MIKE BROWN: Area softball teams among state’s best
It’s shaping up as a banner spring for area softball teams, the year that could lead to multiple schools vying for state tournament berths in early June.
As some teams have reached or surpassed the regular season’s midway point, many schools have already built impressive resumes for the tournament draw slated for the end of April.
In Division I, Austintown Fitch, which just missed a trip to state last season, has been even more impressive this spring, both at the plate and in the pitcher’s circle.
As of this writing, the Falcons (12-0) are unbeaten and have shut out nine opponents. They are averaging 9.2 runs per game while surrendering a paltry 0.5 runs per contest.
In Division II, Canfield (12-1) has enjoyed overwhelming success and should be a strong state tournament contender in its division. The Cardinals have shut out six teams and their only loss thus far has come to an out-of-state team (Bluefield, W. Va.), 2-1.
Canfield is scoring over ten runs per game and yielding just over one run per contest.
South Range and perennial state power Warren Champion have been outstanding in Division III.
The Raiders (11-1 overall) are unbeaten in the Northeast 8. They are coming off a pair of impressive league wins over perennial power Poland last week.
Meanwhile, state power Warren Champion, which has won an area-best nine state championships in its storied history, has only lost one game all spring — that comes in a 2-0 setback to D2 power Canfield.
In Division IV, Western Reserve (12-0) has been the best in the area in that division thus far. The Blue Devils are unbeaten and lead the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Scarlet tier. They are averaging an incredible 15 runs per game.
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