It’s a big day for Lorain County softball fans. For the first time, we have three schools playing in regional finals in three divisions, all scheduled for noon today.
It’s pie in the sky, of course, but it would be outstanding to see Elyria, Keystone and Wellington move on to the Final Four at Firestone Stadium in Akron. If it happened, all three would be home team in the semifinal round.
This would be the schedule: In Division III, Wellington would play at 3 p.m. Thursday against either Richwood North Union (23-3) or West Liberty Salem (30-1). Keystone, the No. 1 team in Division II, would meet either Canfield (20-4-1) or Akron Hoban (23-5) at 10 a.m. Friday. And in Division I, top-ranked Elyria would play either Mason (23-8) or Liberty Township Lakota East (22-6) at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.
The Pioneers, who’ve played in the last two state championship games, defeated Mason 2-1 in last year’s state semifinal.
We all know what would be even more outstanding than three regional championships. No sense going there at this point.

Going to Akron?

Planning to attend the state tournament? Take out a loan.
Tickets this year are $7 per game. Not per day, as when the tournament was in Ashland. Per game. That’s $84 for the tournament — precisely four times more than it cost to see all 12 games a year ago.
To be fair, you can see the entire tournament for $35 if you show up at Firestone Stadium on Thursday and buy an all-sessions pass. The pass will be sold on Thursday only.
Times have definitely changed for softball fans. I have found only one who favors the move to Firestone Stadium from Brookside Park in Ashland. And I’ve surveyed a bunch.
Don’t misunderstand. Firestone Stadium is a wonderful ballpark and a neat place to watch softball. It’s the home of the professional Akron Racers. But there was something special about the setting in Ashland that just about everyone loved. Trees, blossoms, babbling brook, picnic pavilion, ice cream stand right across the street.
Gone but not forgotten. And not entirely gone. You can still see some good high school softball at Brookside. The Wendy’s Spring Classic and East of Chicago Tournament are held there every April.

Iron women

Elyria senior Jen Bower has played in every Pioneers game since she was a freshman. Today will be her 126th game — 96 as catcher — as she and the Pioneers shoot for their 111th victory in that span.
“She plays through injuries … everything,” coach Ken Fenik said. “She did a good job of holding the runners close to first (against North Royalton). The only thing is, that one wacko move she makes where she fakes it without the ball in her hand — that kind of scares me.”
Speaking of playing through injuries, the Pioneers’ Jessica Mandula, another senior, has played every tournament game with a broken finger. She’s wearing a splint on the index finger of her right hand and holds it away from the ball when she throws.
“I did it on the day before our first sectional game with Southview,” Mandula said. “We were having hitting practice and I was bunting on one of the machines. The ball jammed me inside and smashed my finger into the bat.”
Tough, these Elyria kids.

County seniors set

The annual all-star game for seniors, which is sponsored by the Lorain County Softball Coaches Association, will be held at Sliman’s Diamond in Amherst on June 9. If it rains, the game will be held the next night.
The photo session is scheduled for 4:30 p.m., the plaque presentation sponsored by The Chronicle and the Miss Softball award for 5:20 and the first pitch for 5:30. The county players of the year in each division and All-Ohio selections will be introduced after the fourth inning.

Olympians coming

On the subject of Brookside Park and Firestone Stadium, the U.S. Olympic team will play at both venues this summer. The Olympians will play in Ashland on June 23 and in Akron on July 22. The stops are part of the team’s 62-city Bound 4 Beijing tour.
Contact Daniels at (440) 329-7135 or softball@bobdaniels.info. 

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