HIGH SCHOOL

Oak Harbor softball tops Weekend Wrap-up

News-Messenger staff reports

Riley shines as Oak Harbor wins Rocket Invitational

Oak Harbor’s Ashley Riley stayed hot Saturday.

Riley, the only girl on either team who didn’t wear long sleeves in the afternoon despite the cold conditions, hit a home run in one game and struck out 11 batters in another as Oak Harbor won the Rocket Invitational.

“I can’t do UnderArmour,” Riley said. “I stay warmer without. The team kept cheering me on. I was involved in every play and I kept moving and stayed warm.”

Riley faced the minimum number of batters in five innings in the 8-3 victory over St. Ursula. She allowed four hits and three runs in the fifth, but she notched a strikeout with the bases loaded in the fourth.

“You have to be mentally tough and you can’t break down,” she said. “You do what you do best. You can’t worry about making a mistake.”

Riley hit the home run in a 13-3 victory over Toledo Bowsher in six innings. She had two hits and five RBIs in the game.

“We were a little slow in the beginning,” Riley said. “We were enthusiastic. I hit one over the fence – my first one. Everybody fed off that and we pumped up our game.”

Emma Bergman struck out seven and walked one while allowing one earned run and four hits in six to earn the win in the first game.

The Rocket Invitational will be called the Croll Family Rocket Invitational from now on.

EJ Croll, whose daughter Emily is a former Rocket who played softball in college, has been instrumental in the transformation of Oak Harbor’s softball facility and helped with the Rockets trip to Florida. He said he’d love to see the facilities help girls develop into college-level players.

“When I started donating money I told Coach we haven’t had a state team champion,” Croll said. “I’d like to see Oak Harbor reach that goal so anything I can do to help … (Rawski) is energetic and has his heart and soul in the program.

“I’d like to see him succeed.”

Woodmore girls win Fostoria Invitational

Woodmore’s girls track and field team took the team title at Saturday’s Fostoria Booster Invitational with 131 points. Lakota was fifth (47), and Old Fort 12th (17) in a field of 13 teams.

The Wildcats had three individual champions as Courtney Burner took the 1,600 (5:32.23), Carly Rothert won the high jump (4-feet, 10-inches), and Liz Koenig won the long jump (15-03 1/4 ) and took second in the high jump (4-08). Koenig was named the female field event athlete of the meet.

Lakota’s Katie Park won the discus with a toss of 105-08. Hope Watson was second in both the 100 hurdles (17.97 seconds) and the 300 hurdles (53.12)

Old Fort’s Sam Miller was second in the discus (104-06).

On the boys side, Old Fort and Lakota tied for ninth place with 33 points, and Woodmore finished 11th with 18. Springfield won with 147 points in the field of 13 teams.

Adam Alexander won the pole vault by clearing 14-06.

Robinett’s 3-RBI day paces Fliers past Columbian

Jake Robinett drove in three runs and scored two to pace Clyde’s baseball team to an 11-4 non-conference win over Tiffin Columbian Saturday.

Robinett had two hits including a double for the Fliers. Bailey Colson earned the victory allowing three runs (none earned) over three innings and striking out four batters.

For more results from the weekend, visit www.thenews-messenger.com/sports.