MIKE BROWN: Regional mania: Mahoning Valley boasts six softball teams in regional play
Need an example of how great of a season it’s been and continues to be for area softball teams?
A total of six — count them — six Mahoning Valley-area teams have qualified for regional play in their respective divisions this week.
That’s incredible and a testament to how strong the sport is in the Mahoning Valley. Six teams are, but two wins away from a state tournament berth.
Austintown Fitch leads the way in Division I
In Division I, the Austintown Fitch Falcons, led by their incredible sophomore pitcher Sydnie Watts, punched their regional ticket for a second straight season with a 2-0 district championship win over the Mentor Cardinals last week.
Fitch will play Berea Midpark in Division I regional semifinal Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Youngstown State Softball Complex.
Canfield leads the area in Division II
In Division II, leading the area is powerful Canfield, which like Fitch, is making a second straight trip to the region. The Cardinals, led by the pitching of junior Malena Toth, will play the Cleveland Holy Name Green Wave in a Division II regional semifinal Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Nordonia High School’s Memorial Field. Canfield won a district title last week with a 7-1 triumph over the Field Falcons.
Warren Champion, South Range leads the way in Division III
In Division III, two area teams are regional-bound, led by perennial state power Warren Champion, which has captured an area-best nine state championships in its rich history in the sport. The Golden Flashes earned their regional ticket with a 2-0 district championship win over a good Lakeview team last week.
The Golden Flashes are led by their tremendous sophomore pitcher Gabby Gradishar. They will play LaGrange Keystone, another perennial state power, in a regional semifinal Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Wllig Softball Complex in Canton.
Joining Champion in the Division III regional in South Range which qualified with a 6-5 district title win over Poland
The Raiders will play the Triway Titans in a regional semi Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Willig Softball Complex in Canton.
Mathews and Southington Chalker are regional qualifiers in Division IV
The area also boasts two regional-qualifying teams in Division IV, the Mathews Mustangs and the Southington Chalker Wildcats.
Mathews earned its regional berth with an 11-1 district title win over the McDonald Blue Devils last week.
The Mustangs will face the Mogadore Wildcats in a regional semifinal Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Berea’s Roehm Athletic Complex.
Southington advanced to regional play with a 5-4 district championship victory over the Western Reserve Blue Devils.
The Wildcats are slated to face Gibsonburg in a Divison IV regional semi Wednesday at 5 p.m. in Berea.
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