Nationally ranked Titans easy to root for

Nationally ranked Titans easy to root for
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The Triway softball team of Emily Yacapraro, left, Katie Hoffa, Hanna Massaro, Hailey Massaro, Liv Grabowski, Clowie Flinner, Emma Hudson, Maddie Fatzinger, Emma Flinner, Carter Wachtel and Haylee Pruitt poses for a photo following a 15-0 win at CVCA on April 25. The unbeaten Titans are ranked first in the state in Div. II and 18th in the nation.

                        

A few thoughts from the week in sports …

The Triway softball team is a group everyone should root for.

The girls are home grown, unselfish, extremely talented and ranked 18th in the nation by MaxPreps.

Most of the Titans will play college softball one day.

However, that’s way off the radar right now.

Triway is undefeated at 15-0, following a 1-0 win over Tuslaw on April 26, ranked No. 1 in Div. II in the Ohio High School Softball Coaches Poll and working toward winning a state title.

The Titans’ loaded schedule has been highlighted by a 1-0 win over Ohio’s then Div. I top-ranked, nationally ranked Watkins Memorial in Shreve on April 23.

“That was probably the best game we’ve ever played,” said senior shortstop Hailey Massaro, who’s signed to play for Ohio State. “It was amazing.”

That’s saying a lot considering the Titans advanced all the way to the Div. II state title game last spring, where they dropped a 7-3 contest against LaGrange Keystone at Firestone Stadium in Akron.

Triway returned all its starters from that runner-up team. Many Titans fans and area sports enthusiasts understandably expected a carbon copy season.

A state title is still the goal, but 11th-year head coach Ron Rock said, “You can’t compare this year’s team to last year. We’re different in the way we play the game this year, and our stats aren’t going to be the same.”

Rock's 2021 team finished with a 28-3 record, blasted 45 home runs and batted .479 overall. Through 14 games in 2022, the Titans were hitting .449 with six homers. “Just look at who we’re playing,” Rock said.

Last year the Titans were a state unknown, having never advanced past the district level. That all changed after they reached the title game.

“No one knew us. Now people are calling us wanting to play,” Rock said.

Case in point: the 1-0 win over Watkins. Sophomore sensation Carter Wachtel tossed a one-hit shutout while classmate Hanna Massaro’s home run provided the game’s only run.

“That game was a lot of fun. Wow!” Rock said.

Hailey Massaro earned second-team All-Ohio honors last season after batting .590 with 14 home runs and a state-record-tying 86 RBI.

However, Hailey suffered a dislocated left shoulder while diving for a ball at North Canton Hoover in the third game. Despite not being at full strength, she’s still leading the team with a .595 batting average, eight doubles and 33 RBI, and she’s hit two home runs.

Wachtel was incredible as a freshman with a 22-3 record, 1.45 ERA and 216 strikeouts in 143 innings pitched. She’s been even more dominant with a 12-0 record, 0.76 ERA and 148 K’s in 74 innings. Wachtel struck out all 15 CVCA batters she faced in a perfect game and has two other no-hitters this season.

“She’s definitely Big Ten,” Massaro said when asked what level she thinks Wachtel can play at in college. “She doesn’t miss her spots. She’s fast but not going to blow you away. Her ball has incredible movement. I’ve faced her in practice and thought, ‘Wow!’”

Rock was quick to point out that it’s been a “collective effort.”

The Triway lineup is one people will be talking about for many years to come:

1. Carter Wachtel, sophomore, pitcher/centerfielder.

2. Emily Yacapraro, senior, centerfielder/pitcher.

3. Haylee Pruitt, senior, third base.

4. Hailey Massaro, senior, shortstop.

5. Katie Hoffa, senior, designated player.

6. Emma Flinner, junior, right fielder.

7. Emma Hudson, senior, first base.

8. Hanna Massaro, sophomore, left field.

9. Clowie Flinner, senior, second base.

10. Maddie Fatzinger, senior, flex player/catcher.

The coaching staff of Rock and assistants Jennie Bishko and Gary Basinger have shown the girls the right way to play softball, be serious when they have to and also keep it fun.

This weekend Triway will face more elite competition against Holland Springfield, Anthony Wayne (took over top ranking in Div. I) and defending Div. I state champ Massillon Perry in a showcase event at Keystone.

Five Titans have already signed or committed to play college softball while eventually several more also will play at the next level.

“It makes me feel really good because it tells me the kids are putting in the time and they love to play softball,” Rock said.

Yacapraro, who’s batting .500 with team-highs for runs (32), walks (15) and steals (10), will play for Cleveland State.

Pruitt, ripping the ball at a .579 clip with 16 RBI and 20 runs, has signed to play for Indiana Tech.

Hoffa, hitting .486 with 11 RBI, will play for Hocking College.

Hudson (.500, 11 RBI) has committed to play for The College of Wooster. Clowie Flinner (.308, 14 runs) and Fatzinger (.308) haven’t decided yet if they’ll play in college.

As underclassmen, Wachtel, Hanna Massaro (.346, 12 RBI) and Emma Flinner (.455, team-high 3 HR, 21 RBI) are uncommitted, but all have the talent to play at the next level.

Putting the Titans over the top is their camaraderie.

“People wouldn’t think girls could get along for two seasons in a row, but we’re all best friends,” Hailey said. “Sure, there’s an argument here or there, but I’m playing softball with all my best friends.”

The Titans eat breakfast a couple times a week, often enjoying pancakes and bacon at the Massaro’s home or going out for coffee. When a teammate has a birthday, they all have dinner at El Campesino’s.

“The workers there know us,” Hailey said with a smile.

And most everyone who follows OHSAA softball now knows about the Titans.

A lot has changed for Triway, but not the end goal.

“We wrote state champs as the goal in the preseason, and we’ll do whatever it takes to win,” Hailey said.

Parting shots

It’s been a tough couple weeks for many in the area following the deaths of Jim Sidle, Brandon Sprang and Tyler “Dewey” Robinson. Prayers go out to their families and friends.

These men were not only outstanding athletes back in the day, but also well-liked by many friends.

Sidle, 79, was a longtime Wooster teacher and coach. He helped the 1960-61 Generals go 16-4 as a shooting guard before falling in the district final on a controversial buzzer-beater against Canton McKinley. Sidle later was a teacher and coached five different sports at Wooster including the 1972 regional baseball team that featured the late Brian Tarpley.

Sprang, 46, was an outstanding three-sport athlete at Triway, and Robinson, 31, was an athlete who I fondly remember reporting on as a football and baseball player at Norwayne.

—If it seems like the Cleveland Guardians have used a lot of new players, you’re right. Seven different Cleveland players have made their MLB debuts this season, and we’re only in April. The newbies are Richie Palacios (OF-2B), Bryan Lavastida (C), Steven Kwan (OF), Kirk McCarthy (P), Konnor Pilkington (P), Gabriel Arias (SS-2B) and Tanner Tully (P).

That doesn’t bode well for a winning season, despite having some outstanding pitchers.

Aaron Dorksen can be emailed at aarondorksen24@gmail.com.


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