HIGH SCHOOLS Today’s tournament games at a glance

SOFTBALL

DIVISION III STATE FINAL

Who: Champion Golden Flashes (29-2) vs. Cardington-Lincoln Pirates (25-4).

When: 10 a.m.

Where: Akron Firestone Stadium, 1575 Firestone Parkway, Akron.

Radio: WBBW-AM 1240.

Coaches: Cheryl Weaver for Champion; Tod Brininger for Cardington-Lincoln.

Last game: Champion beat Byesville Meadowbrook 10-0 in a state semifinal Thursday; Cardington-Lincoln beat West Jefferson 5-2 in the other state semifinal.

The skinny: The Golden Flashes will give the ball to Allison Smith (15-0), a junior who is committed to Ohio State. Smith also is perhaps Champion’s most potent hitter, with 50-plus career home runs. Opposing teams have intentionally walked her more than 30 times this season alone. ... The Golden Flashes have other dangerous hitters, including DH Cassidy Shaffer, SS Emma Gumont and RF Brooklynn Whitt. All hit for power. ... Champion is trying to win its third consecutive state title and fourth in the last five years. ... Cardington-Lincoln’s postseason pedigree isn’t as impressive as Champion’s, but the Pirates have been to the state tournament each year since 2017. A year ago, Champion and Cardington-Lincoln met in the state final and the Golden Flashes won, 9-4.

BASEBALL

DIVISION IV REGIONAL FINAL

Who: Springfield Tigers (26-3) vs. Jeromesville Hillsdale (21-2).

When: noon.

Where: Strongsville High School, 20025 Lunn Rd., Strongsville.

Radio: none.

Coaches: Terry Dobson for Springfield; Jason Snow for Hillsdale.

Last game: Springfield beat Mathews 3-2 in walk-off fashion in a regional semifinal Thursday; Hillsdale beat Attica Seneca East 7-1 on Friday in the other regional semifinal.

The skinny: Shane Eynon could find himself back on the hill. He is undefeated pitching this season. ... The combination of Eynon and Drew Clark on the mound helped lead the Tigers to the regional final. Eynon earned the win against Mathews while Clark pitched five innings beat Warren JFK in the district final. ... Clayton Nezbeth has found himself in clutch moments recently. Nezbeth scored the game-winning run in the Tigers’ 8-7 win in the district final and he drove in the winning run in their win over Mathews. ... Jeromesville Hillsdale has a pair of stud pitchers. Jay Luikart will play at Wright State next season while Garrett Goodwin threw a 19-strikeout no-hitter against East Canton in a district semifinal on May 21.

— Staff Report