Yanek advanced to state final

As a sophomore, South Range’s Caragyn Yanek was challenged by mononucleosis.

“I didn’t [feel] better until about a month into our season,” Yanek said. “I felt weak a lot,”

A year later, Yanek was anything but weak on the mound, setting South Range records for wins, strikeouts and innings pitched. Yanek (26-3) helped lead the Raiders to a third straight district title and their first regional title.

After defeating Milan Edison 7-0 in last weekend’s state semifinals, South Range lost the Division III state championship game, 8-3, to Wheelersburg.

At the regional, Yanek allowed one run in 19 innings. First, South Range ousted defending champion Champion, 6-1, in the semifinal. Yanek said she felt little pressure after her teammates scored five runs in the top of the first inning. “I was so pumped,” Yanek said.

Three days later, the Raiders needed 12 innings to slip past West Salem Northwestern, 1-0, to earn their first state appearance. “Those are the type of games I live for,” Yanek said of the pressure cooker. “The 12 innings, yes, it was tiring, but I worked toward that the whole winter. [The win] was so sweet.”

This season, she hit in the No. 2 slot after not batting in 2015. “I hated not being able to bat, felt like I was letting my team down,” Yanek said. The Wheelersburg loss stung but in reflection Yanek said, “I’m so grateful for the opportunity to play for a state championship. It was amazing and we are determined to go back.”

Yanek’s trademark this season was a white Boston Red Sox cap. “When we went to Myrtle Beach, I wore it because it was so sunny,” she said. “I didn’t have another hat and we did very well with me wearing it. I’m very superstitious.” The hat belonged to older sister Madison. “She’s very mad but I said it’s brought good luck so she [eventually] let it go. She told me I have to buy her a new one.”

The hat isn’t going anywhere.

“It’s going to live on,” Yanek said. “I think I need to re-wash it, bleach it to bring the color back.”

— Tom Williams, The Vindicator