LaGrange, Ohio -- In eight short years, the Prebis Memorial Classic has established itself as one of the top high school softball events in Ohio.
LaGrange, Ohio -- In eight short years, the Prebis Memorial Classic has established itself as one of the top high school softball events in Ohio.
"You get in these tournaments to make your team better," said Elyria coach Ken Fenik after a 7-2 loss Saturday to North Canton Hoover in eight innings. "It's not about winning or losing. Rather, it's about having your team prepared when it really matters."
This year's 30-team Prebis field included seven entries from last year's Ohio High School Athletic Association state semifinals. The competition is rugged and few teams go unscathed, but that doesn't seem to matter much as coaches are tuning their squads for the OHSAA tournament.
"After we did expand it to 20 [teams], now we're at 30 and we're using two parks [eight diamonds]," said Keystone coach and Prebis director Jim Piazza, who captured his 300th career win Saturday in 11 seasons at the Lorain County school.
"Now we have teams from out of state asking to come," he said. "We're real proud of it."
Keystone has won three OHSAA titles and finished 32-0 last year, winning the Division II state crown.
"Our thing is strength of schedule, and then I can see where we need to make adjustments," said Walsh Jesuit coach Bill Davis after a 4-1 win against Strasburg. "We're all about trying to get ready for the tournament."
North Canton Hoover 7, Elyria 2 (eight innings): At LaGrange Community Park, the two-time defending state champion Vikings (20-0) snapped a 2-2 tie with five unearned runs in the eighth to defeat the Pioneers (13-3).
With the score tied 2-2 in the top of the eighth, the game hinged on a two-out, bases-loaded ground ball to Elyria shortstop Marie Masters.
There was some contact between the base runner leaving second and the fielder, and the ball rolled into the outfield, enabling two Vikings to score. Hoover junior shortstop Jenna Lilley followed with a three-run blast inside the right field foul pole to make it 7-2.
"Last year at state, I had the exact same thing happen, and I waited for the ball," Masters said. "This time, I had a flashback, and I knew I had to touch her. And I touched her, and it just wasn't in my favor."
Despite being hit by a pitch on her right index finger (throwing hand) in the second inning, Elyria pitcher Caitlyn Minney finished the game.
Columbus St. Francis DeSales 8, Brecksville 7: The Stallions rallied from an early 5-0 deficit and stunned the Bees in one of the most topsy-turvy games of the classic.
"I have to give [DeSales] a lot of credit," said Brecksville-Broadview Heights coach Rex Mack. "What really hurt us was our defensive play."
Using a combination of small ball and aggressive base running, DeSales struck for five runs in the top of the fifth and a 6-5 lead.
The Bees (12-3) took a 7-6 advantage in the sixth, when junior Perris Stevens clobbered an RBI double to the base of the fence in center field and senior Sydney Kimball drove Stevens home with a single to right.
In the seventh, DeSales reclaimed the lead, 8-7, when Elisa Curl and Leah Roten scratched out infield singles and both scored on an error.
Walsh Jesuit 4, Strasburg 1: Walsh sophomore shortstop Lilli Piper had three singles, scored two runs and turned in a gem of a defensive play as the Warriors (13-3) closed the 2013 Prebis with a win.
Sophomore hurler Taylor Rahach (9-3), feeling better after a sore back, went the distance for Walsh, yielding just two hits, fanning nine and walking three.
Jeff Brewer is a freelance writer from Green.