Top stars, best performances in Ohio high school baseball and softball (May 23-30)

By Kayla Harvey | Photo by Gabe Haferman
Here are some stars from last week's baseball and softball games across Ohio.
If you know of a top performance we should include, please send an email to swanson@scorebooklive.com.
—
Noah Holmgren, Archbishop Hoban baseball
Went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs as the Knights defeated Norton 8-3 to win the OHSAA Division II district championship.
Varsity/Final (Districts)
— Hoban Knights Baseball (@HobanBaseball) May 26, 2022
Knights win behind some amazing pitching by @NoahLaFine and some big time hits!
Hoban- 8
Norton- 3
LaFine 5IP 1H 0ER 7K
Karhoff 1IP 2K
Holmgren 2-3 2B 2R HBP
Zimmerman 3-3 2R RBI
Parnell 1-2 R 2RBI 2BB SB
Shimmel 2-4 2B R 2RBI
Falkenstein 1-2 2RBI BB
Ryan Piech, Walsh Jesuit baseball
Struck out 19 and allowed just one hit to lead Walsh Jesuit past Ellet 4-0 in the OHSAA baseball Division I district semifinal.
WJ 4
— Walsh Jesuit Baseball (@WJHS_Baseball) May 24, 2022
Ellet 0
Junior Xavier recruit Ryan Piech shines in one of the finest outings in the history of our program. 1 hit, 19 strikeouts. Big RBI hits from fellow juniors Alex Covas (2 RBI) and UC recruit Joey Canzoni. Kish, Harding, Salek, and Gormley also with key hits.
Maddux Beard, Strongsville baseball
Threw a two-hitter and struck out 10 as Strongsville shut out Normandy 6-0.
Strongsville advanced to a district final with a 6-0 win vs. Normandy. Maddux Beard was masterful, throwing a CG 2-hitter on 81 pitches w/10 Ks. Zak Kakos was 1-2, 2B, R and 3 RBI and Gus Gregory was 2-3 with a run. We will play Wadsworth for a district title Thurs. at 4 at SHS.
— StrongsvilleBaseball (@SHSVarsityBase) May 24, 2022
Ty Sowers, Hoover baseball
Went 2-for-3, had two doubles, an RBI, a run and a walk as Hoover defeated Dover 3-0 in a district semifinal.
🚨 District Semi-Final 🚨
— Hoover Vikings Baseball (@hoover_vikings) May 25, 2022
Hoover - 3
Dover - 0
Nick Vardavas (6-2)
CG,2H,0R,7K,3BB
1-3,BB
Ty Sowers
2-3,(2)2B,RBI,R,BB
Mason Ashby
1-3,2R,HBP,SB
Luke Roach
1-4,RBI
Deacon Heather
SacF, RBI@FederalLeagueOH
@Stark_Baseball @StarkMediaTeam @OHbaseballnews
Nik Copenhaver, Badin baseball
Threw a complete game, allowing just two hits and striking out seven, to fuel a 1-0 victory over Tippecanoe and earn the district crown.
Badin wins over Tippecanoe to survive and advance to regionals! Nik Copenhaver, Complete Game 2 hit shutout with 7 K’s. Cooper Fiehrer 1-3 and a HUGE RBI. Brady Imhoff, Brycen Fox, and Rodney Rachel all had big hits. Badin now 23-6. pic.twitter.com/78f0Y0cY6s
— Badin Baseball (@BadinBaseball) May 27, 2022
Jacob Hanley, Mason baseball
Went 2-for-3 and had two runs as Mason took down Miamisburg 6-0 in a district final.
Today final Comets 6 Vikings 0
— Mason Comets Baseball (@MasonHSBaseball) May 28, 2022
Top performers
Brenden Garula WP, 4 1/3IP, 11K, 0R
Offensively
Hanley 2-3, 2R
Stroud 2-4, RBI
Bly 1-3, 1R, 2B, RBI
Gabe Nard, St. Ignatius baseball
The RHP did it all for the Wildcats getting the win on the mound and collecting three hits, a double, three runs and an RBI at the plate to defeat Medina 9-4 in a district final.
Final
— Saint Ignatius Baseball (@SIHSBaseball1) May 27, 2022
Saint Ignatius - 9
Medina - 4
DISTRICT CHAMPS!
2022 RHP Gabe Nard gets the win on the mound and helps his own cause with 3H, 2 2B, 3R, RBI at the plate! 2022 MIF Billy Adams adds 2H, 3B, 2R, RBI and 2022 CIF Micah Murtha goes 3H, 2B, 2RBI.#GoCats | #TogetherForever pic.twitter.com/tdfCG6hp1H
Matthew Keener, Fairfield Christian Academy
Had two hits, including a triple, and an RBI and scored two runs to push past East Knox 7-5 and win the program’s first-ever district title.
Cody Miller, North Royalton baseball
Scored the winning run on an error in the top of the 11th inning. Scored twice in extra innings, drove in the tying run in the seventh inning, had two steals and finished 2-for-5.
