BARBERTON, Ohio - There's nothing magical about Barberton's surge. The Magics have a coach who came from a winning program and that only breeds success. Amy (Garner) Cardenas, a former third baseman at nine-time state champion Springfield, has the Magics headed into the right direction.
BARBERTON, Ohio - There's nothing magical about Barberton's surge.
The Magics have a coach who came from a winning program and that only breeds success. Amy (Garner) Cardenas, a former third baseman at nine-time state champion Springfield, has the Magics headed into the right direction.
After posting 5-22 and 9-17 records the past two seasons, Barberton entered the week 15-2 in Cardenas' third year at the helm.
"We're not giving up a ton of runs and we're hitting the ball and scoring runs,'' said Cardenas. "Five years ago, we played Barberton when I was an assistant coach at Revere and they were struggling."
The youthful Magics are averaging almost nine runs and a little over 12 hits a game while committing just 21 errors in 606 attempts (.966 fielding percentage).
Second baseman Ashlee Ford in the lone senior, shortstop Kelsey Wilson and third baseman Courtney James fill out the junior class and catcher Kayla Rorrer (.484, 22 RBI) is the lone freshman.
"The bulk of our strength is in our sophomore class,'' said Cardenas.
That group includes outfielders Rylee Lappin, Emily Young and Makayla Okolish, and first baseman Morgan Kadilak along with pitchers lefty Kloee Cuckler (5-1, 1.32 ERA; .534 batting average, 13 doubles, 21 RBI) and right-hander/Walsh Jesuit transfer Macy Kaisk (.536 batting average, 26 RBI; 10-1, 128 strikeouts, 72 innings, 0.87 ERA).
"Getting Macy was a real boost because she gives us depth on the mound,'' added Cardenas.
Sadie's week: Stow pitcher Sadie Jones brought a smile to her coach's face last week after going 3-0 with a save, 22 strikeouts, two walks and 2.32 ERA. The sophomore Bulldog also batted .368 with seven RBI.
Tremendous loss: The softball community suffered a big loss with the recent passing of Jay Messner. Messner, who battled bone cancer, coached at a number of schools, most recently at Lake Ridge Academy and Berea. He also had a stint as an assistant basketball coach during one of Hathaway Brown's five Division II state title runs.
Tough out: Mayfield's Kaitlin Tropf has been a tough out this season. The senior outfielder, who went 9 for 15 with 11 RBI last week, is batting .617 on the season with only one strikeout and one walk in 34 at-bats.
On a roll: Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin came into the week riding a 17-game win streak, followed by Springfield (15 games), Avon Lake (14) and Cuyahoga Heights (11).