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Western Reserve falls on Chopka’s riseball
By Tom Williams
KENT
When Western Reserve senior Gabby Stubbs beat out an infield single and took second base on Tory White’s sacrifice bunt, the Blue Devils were off to a promising start in the biggest game in school history.
But Cuyahoga Heights pitcher Meredith Chopka took charge, dominating the Blue Devils batters the rest of the way.
Chopka retired the Blue Devils’ final 20 batters for Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Western Reserve in the Division IV regional final at Kent State University.
“She had a fantastic riseball; it was great,” Western Reserve senior catcher Marley Oles said of Chopka who faced the minimum 21 batters. “She also was a lot quicker than what we’re used to seeing so it was hard to time her up.”
Third baseman April Lude agreed.
“Her riseball — it was crazy,” the senior said. “No matter where you were in the box, it still always got us.”
Stubbs liked her team’s chances when she reached second base.
“I was thinking, ‘Wow, this is a good start, we have momentum,’ ” Stubbs said. “And then, things happened, I guess. I left early.”
Aleah Hughes hit a fly ball to right fielder Dayna Denner. Stubbs tagged up then raced to third base. On appeal, she was ruled out.
“I was on base and I saw her go up and I saw the ball go in her glove,” Stubbs said. “I guess I went [a second] too soon.”
Chopka struck out eight in keeping the rest of the Devils off base.
Hughes (11-3) tossed a four-hitter, striking out nine and hitting one.
“Aleah obviously deserved a better fate,” Western Reserve head coach Joe Serensky said.
After retiring the first seven batters, Hughes’ perfect game bid ended when she hit Brianna Swanson on the foot. Brittany Nero singled, sending Swanson to third.
On a squeeze play, Lauren Goetz bunted. First baseman Maddie Kreitzburg fielded the ball, but her throw to Oles was not in time to tag Swanson.
The Redskins (21-3) scored their other run in the sixth inning. After Jenna Stegmaier doubled, she tried stealing third base. Oles’ throw eluded Lude, allowing Stegmaier to score.
Staked to a two-run lead, Chopka continued to command.
Lude said the Devils (21-3) made adjustments but still couldn’t connect.
“At the beginning, I started at the back of the box because of a faster pitcher,” Lude said. “The riseball kept getting us so I moved up.
“It seemed to help a little bit, but not enough.”
Hughes said Chopka “had a lot of movement, which made it difficult. She was faster than what we were used to seeing.”
Stubbs said Chopka’s best pitch was deceptive.
“It was good,” Stubbs said. “It never was a strike but she made you swing at it. It was our downfall.”
Stubbs said Chopka aimed low on the first pitch and if it was a strike, “she’d go for the riseball to get you to bite on it.”
Western Reserve’s other seniors are Taylor Bogdan and Nicole Barbone.
Disappointed, the Blue Devils seniors expressed gratitude for coming farther than any previous team.
“Even though we lost, it was so exciting,” Lude said. “I’ve never come this far, so it was exciting to play and say we made it [to the state’s final eight].”
Oles added. “I’m glad we got here. [Regional] runner-up, it’s not as bad as it sounds.”
Oles called the tournament run “great. I’m sad to see it end. It could have been worse.”
Stubbs, White, Hughes and Sydney Miller also played basketball and were on the Blue Devils’ first team to qualify for regional.
“There’s nothing that‘s going to compare to this,” Stubbs said of the regional trips. “It’s been an amazing year.”
Western Reserve’s baseball team qualified for state on Friday. Had the softball team won, it would have been the first time since 2001 (Boardman) when a Mahoning Valley school sent both to state.
“We knew it was going to be a good year — baseball and softball,” Stubbs said. “We didn’t know how good. I’m thankful that one team could get further.”