North Royalton's Cody Miller @codymil24 scores the game-winning run for @NOROBaseball in the 11th inning. @NoRoNation #ohsaa pic.twitter.com/z8D3KpuL2R
— David Richard (@DavidRichardPix) May 27, 2022
Grady Speegle, Grove City baseball
Ignited the offense and started the eighth inning off with a double in Grove City’s 2-0 win in the district championship over Lancaster.
2-0 WiN in the District Championship over Lancaster. Dirtbags of the Day: @gradyspeegle22 Party-Starter Double down the line. @RuffingTrent Savage @jacksonware44 Big Tack on RBI Single, W on the bump. @HolmstromKeegan 6 scoreless, 7 ks, No walks. @GCBaseball2022 pic.twitter.com/RQDaIQPq7b
— Ryan Alexander (@CoachA8) May 29, 2022
Hannah Hunt, Watkins Memorial softball
Hit the Warriors' back-to-back home run to give them a quick 2-0 lead. Watkins Memorial defeated Lancaster 3-1 in the regional final to secure their second consecutive regional title.
Watkins Memorial is headed back to states for a 2nd year in a row after beating Lancaster 3-1 thanks to masterful pitching from Carsyn Cassady and back-to-back HRs from Taylor Gerhardt and Hannah Hunt in the 1st inning. @SoftballWatkins @CarsynCassady https://t.co/I6giA3W6da pic.twitter.com/2AHHcJwHcw
— Justin Holbrock (@JustinHolbrock) May 28, 2022
Mady Yackee, Holland softball
Allowed four hits and struck out 16 in nine innings as Holland secured a 3-2 regional championship win over Avon. Yackee also collected two RBIs.
🥎Regional Champs !! State Final 4 here we come. Mady Yackee with 16 K’s and 2 RBI. Ava Littin with an RBI. Eckhart collects 3 hits. So extremely proud of the grit & toughness of this group. #FearTheTradition pic.twitter.com/6NdwTyRD37
— Holland Springfield Softball (@ladydvlsnation) May 28, 2022
Renae Cunningham, Heath softball
The junior sent Heath to its first state softball tournament appearance since 1991 behind 11 strikeouts in five innings and went 4-for-4 with two home runs, a triple, a double and six RBIs as Heath defeated John Glenn 12-5.
Look: Heath slugs its way to a regional final win over John Glenn https://t.co/Jd1KMfvuZz pic.twitter.com/dZDreJpkuj
— Ohio High School On SI (@SBLiveOH) May 29, 2022
Hanna Massaro, Triway softball
Hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning as Triway bested Archbishop Hoban 5-1 in the OHSAA Division II regional final.
Massaro sisters crush homers, cherish time together as Triway softball advances to OHSAA state semifinals https://t.co/SseYwyzgB2 pic.twitter.com/vKWhsRJ061
— Ohio High School On SI (@SBLiveOH) May 29, 2022
Reese Poston, Lancaster softball
Hit a walk-off home run and pitched a complete game in a 1-0 regional semifinal win over Gahanna Lincoln.
Lancaster advanced to the region final by beating Gahanna 1-0 on a walk-off HR by Reese Poston who also threw a complete game shutout. The Gales will face Watkins Memorial on Friday for a spot in the Final 4. @lanc_softball @lancastergales @reeseposton_ pic.twitter.com/rz5j2BZEW5
— Justin Holbrock (@JustinHolbrock) May 25, 2022
Marlee Jacobs, Jonathan Alder softball
Finished with 12 strikeouts, drove in the go-ahead run and had two hits to earn a 5-2 victory against Kenton Ridge.
Delaney Shannon, Hoover softball
Recorded a triple and two RBIs in a 5-3 win over Austintown Fitch to advance to the final four.
Macee Eaton, Wheelersburg softball
The Virginia commit had three home runs, totaling her 19th of the season, in a 9-2 win over West.
Macee Eaton has done it again. THIRD home run of the game - 19th of the season and 33rd in her career. Wheelersburg leads West 9-1 in T6th. #PDTSports @MaceeEaton2023 pic.twitter.com/rfjLj4GTz7
— Jacob Smith (@JacobSmithPDT) May 28, 2022
Maeve Fink, Oak Hills softball
Finished 4-for-4 driving in six runs as Oak Hills pulled away from Mercy McAuley 9-1.
Maeve Fink now 4-for-4 but a double play ends the inning. Going to bottom 6, Oak Hills still up 9-1 on Mercy McAuley. Winner gets the Lakota West/Mason winner. That game at 5 p.m. #cincysoftball
— Scott Springer (@sspringersports) May 24, 2022
K.K. Mathis, Lakota West softball
The James Madison commit had a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the third and was the winning pitcher in a 5-4 win over Mason.
KK Mathis 2-run single bottom 3 and Lakota West takes 2-0 lead on Mason #cincysoftball pic.twitter.com/GEVBbCrWGE
— Scott Springer (@sspringersports) May 24, 2022