If Saturday’s Division II state semifinal is decided on paper, fans at Firestone Stadium are in for a classic.
Defending state champion Riverside Softball (27-4) and Kings Softball (28-1) enter the OHSAA Final Four as two of the most accomplished teams in Ohio, combining for 55 victories, 594 runs scored, and 76 home runs this season.
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The matchup also features two senior classes that have helped define their respective programs. Riverside’s seniors have compiled a 94-25 record during their high school careers while winning last year’s Division II state championship. Kings’ seniors are 97-17 and are seeking to finish the job after the Knights’ 2025 season ended in the regional finals.
Both teams arrive in Akron playing their best softball of the season. Kings has won 17 consecutive games, while Riverside has won 11 of its last 12 contests.
The winner will advance to Sunday’s Division II state championship game against either Westerville Central (27-2) or Walsh Jesuit (23-1).
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When Riverside Is At The Plate
Few teams in Ohio can match the offensive firepower Riverside brings to the state tournament.
The Beavers are batting .414 as a team with 283 runs scored and 38 home runs.
Everything starts with Clara Granchi, who has put together one of the most dominant offensive seasons in the state. Granchi is batting .611 with 66 hits, 59 runs scored, 14 doubles, eight triples, and seven home runs.
The lineup remains dangerous from top to bottom.
Maddi Proud is batting .478 with 54 hits, 45 RBI, and seven home runs. Emma Wilhelm is hitting .469 with 44 RBI, 12 doubles, and seven triples, while Becca Tornow owns a .469 average with 40 RBI and eight home runs.
Power is never far away with Maddy Kevern, who leads the Beavers with 10 home runs and has driven in 30 runs.
Riverside has consistently found ways to pressure opponents offensively, averaging more than nine runs per game entering championship weekend.
The challenge Saturday will be solving one of the state’s best pitching staffs.
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Kings can match Riverside swing for swing.
The Knights are hitting .430 as a team with 311 runs scored and 38 home runs.
Julia Lowry headlines the lineup with a .525 batting average, 42 hits, 11 home runs, and 47 RBI.
Behind her is another elite bat in Alexis Fera, who is hitting .477 with 14 doubles, seven home runs, and 46 RBI.
The depth of the lineup is what makes Kings especially dangerous.
Madison Titler is batting .469 with 45 hits and 37 RBI. Emma Myles is hitting .463 and has scored 33 runs. Leah Mitchener owns a .433 average with five home runs and 36 RBI, while Grace Parkhurst is batting .418 with 41 RBI and four home runs.
The Knights also create pressure on the bases, stealing 92 bases this season.
There are very few easy outs throughout the order.
Inside The Circle
The biggest statistical difference between the teams comes in the circle.
Riverside ace Clara Granchi enters the state semifinals with a 20-1 record, a 2.31 ERA, and 154 strikeouts in 139.1 innings. Opponents are batting just .234 against her.
Kevern has added valuable depth, posting a 6-1 record and 2.67 ERA.
Kings counters with one of the state’s most dominant one-two combinations.
Neely McElhaney is 18-1 with a 0.74 ERA and 190 strikeouts in 123 innings while limiting opponents to a microscopic 0.724 WHIP.
Fera has been equally effective, going 10-0 with a 1.56 ERA and 69 strikeouts.
Together, the duo has helped Kings compile a 1.01 team ERA.
Three Keys To The Game
1. Can Riverside Solve Kings Pitching?
The Beavers have one of Ohio’s most explosive offenses, but they haven’t faced many staffs with numbers like Kings. Early scoring opportunities could be at a premium.
2. Win The Power Battle
Both teams have hit 38 home runs this season. One swing could be the difference in a matchup featuring so much offensive talent.
3. Senior Leadership
Riverside’s seniors have won a state championship and own a 94-25 career record. Kings’ seniors have gone 97-17 and have helped elevate the Knights into a perennial contender. Expect the veterans to play a major role with a trip to the state final on the line.
Final Outlook
This feels more like a state championship game than a state semifinal.
Riverside brings championship experience, a battle-tested lineup, and the confidence that comes from winning a state title a year ago.
Kings counters with elite pitching, a relentless offense, and a 17-game winning streak.
The numbers suggest very little separates these teams. Both can score. Both can pitch. Both have veteran leaders accustomed to winning.
The winner will earn the opportunity to play for a Division II state championship Sunday afternoon.
The loser will see a remarkable season come to an end.
That’s what makes Saturday’s showdown one of the most anticipated games of the entire softball season.
