Flashes fly to another state tourney appearance

By MIKE McLAIN

sports@vindy.com

AKRON

Seating for the state softball news conferences in the hall of fame room beneath Firestone Stadium is general admission for the media.

The seat next to the table where the players sit is essentially reserved each year for Champion Golden Flashes coach Cheryl Weaver. Soon she might as well move in considering how comfortable she’s become at this old stadium just off Main Street.

Weaver watched the Flashes advance to the Division III state championship with a 10-0 semifinal win over the Byesville Meadowbrook Colts on Thursday. The game was called because of the 10-run rule when Abby White singled home courtesy runner Lauren Fife with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Flashes, who will play Cardington-Lincoln for the state title Saturday, will be making their fourth appearance in the championship game in the last five years and third straight. They won the previous three titles (2015, 2017 and 2018), increasing their number of state crowns to eight.

“Normal? It’s not normal,” Weaver said when asked if advancing to the state championship is like another day at the beach. “We’re having a good time, and my joy is all for them.”

The 29-2 Flashes, who are ranked first in the Associated Press poll, opened a 5-0 lead through two innings before adding three in the fourth and two in the fifth. Pitcher Sophie Howell yielded two singles, struck out nine and didn’t allow a walk.

At the plate the Flashes collected 13 hits, including a two-run homer by Cassidy Shaffer in the first and a two-run homer by Emma Gumont in the fourth. Howell aided her cause with two hits and a pair of runs batted in.

No base runner reached second for the Colts, who are 19-9. Howell had success with her riser and fastball, taking advantage of a comfortable lead.

“It’s more relaxing knowing my team will be able to produce for me even if I give up a hit or a run,” Howell said. “I felt pretty good obviously because we were hitting really well.”

Colts pitcher Alyssa Marlatt tried to keep the Champion hitters off balance with regular use of off-speed pitches. She had some success, but that wasn’t the case when Gumont pulled an off-speed offering over the fence in left field. Gumont was the hitting star in Champion’s 9-4 win over Cardington Lincoln in the state title game last year, belting a double and a grand slam.

“Last year I was a little more nervous than this year because it was my first time,” Gumont said. “I think playing here before in tournaments really helps because you get used to the scenery.”

Shaffer, who drove in a run with a double in the fourth, has homered in three straight tournament games. She wasted no time in solving Marlatt, driving a pitch over the fence in left field for a first-inning homer that also scored Abbi Grace.

“I watch from her [Marlatt’s] hip. That’s what I always do,” said Shaffer, who put in extra batting practice with her father. “I watched it all the way in.”

Howell singled in a one run and Allison Smith doubled in two runs in the second. Shaffer’s double preceded Gumont’s homer in the fourth. Carli Swipas singled with one out and scored on Howell’s double in the fifth. White then ended the game.

“They are ranked first in Division III for a reason,” Colts coach Bridget George said. “They’re a solid team offensively. They have two fantastic pitchers. We knew coming in we had to bring our ‘A’ game.”

Saturday’s championship game is scheduled for 10 a.m.