2024 OHSAA Softball State Tournament Recaps
Division IV
Strasburg-Franklin Wins Record 10th Softball State Title
AKRON, Ohio – The OHSAA has a new all-time leader in softball state championships after No. 1 ranked Strasburg-Franklin blanked Monroeville, 10-0, Saturday in the OHSAA Division IV state championship game at Firestone Stadium. The Tigers have now won 10 softball state titles to take over the top spot from Akron Springfield and Warren Champion, who both have nine championships.
The win also gives Strasburg (30-3) back-to-back-to-back state titles to go along with championships in 2013, 2011, 2009, 1989, 1988 and 1987.
Monroeville (24-7) made school history with its first appearance in the softball state tournament.
Strasburg senior pitcher Amelia Spidell struck out nine Monroeville batters and scattered three hits on her way to the five-inning shutout win.
The Tigers jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first inning and added four more runs in the second inning. In the first inning, sophomore Olivia Spidell had a two-run single, sophomore Miley Reifenschneider hit a three-run home run and freshman Rayelle Watkins had an RBI triple. Reifenschneider added a two-run single in the second inning and the Tigers added two more runs on bases loaded walks.
Division III
Liberty Union Takes Home First State Title
AKRON, Ohio – Like it had done throughout the tournament, Baltimore Liberty Union battled back from a deficit and went on to defeat Canfield South Range, 5-3, Saturday in the OHSAA softball Division III state championship game at Firestone Stadium. It marks the first softball state title for Liberty Union (24-6) in its second trip to the Final Four. The Lady Lions were state runner-up in 2011.
Liberty Union trailed 1-0 in the fourth inning and 2-1 in the fifth inning before scoring three runs in the bottom of the fifth and one more in the bottom of the sixth for the win.
Sophomore Suzie Shultz got the win in the circle for Liberty Union, striking out six and walking only one.
In the bottom of the fifth, three Liberty Union batters walked and then all three scored on a single by sophomore Emilyn Kanet to put the Lady Lions on top, 4-2. Junior Addi Osterman added an RBI single in the sixth inning.
South Range (29-4) was back in the state tournament for the fourth time. The Raiders out-hit Liberty Union, 9-5. Sophomore Solena DeJesus went 3-for-3 with two doubles. Sophomore Anna Aey had two hits and an RBI.
Division II
Canfield Tops Bryan for Division II State Title
AKRON, Ohio – Canfield senior Malena Toth threw a two-hit shutout to lead the Cardinals to a 4-0 win over Bryan Saturday afternoon in the OHSAA Division II state championship game at Firestone Stadium. The state title is the second for Canfield (27-3), which also won it in 2008, the first year that the OHSAA softball state tournament was played at Firestone Stadium.
Ranked No. 1 in the final coaches poll, Canfield beat No. 3 Springfield Kenton Ridge in the state semifinal on Friday to make a return trip to the state championship game. Canfield was state runner-up last year.
Bryan (22-6) was playing in the state tournament for the first time.
Canfield sophomore Caylee Ortiz hit a three-run double in the bottom of the first inning to put the Cardinals on top early. Junior Marina Koenig added an RBI single in the third inning.
Sophomore Thea Staten had a two-hit game for Bryan and pitched all six innings, striking out eight.
Division I
Austintown-Fitch Tops Watkins Memorial to Repeat as Division State Champion
AKRON, Ohio – Junior Sydnie Watts pitched a two-hit shutout and hit a home run to lead defending state champion Austintown-Fitch to a 4-0 win over Watkins Memorial Saturday night in the Division I state title game at Firestone Stadium.
The Falcons (23-1) won their first state title last year and are now a back-to-back state champions. Watkins Memorial (31-2) was playing in the state tournament for the fourth-consecutive year and joins its 2021 squad as the state runner-up.
Senior Ayla Ray hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning to give Fitch a lead they would not relinquish. In addition to Watts’ homer in the second inning, freshman Kalianna Ray added an RBI single. Junior Samantha Severn finished the game with two base hits and scored a run.
Watts struck out 10, walked four and retired 12 of the last 13 batters she faced.
Watkins Memorial senior pitcher Carsyn Cassady also struck out 10 batters. Only two of the runs she allowed were earned. She and her senior classmates wrap up their careers with 120 wins, four trips to the state tournament and two state runner-up finishes.