Lakewood softball wins regional title
- Lakewood will make its first state appearance Thursday since 2010.
PICKERINGTON – A short time ago, Lakewood made Firestone Stadium its second home.
Five years later, the Lancers are ready to pay a visit. Lakewood clinched its first state appearance since 2010 on Saturday with a 5-0 victory against Fairfield Union in a Division II regional final at Pickerington Central.
Sophomore right-hander Courtney Vierstra allowed just two hits, and the Lancers (31-1) scored single runs in five of the seven innings. They play fellow perennial power LaGrange Keystone at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in a state semifinal.
"Oh my gosh, it's amazing," senior third baseman Bailey Brownfield said. "We wanted to win this game just because we haven't been there in so long. We wanted to be back on top, and it's just one of the best feelings."
Lakewood won three consecutive state titles in Akron from 2008-10. The next season, the Lancers fell to Keystone in a regional final, and they had not been back to this point since.
The Lancers, who finished the season ranked No. 3 in the final state poll, took care of business all season, and they did it the same way against the Falcons (16-5). The offense continually added to an early lead, and a flawless defense backed up Vierstra every step.
"I think this is beyond (the seniors') favorite season," said Vierstra, who has allowed three runs in five postseason starts.
"We focus on doing it for each other a lot this year. I really wanted to give this to the seniors because they hadn't been in this spot until now."
Fairfield Union mounted a serious threat in the fourth inning, putting its first two hitters on base. Vierstra, however, struck out the Falcons' cleanup hitter before Brownfield fielded a bouncer and threw to catcher Kristin Peacock to retire the lead runner. A slow ground ball to shortstop Kate Peacock then ended the inning.
"I don't think I have ever had a team 31-1," Lakewood coach Criss Nadolson said. "That's an incredible record. They just seem to win ball games — sometimes when maybe they shouldn't."
Lakewood wasted no time taking the early lead as Brownfield and Kate Peacock doubled and singled in succession. Brownfield then scored on a passed ball.
Kristin Peacock led off the second inning with a triple, and she sneaked home when the catcher completed a strikeout with a throw to first on a pitch in the dirt.
The Lancers provided extra insurance in their final three at-bats. Kate Peacock, Courtney Knepper and Brenna Brownfield each delivered two-out RBI hits.
"I know if I don't get it done then other people will," Kate Peacock said.
Kate Peacock had a game-high three hits, and Audrey McCullough added two and a run scored out of the No. 9 spot. Six players accounted for Lakewood's nine hits.
Vierstra walked just one, struck out six and retired 11 of the final 12 Falcons.
"We are really happy. We are excited," Kate Peacock said. "We want to take it all."
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