Tougher schedule strengthens Golden Gales’ resolve
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
By Jarrod Ulrey
julrey@cbussports.com
Reese Poston pitches for the Lancaster softball team April 10 against Westerville Central. Photo Jarrod Ulrey.
Getting teams prepared to be their best never has been a problem for Lancaster softball coach Allie Kinniard.
In 2018, when Kinniard was Fairfield Union’s coach, the Falcons endured one regular-season stretch when they lost five in a row only to get it together by the Division II postseason well enough to make it to a state semifinal for the only time in program history.
Then in her first year as the Golden Gales’ coach last spring, Lancaster put together its best season as well, going 25-2 and reaching a Division I regional final for the first time.
In search of going even further this spring, the Gales have challenged themselves with a difficult early-season schedule despite having just two seniors.
Junior pitcher Reese Poston and junior catcher Skylar Smith have led a Lancaster team intent on not taking a step back following last year’s postseason run.
“We wanted to have a tougher schedule this year because we wanted to be more battle-tested when it came time for tournaments,” Kinniard said. “So we scheduled it purposely that way. But we have a lot of younger players. We have 12 underclassmen. We have a lot of players playing in big, key roles and have to step up and grow up real quick, so I think we’re really happy with what we’ve done so far. What we’ve been telling them is that the goal is to get better every single day.”
Lancaster won 11-6 on April 10 at Westerville Central to improve to 5-2 overall and opens OCC-Buckeye Division action April 12 at Central Crossing.
After opening with a 5-4 loss March 30 at Pickerington North, the Gales split a doubleheader April 1, beating Lebanon 5-4 and losing to Athens 10-6, and then defeated Heath 6-1 on April 4 and Cardington 11-1 on April 7.
While Lebanon and Athens were district runners-up a year ago in Divisions I and II, respectively, Cardington was a Division III state semifinalist and Heath was a Division II state semifinalist last season.
Kendall Brown bats for the Lancaster softball team April 10 against Westerville Central. Photo: Jarrod Ulrey
The only seniors are Jessie Spurling, who has committed to play for Ohio Wesleyan, and Rachel Riggs. Both play left field.
“We haven’t faced a schedule like this before,” Poston said. “We started out a little rocky with the scrimmages and in our first couple games, but we’ve been able to come here and beat (some) good (teams). There’s been a lot of progress, which has been good to see.
“It’s definitely nice to see how (the younger players) look up to us and how we can help them improve and also make ourselves better at the same time. Our goal is definitely (to win another district title) and hopefully go further this year. We’re really pushing and really trying hard, taking everything we learned from last year.”
Lancaster fell behind 2-1 against Westerville Central when Poston gave up a two-run home run in the bottom of the first but responded with four runs in the top of the second to seize control.
Sophomore first baseman Ashlin Mowery went 4-for-4 with two home runs.
Poston hit a two-run homer, struck out seven and gave up no earned runs.
A Toledo commit, Poston earned first-team all-state honors last season when she struck out 172 in 100 1/3 innings with a 1.32 ERA and batted .321 with six home runs.
In the Gales’ 1-0 win over Gahanna in a regional semifinal, she allowed just two hits and slugged a game-winning walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh.
Smith, who also homered against Westerville Central, likely will end up playing collegiately as well after recently decommitting from Findlay.
“(Reese and I have) known each other since we were 7,” Smith said. “We started off on the same travel team, moved to separate schools and then came back together. I definitely push her. We read each other’s minds.”
Other key players for the Gales have included sophomores Ky Pugh (SS), Jenna Spurling (3B) and Emalene Chevalier (2B).
Lancaster is hoping the next two Saturdays will provide additional challenges that could be beneficial down the road.
The Gales travel April 15 to Holland Springfield, last year’s Division I state runner-up, and April 22 will go to Watkins Memorial to face the Warriors, who were Division I state semifinalists, and New Concord John Glenn, which was a Division II regional runner-up.
“(The juniors) had to step into leadership roles (the last two years), so it’s not really that much pressure on them,” Kinniard said. “We try to focus on the fact that just because you’re a junior or senior that it doesn’t make you a leader. Any age, any level can be a leader, and we like the fact that we have different people stepping up every day clutch hits and clutch plays.”