Clara Granchi never let Cuyahoga Falls get comfortable on Monday.
The Riverside softball ace fired a five-inning no-hitter with 10 strikeouts, and Riverside’s offense erupted early in an 11-0 victory to capture a Division II sectional championship.
“We mixed speeds and spots to try to keep the hitters off balance,” Granchi said. “Having the support from the offense helped me settle in and allow the defense behind me to work.”
Granchi set the tone immediately, striking out the side in the top of the first inning before helping her own cause at the plate.
The Riverside standout opened the bottom of the inning with a triple and later scored on Becca Tornow‘s RBI single. Maddi Proud followed with a two-run home run to center field, and Maddy Kevern later added a solo blast to left as the Beavers jumped ahead 4-0.
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Riverside kept the pressure on in the second inning.
With two outs, Granchi doubled, and Tornow drew a walk before Proud delivered an RBI single. Emma Wilhelm followed with another run-scoring hit, and Olivia Powell broke the game open with a three-run double after Kevern was hit by a pitch.
“Our hitting is very important because it becomes contagious,” Granchi said. “Having the whole lineup hitting is really important in big games.”
Proud finished 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBIs, and two runs scored.
“I was looking for something to drive to move and score runners,” Proud said. “When the pitch came across, I took my opportunity.”
Riverside added another run in the third when Brooklynn Kleps reached on an error, and Tornow delivered a two-out RBI single. In the fourth, Wilhelm singled before Tenleigh Hammond added an RBI base hit.
The offense was more than enough for Granchi, who continued to dominate throughout the afternoon.
Cuyahoga Falls failed to record a hit and managed only two walks against Granchi, who consistently worked ahead in counts and controlled both sides of the plate.
“We have been dialed in,” Proud said. “From 1-9, we put the ball in play to put pressure on the defense. We play as a team and focus on the game we’re playing and staying up the whole time no matter what the score is.”
The sectional title sends Riverside into a district semifinal on May 21 at Mentor High School against the winner of Solon and Wooster.
“It’s important for us to keep playing our game and taking it one pitch at a time,” Granchi said. “I think that we saw the ball well today, and I am excited for the rest of the week.”
Proud said the Beavers believe there is still more ahead.
“We go into the game locked in no matter who we are facing,” Proud said. “We play for each other and pick one another up when something isn’t working. We are hungry for more.”
Top Players
- Clara Granchi (Riverside): 2-3, 2R, 2B, 3B; 5IP, 0H, 10K
- Maddi Proud (Riverside): 2-3, 2R, 3RBI, HR
- Becca Tornow (Riverside): 2-2, 2R, 2RBI, BB
- Olivia Powell (Riverside): 1-2, 3RBI, 2B
- Emma Wilhelm (Riverside): 2-3, 2R, RBI
