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South Range softball coach: ‘Our work isn’t done’
Raiders chasing softball state championship
By MIKE McLAIN
AKRON
The shirt on Jeff DeRose’s back had yet to dry from a celebratory Gatorade bath when he looked at what awaits the South Range Raiders softball team.
You might say that the Raiders coach is confident.
“After the game we got to talking to the kids,” DeRose said. “Our work isn’t done. I said, ‘We’re going to go get the next trophy.’ ”
DeRose was speaking moments after South Range’s 1-0 win over West Salem Northwestern in the Massillon Division III regional final last Saturday. The win vaulted the Raiders to a state semifinal against Milan Edison (24-3) on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Firestone Stadium in Akron.
The trek to state took roots two years ago when the Raiders lost to Independence in a regional semifinal. The growth process included another regional semifinal loss last season to Elyria Catholic.
The mission from the start of this season was to take the experience gained from the previous two seasons and ride it all the way to Akron. After advancing from the district level, South Range took a major step by defeating the Champion Golden Flashes, the defending Division III state champion, 6-1, in a regional semifinal.
The character of the Raiders (28-3) was tested in a classic, 12-inning win over Northwestern. Raiders junior pitcher Caragyn Yanek matched Northwestern pitcher Hannah Fricke pitch for pitch before the Raiders sealed the win when Codi Taylor’s single scored Taylor Ross.
Yanek, who showed no signs of tiring in the intense heat of the day, cherished the moment.
“It’s a dream come true,” Yanek said. “I’ve been dreaming about this since I was younger watching my sisters play, and for it to actually happen is just amazing. Words don’t describe (it).”
The exciting part of it all for DeRose is that the roster includes only one senior – outfielder Morgan Czopur, who celebrated the regional win by accepting her diploma a few hours after the conclusion of the game.
Czopur is in a unique position of leadership as the lone senior.
“They look up to me,” Czopur said. “I have to be a positive leader for them. They’re all great. I love them all. They push each other, too.”
None of the players has ever had the pleasure they will encounter Thursday at Firestone. It will be important for them to keep their emotions in check.
“It’s just going to be another game,” Czopur said. “We’re going to go out there and play our game and see what happens.”
Firestone Stadium isn’t a foreign venue to the Raiders, who have played there a couple of times in recent seasons. The latest time was for a game against Boardman this year.
“That helps us tremendously,” DeRose said. “I don’t even know anything about the other teams, but we’re, of course, going to do our homework. If they’ve played there, I don’t know, but I know we’ve played there a few times over the last couple of years, and it helps us. It’s not home field, but it’s familiarity of the field.”
Nothing, however, can top the confidence a pitcher takes with her into the circle. Yanek showed that last Saturday, including a play in which she faked a throw to first after fielding a bunt before whirling around and throwing the ball to third baseman Morgan Smith. The maneuver caught Northwestern runner Ally St. Clair in a rundown.
“When I get a person on, the key is I don’t let myself get nervous,” Yanek said. “I don’t want people to think they’re in my head. My team, 100 percent, talked me through that inning. Morgan was constantly talking to me. I knew they weren’t going to let me down.”
It couldn’t have played out any better in Massillon.