Champion seniors have been to three straight state tournaments

May 29, 2019 at 12:05a.m.

Champion seniors have been to Akron three straight times

CHAMPION

With all the success the Champion High School softball team has enjoyed since 1978 (eight state crowns), there aren’t many firsts left to achieve.

Here’s one. This year’s senior class (Abby White, Carli Swipas, Gabby Hollenbaugh, Skye Kennedy-Snodgrass) is Champion’s first to qualify for state in three consecutive seasons, matching the precedent set by Poland’s Class of 2012 that included college-bound players Erin Gabriel (Tennessee) and Jenna Modic (Pittsburgh).

Last year’s Champion seniors (Megan Turner and Alayna Fell) went to state three times in four varsity seasons, winning three crowns.

Hollenbaugh, the Golden Flashes’ catcher, said playing in Akron’s Firestone Stadium in softball’s final weekend “is such a big deal.

“The fact that I get to be a part of three of them is pretty great.”

Under head coach Cheryl Weaver, Champion won Division III state titles in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2018. She also coached a state semifinalist in 2004 and state runner-up in 2006.

“She’s amazing,” said White, the third baseman. “She knows what’s she‘s doing and everyone respects her.”

For Swipas, an outfielder, Firestone Stadium has been a family affair since her sister Lindsay was the ace on Champion’s state teams in 2011 and 2012.

“It was very exciting as my sister was the pitcher,” Swipas said who was in fourth and fifth grade when Lindsay pitched. “I just loved going and supporting them.”

Carli said she expects Lindsay, who lives in Columbus after attending Ohio State University, again will watch her play in Akron.

“Super excited and very grateful for this opportunity,” Carli said. “Not everybody gets [this].”

Champion (28-2) will play Byersville Meadowbrook (18-9) at 12:30 p.m. Thursday. Weaver said Tuesday that Sophie Howell (13-2), who has verbally committed to Youngstown State University, will be on the mound.

“We have two pitchers, we rotate so the next pitcher will be Sophie,” Weaver said.

That means Allison Smith (15-0), an Ohio State commit, will take the mound if the Golden Flashes advance to Saturday’s championship game.

Hollenbaugh has been their catcher the past two seasons.

“They have two different styles, they work in two different ways,” Hollenbaugh said. “Allison has that really good riseball and Sophie always comes together and gets it done.”

Weaver said: “They are completely different pitchers so when a team watches one they have no idea what they’re getting the next time.”

The Golden Flashes have won 19 straight tournament games since South Range defeated Champion 6-1 in a 2016 regional semifinal.

White says she remembers little from that game.

“The South Range pitcher [Caragyn Yanek] was pretty good,” said White who will major in early education at YSU.

Swipas, who will attend Miami University, says softball has been a part of her life since she was 7.

“It’s not a chore at all,” Swipas said of practice. “It’s just something that I love to do.”

Hollenbaugh will attend YSU to study criminal justice.

“It’s just amazing,” Hollenbaugh said. “What team can say [it] went to state three years in a row and won two of them?”

Or maybe three.