas hit a RBI double before Holcomb smacked a two-run home run to center field. Presser kept the inning alive with a two-out single and then raced home from first base on a RBI single from freshman Jillian Vandersluis. 

Midview added four insurance runs in the top of the fifth. Mentzer led off with a single and Price once again reached on a bunt. Both then scored on a ground ball error off the bat of Thomas. Ballachino capped the scoring with a two-run home run to center field.

Holcomb (7-8) earned the victory on the mound. She scattered two runs (one earned) on three hits with eight strikeouts over five innings.

The No. 25 Middies (8-10) advance to take on No. 10 Gilmour Academy in the OHSAA Northeast 5 District Semifinal on Tuesday (May 20) at 5 p.m. The Lancers will host because they are the higher-seeded team.