Lions split the difference: baseball rallies, softball battles, track team dominates
Minerva’s Kaden Kandel delivers a pitch in an EBC rivalry game against Marlington.Mark Tucker
Ray SarvisRaySarvisFPS correspondent
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Minerva’s week came with a little bit of everything: statement wins, tough losses, and a track program that continues to pile up the hardware.
Baseball
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Minerva opened the week April 28 with one of its most impressive wins of the season.
Braydon Wood tossed a complete-game shutout as the Lions knocked off Eastern Buckeye Conference leader Alliance 2-0 on the road, handing the Aviators their first conference loss of the year. Wood struck out five and helped his own cause at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a double. Owen Frazier added two hits, an RBI, and two stolen bases, while Kaden Kandel chipped in with an RBI and a stolen base.
Minerva’s Owen Frazier rounds third in this photo from the Lions’ April 22 match against EBC foe Marlington.Mark Tucker
Unfortunately for the Lions, Alliance returned the favor two days later.
On April 30, the Aviators jumped out early and never looked back in an 11-0 win, scoring eight runs in the first two innings. Jason Sivy and Kandel accounted for Minerva’s only hits as Alliance’s DiAngelo Fisk threw a two-hit shutout.
After that game, the Lions needed something to end their week on a high note, and they found it by going out of conference.
On May 1, Minerva erased a 4-0 deficit against Chippewa, scoring five times over the final two innings – the last four runs coming with two outs – to pull out a 5-4 win. Tyler Phillips sparked the rally with an RBI single, and Brennan Barnes followed with a two-run double to tie the game before a defensive miscue allowed Lane Tarbet to score what turned out to be the winning run for Minerva.
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Minerva closes the stretch at 9-9 overall and 5-3 in the EBC.
Softball
Softball didn’t get the same results – but not for lack of effort.
On April 28, Minerva dropped a 3-1 decision to Salem in a tight EBC matchup. Rachel Weaver scored the Lions’ lone run, while four other players added hits in a game that stayed within reach throughout.
Two days later, April 30, the Lions again found themselves in position before a late swing.
Leading 2-1, Minerva gave up four runs in the fifth inning in a 5-3 loss to Marlington. Delaney Sell did everything she could to keep the Lions in control, going a perfect 4-for-4 with three stolen bases and two runs scored. Adrianna Kashdan drove in two runs, and Kylie Hannen added an RBI in a game that slipped away late.
With the two losses, Minerva slips to 6-11 overall and 2-6 in the EBC.
Track and Field
While the diamonds were a grind, Minerva’s track program turned in one of its strongest collective weeks of the season.
At the Massillon Perry 9th/10th Grade Invitational, the story was simple: the Lady Lions didn’t just win – they doubled up.
Tateum Richard led the way with two distance titles, winning the 800m (2:23.13) and 1600m (5:22.32) runs. Carley Wolf matched that effort in the hurdles, sweeping the 100m (17.52) and 300m (50.84), while Jacquelyn Gorsuch dominated the field events, taking first in both discus (89-8) and shot put (31-11).
And just for good measure, Minerva added wins in both the 4x400 and 4x800 relays.
Beyond the winners, the Lady Lions’ young depth showed up.
Addison Keyser took second in the 1600, Emma Catlett added a pair of top-four finishes, and Gracie Momirov-Dierick placed second in the 100m and fourth in the 200m sprint events to round out a strong team effort.
At the Larry Cogan Warrior Invitational on May 1, the boys took things even further – winning the team title with 130 points.
Owen Shick led the charge with multiple top-three sprint finishes, starting with a win in the 200 (23.38) to go with a silver in the 100m and bronze in the 400m. Meanwhile, Nate Linkous claimed first in the 100 (11.47) and added a runner-up finish in the 200. Rowen Hoffee continued his strong season with a win in the 800 (2:00.82) and a second-place finish in the 1600, while Wyatt Gonzalez cleared 5-10 to win the high jump.
The relays added to the total, with the 4x200 team taking first and the 4x400 finishing second.
On the girls’ side, Makenzie Beavers delivered a pair of runner-up finishes in the 800 and 1600, while Autumn Thompson added a third-place finish in discus to lead Minerva to a seventh-place showing with 49 points.
It may not have been a perfect week for Minerva’s spring sports. But between a baseball team battling in the tough EBC, a softball team staying competitive, and a track program stacking wins while flexing its depth, Minerva showed plenty of fight and plenty of progress.
