(5-28-23) Greenville is headed to Akron’s Firestone Stadium for the D II State semifinal softball game against Tallmadge at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.

The Green Wave advanced to the Final Four after a 5-2 win over Kenton Ridge in the Regional Final at Wright State. Keying the win, at both the plate and the circle, was a a two-run home run from Pitcher Zoey Burns in the top of the seventh inning to give her a 3-run lead heading into the bottom of the inning. Burns ended with 3 RBIs in the game.

Burns gave up seven hits, had three strikeouts and didn’t allow a walk to pick up the win.

Coach Jerrod Newland told the Daily Advocate –

“This is my 10th regional final game. It’s a legacy for the kids and program. It’s just amazing. It’s our 10th regional final in the last 15 years. Now we’ve punched our tickets. It’s our fourth final four. It just makes me so proud of the kids. It was a great team today, Kenton Ridge, great program. Number four versus five in the state go at it here today. Two storied programs.”

Greenville Road to the Final 4

  • beat Fenwick 11-0
  • beat New Richmond 11-2
  • beat Taylor 6-1
  • beat Kenton Ridge 5-2

Greenville (Final 4) – 2023, 2012 (2nd), 2010, 2007 (1st)

The Wizard Of Oz | “There’s No Place Like Home” Clip | Warner Bros. Entertainment

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For the Tallmadge Blue Devils getting a chance to play near home in the State Finals this coming weekend is a reward for winning the Regional title beating Maumee 10-5.

The Blue Devils racked up ‘frequent flyer’ miles (two district games in Parma and two regional games in New Riegel) when they traveled 168 miles to play in the districts and 520 miles in the Regionals.

Tallmadge Coach Brittany Lightel told the Akron Beacon Journal after the game –

“We actually were kind of joking about getting to come back home for the state tournament.My athletic director [Bill Johnson] said we traveled over 600 miles for the district and regional games just to come back and play right down the road for the state tournament.

Senior Marley Queen led Tallmadge in the 10-5 win over Maumee with three hits, a solo home run and scoring two runs… Sophomore Leila Staszak added two singles, three RBIs and scored a run.

Junior Sydney Becks added three singles and scored a run and Senior Emma Garbinsky had two singles and scored two runs.

Blue Devils Junior Riley Jackson (14-5) pitched a complete game, striking out 12 allowing two earned runs on six hits and five walks.

Tallmadge Road to the Final 4

  • beat Fairview 21-0
  • beat Elyria Catholic10-0
  • beat Bryan 78-3
  • beat Maumee 10-5

Tallmadge will be making its 16th state tournament appearance in softball, its last appearance was in 2014.

Tallmadge has won seven state championships: Class AAA in 1981 and 1987, Class AA in 1988 and 1989 and Division II in 1993, 1997 and 1998.

Tallmadge (Final 4) – 2023, 2014, 2009, 1999, 1998 (1st), 1997
(1st), 1995 (2nd), 1993 (1st), 1990 (2nd),
1989 (1st), 1988 (1st), 1987 (1st), 1985, 1983
(2nd), 1982, 1981 (1st)

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