Copley ready to meet reigning state champion Tallmadge in OHSAA softball district final

The big inning served the Tallmadge and Copley softball teams well Tuesday in separate Division II district semifinals at Firestone Stadium in Akron.

A five-run inning propelled Tallmadge to an 11-1 win over Streetsboro and a six-run inning led Copley to an 11-1 win over Cloverleaf.

The results after the five-inning games pit reigning Division II state champion Tallmadge (20-7) against Copley (14-7) in an All-Suburban League American Conference district final at 6 p.m. Thursday at Firestone Stadium.

Tallmadge topped Copley twice in the regular season, 13-0 at home on May 1 and 3-2 at Copley on May 3.

"They are a solid team all the way around," Tallmadge coach Brittany Lightel said of Copley. "They come from the Suburban League, so they can surprise us at any point. Things happens in the Suburban League all the time. I think our girls are going in thinking we have beaten them twice, but it is hard to beat a team three times in a row.

"... Copley is a good team. They have a good freshman pitcher [Stella Kaplack] and they can put the ball in play. I think if our defense comes ready to go and our offense continues to put the ball in play like they did today, we should be good to go."

Copley coach Leigh Ann Bauer is well aware of Tallmadge's experience in big games, which includes beating Greenville and Canfield in last year's state tournament at Firestone Stadium.

"They are a very strong team," Bauer said of Tallmadge . "They are one through 17 [deep]. They are powerful. I expect a good game from them. If we can stay focused and play our game, I think it will be competitive like the second game this season. If not, it could go the other way that it went earlier. They are a very strong team. We have been against [Tallmadge senior pitcher] Riley [Jackson] for the last four years. We know what we she can do."

Lexi Gray and Leila Staszak lead Tallmadge to OHSAA softball district final

Tallmadge senior Lexi Gray had three singles, three runs and three RBIs against Streetsboro (13-15).

"My goal leading off is to start the pace," Gray said. "I try to get everyone in a mindset that we can start something.

"... We started off a little rough, but we started stringing runs together and it all clicked. Our team chemistry today felt like we were clicking on the field and in the dugout."

Tallmadge junior Leila Staszak hit a single and two doubles and had three RBIs from the 3-hole.

"It felt good to be back here," Staszak said. "This felt like a preview of what we are striving for in the next couple of weeks. Being back here after we filled the whole stadium last year, it is exciting to know what we are working for."

Tallmadge junior Marissa Charton and freshman Aubrey Almond each hit two singles and scored two runs. Senior Ashlyn Severns finished with two singles and an RBI, junior Payton Almond hit a double and scored a run and senior Sydney Becks and junior Katie Huth each hit a single and scored a run.

"I think there is a sense of comfortability when we come back here now," Lightel said. "They played so much here last year towards the end of the year, it is just kind of like another game for them when we come here. I feel like last year, when we first played here it was hyped up and now it is a normal thing for them. It's, like, 'Oh, we are playing at Firestone.' They are settled."

Morgan Beach, Sydney Leach and Jayce Collins lead Copley to softball district final

Copley seniors Morgan Beach and Sydney Leach are affectionately called "The Bleach Duo" at the top of the batting order by their teammates, and both cleaned up against Cloverleaf (10-13).

Beach totaled two singles, two runs and two RBIs.

"We were definitely able to fight with them, and we can win if we really push ourselves," Beach said of the first two games with Tallmadge.

Leach hit a single and a double, scored a run and had an RBI.

"For the past four years, us being here and playing on the field every single game, I think this year we have never wanted it more to keep going," Leach said. "Our team works so well together. We have great chemistry that I think we have the ability to go far."

Copley junior Jayce Collins added a single, double, sacrifice fly, run and three RBIs.

"We have worked hard for this moment," Collins said. "A lot of work on days off. We are always in the [batting] cages, always on the field and always in the weight room. We have worked really hard for this moment."

Copley junior Caroline Deagan had two singles and two runs, and junior Addy Stewart contributed two singles, a run and an RBI. Kaplack and freshman Allison Martz both hit an RBI single. Juniors Alexis Walker and Scarlett Backus each singled and scored a run.

"We have a really focused group," Bauer said. "All of them are very hard workers. ... When we hit, you have to take us seriously. I am very proud of them. This is what these girls can do. One through nine, they can all put the ball in play. Stella is cool, calm and collected pitching. She is very mature. We didn't know what to expect from her. With Caroline Deagan injured and unable to pitch, so the weight has fallen on Stella, and she is just fine with it."

Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ .

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Copley ready to meet reigning state champion Tallmadge in OHSAA softball district final