Thompson’s bat, Cassady’s arm lead Watkins to third consecutive regional crown
Friday, May 26, 2023
By Michael Rich
mrich@cbussports.com
As third baseman Ava McKee backs off, Watkins Memorial pitcher Carsyn Cassady catches a pop-up during the Warriors’ regional finals win over Marysville May 26 at Olentangy Orange. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Maleya Thompson was paying attention when she was in the dugout during the first inning of Watkins Memorial’s 6-0 win over Marysville in a Division I regional championship game on May 26 at Olentangy Orange.
The sophomore shortstop, batting third in the lineup, saw a first-pitch fastball right down the middle to leadoff hitter Taylor Gerhardt.
So when Thompson saw her first pitch fastball, she dispatched it over the wall in right-center field for 11th home run of the year, giving Watkins a 1-0 lead.
“When I saw (Monarchs pitcher Tareyn Born) the first pitch to Taylor and it was right down the middle, I just immediately thought I was swinging first pitch and I was swinging hard,” Thompson said. “That was the outcome.”
Turns out, that home run is all Watkins needed to capture its third consecutive regional championship and the third overall in program history.
Watkins Memorial’s Jordyn Wycuff attempts the bunt during the Warriors’ regional finals win over Marysville. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Watkins (28-1) plays Whitehouse Anthony Wayne in a state semifinal on June 2 at Akron Firestone Stadium.
Thompson was a bench player on last year’s team. But she’s been a key player on this year’s squad, batting .493 with 11 doubles, five triples and 44 RBIs coming into the game.
“I was in my head a lot (last year),” she said. “I (felt) like I had to hit it over the fence. That was just not the right state of mind. Now, I’m here and I know I’m in the lineup. I’m just here to provide for my team. I don’t need to hit it over the fence (and) I don’t need to go 3-for-3. As long as I provide for my team and get them fired up, that’s enough.”
Carsyn Cassady, who entered the game with a 0.52 ERA in 20 games, struggled to find her footing on Orange’s new turf.
She walked three batters and hit a couple of others, surrendering her first hit to Haley Winans with one out in the third.
“My biggest struggle playing on this field was the loose turf,” Cassady said. “Once I figured out where I needed to step to make the pitch work and not slip, I got it.”
Cassady figured it out with two outs in the third inning where she got a strikeout with the bases loaded.
“She moves the ball around,” Marysville coach Jennifer Segner-Maxwell said. “She can come up, she can go down, in or out and she changes speeds. She keeps other teams off balance.”
Watkins Memorial head coach Mike Jellison talks to his squad during the Warriors’ regional finals win over Marysville. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Cassady was locked in, retiring 11 batters in a row and 12 of the final 13. She finished with nine strikeouts for the game.
“To be honest, nothing (happens in my mind),” she said. “I’m just like, ‘Throw ball, catch ball, throw ball.’ Nothing else is going on. I don’t notice little things like what’s going on – it’s just me and (catcher Jordyn Wycoff).”
Thompson and Wycoff had two hits apiece McKayla Jellison hit a solo home run in the seventh and finished with two runs for Watkins, which blew it open with a three-run fifth inning.
“That’s our 16th straight game with a home run,” Watkins coach Michael Jellison said. “Every kid in the lineup can hit the ball out – it’s just a different kid every night. The home run just energized our dugout. Maleya’s home run just set the tone.”
Maya Segner’s two-out infield single in the seventh was Marysville’s only other hit. Winans also reached on a walk and Hannah Pack walked twice for the Monarchs, who were trying for their first appearance at state since 1993.
They’re coming off their second consecutive district championship after losing to Watkins in a regional semifinal last season.
Born went the distance for the Monarchs (25-6), allowing six runs, including five earned, on seven hits, two walks and a hit batter with eight strikeouts.
“I couldn’t be prouder of this team,” Segner-Maxwell said. “They’ve done amazing things all year. We’ve grown from all the losses that we’ve taken and I wish that senior class (of nine players) the best.”
Bishop Watterson’s Katie Bettendorf being introduced prior to a girls’ lacrosse game earlier this season. Photo: Kevin Rouch
GIRLS LACROSSE
Bishop Watterson 14, St. Francis DeSales 13
Katie Bettendorf’s goal with 4 minutes, 11 seconds remaining in overtime to send host Watterson to its third consecutive Division II, Region 7 championship with 14-13 over rival DeSales.
Meg Newcomb, who scored four goals to lead the top-seeded Eagles (17-3), scored two game-tying goals in the last three minutes of regulation, including the one that sent it to overtime with 45 seconds left.
Watterson plays Cincinnati Indian Hill in a state semifinal on May 31 at Dayton Chaminade Julienne.
The third-seeded Stallions (12-9) trailed by as many as four goals in the first half and 6-4 at the break.
DeSales opened up a four-goal lead with just over 10 minutes remaining until Watterson came back.
Bryn McClain had three goals and Katie Bettendorf and Sophia Monesi each scored two for the Eagles.
Anna Bogan had four goals, Isabella Carfagna had three and Olivia Sanabria and Campbell Heald had two apiece to lead the Stallions.
Carmen Lacey had 10 saves in goal for DeSales and Amelia Brown had three for Watterson.