Titans dominate district, roll into regional final
Defending Div. II state runner-up Triway has dominated on the post-season trail so far this season, outscoring opponents by a combined 48-0. The Titans entered regional play sporting a 26-1 record.
The No. 1-ranked Triway softball team brought a 26-1 record to the Div. II Nordonia Regional tournament, outscoring three post-season opponents by a combined 48-0 score.
Regional semifinal foe Canfield finally pushed a run across Wednesday, but the Titans were already in command and on the way to a 7-1 victory.
Sophomore pitcher Carter Wachtel fired a no-hitter against Mentor Lake Catholic (28-0 sectional final win), a perfect game against Cloverleaf (10-0 district semifinal) and a one-hitter against Akron Springfield (10-0 district final).
However, anyone who thinks the Titans are on cruise control couldn’t be further from the truth.
A few days after the district final, coach Ron Rock was still lamenting the fact he didn’t move third baseman Haylee Pruitt back a few steps before a Springfield batter lined a base hit that glanced off her glove.
“There are always little things that we can talk about and get better at,” said Rock, whoseTitans improved to 27-1 with the win over Canfield, in which Wachtel struck out nine without a walk.
In the victory, Clowie Flinner and Pruitt coming up with big hits in a five-run second inning that propelled the Titans back into the regional final. Flinner went 3 for 3.
Akron Hoban defeated Field 12-4 in the other semifinal, with Hoban advancing to the regional final at 5 p.m. on May 27 against the top-ranked Titans.
“In our district final, Carter was ahead 0-2 in the count against a lefty batter,” Rock said. “I should have moved Pruitt back a little bit before their lefty got their only hit. All our girls work hard, and we don’t take anyone for granted. There’s no complacency.”
Triway has been laser-focused ever since losing to Keystone 7-3 in the 2021 Div. II state title game.
The Titans have pitched and hit as well as any team in the state in 2022.
Entering regional play, Wachtel has been masterful in compiling a 21-1 record with a 0.75 ERA and 268 strikeouts in 131 1/3 innings pitched. She’s only walked 15 batters all season, and opponents are batting a measly .122 against her.
“I still don’t think Carter has peaked yet,” Rock said. “It’s a lot of fun to watch her pitch and to see her and coach (Jennie) Bishko discuss little things. You can hear it in their voices when she might miss a pitch here or there, but they’ll talk it through and figure things out as we go along.”
It doesn’t matter where Triway is at in its batting order, the opposing pitcher is always in jeopardy of giving up a big inning.
The Titans are batting .473 and averaging 11.1 runs a game.
Senior Ohio State-bound shortstop Hailey Massaro leads the way in batting average .548 (46-84), doubles (15) and RBI (61). She’s also clubbed seven homers and scored 37 runs.
“Hailey’s in a good position right now,” Rock said. “You could tell that (early season shoulder injury) was bothering her at times, but I think she’s 100% now and she’s looking really good.”
Here are some highlights from the rest of the star-studded lineup (all stats entering regionals): 1. Wachtel (.476, 13 2B), 2. senior center fielder Emily Yacapraro (.488, team-high 56 R), 3. Pruitt (.513, 32 RBI), 4. Hailey Massaro, 5. senior designated player Katie Hoffa (.519, 11 2B, 32 RBI), 6. junior right fielder Emma Flinner (.534, 11 2B, 2 3B, team-high 8 HR, 47 RBI), 7. senior first baseman Emma Hudson (.519), 8. sophomore left fielder Hanna Massaro (.387, 8 2B, 3 HR), 9. senior second baseman Clowie Flinner (.313) and senior catcher/flex player Maddie Fatzinger (.321).
“It’s a really good position to be in as a coach, knowing that even if you’re at the No. 8 or 9 hole in the batting order the kids can really hit the ball,” Rock said. “We feel we can manufacture a run no matter where we’re at in the order.”
Triway’s lone loss was a 3-2 setback against Div. I top-ranked Anthony Wayne on April 30.
The Titans’ loaded schedule includes wins over six teams that also reached the regionals: Div. I North Canton Hoover, Brecksville-Broadview Heights (No. 5 in Div. I poll), Watkins Memorial, Holland Springfield, Anthony Wayne and Div. III Tuslaw.
It would have been nearly impossible to prepare the Titans with a better schedule.
“After our loss I told the girls, ‘It’s better that it happens now than when we get into the tournament,’” Rock said. “It was a great game, and (Anthony Wayne) didn’t get to us until the bottom of the seventh.
“The girls stayed upbeat and came back and won the next game against (2021 Div. I state champion) Perry. I told the girls even at that time, with the way we set the schedule, I expected to have several losses this year.”
Instead, the Titans enter the regionals unscored upon in the post-season tournament, with only one loss on the season and with confidence they can win a state title.
They may have given up a run in the regional semifinal, but at this point in the season, winning is all that matters for a team that’s waited all season to take one final step — the only one not taken a year ago.