Cantley Throws Perfect Game as Lady Leps Advance to Elite 8 – Softball

Louisville 13, Chardon 0, 5 Innings

Sarah Cantley threw the first perfect game in Louisville Softball tournament history as the #4 ranked Leopards demolished the Chardon Hilltoppers 13-0 in five innings Wednesday Afternoon in the DI Akron Regional Semifinals. With their sixth straight victory, Louisville improves to 24-4 on the season and will play for a Regional Championship Saturday at Noon against the Solon Comets.

Fifteen Hilltoppers came to the plate and all fifteen went back to the bench as Cantley threw just the third perfect game in Lady Leopards team history. This is also her second no-hitter of this postseason and seventh of her career as she struck out 11 in the process.

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While Cantley dealt in the circle, the Lady Leopards offense hit on all cylinders pounding out 13 runs on 9 hits. Kaylee Nolte finished 3-for-4 with two doubles and a pair of RBIs to lead Louisville at the plate. Kaycee Ollis finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and Teagan Rice drove in a pair of runs as well. Both Ollis and Rice crossed the plate three times. Alex Fankhauser also recorded a 2-out, RBI single in the fourth inning to cap off the first of back-to-back 4-run frames by the Leopards offense. 

Cantley had all the run support she would need before stepping into the circle. Her sacrifice bunt in the top of the first inning brought home Rice to put the Lady Leopards ahead 1-0. Nolte followed with a line drive single to center scoring Ollis from second to give Louisville a 2-0 cushion before they even took the field. 

The first three innings were near carbon copies of each other as Cantley recorded a pair of strikeouts and a groundout in each while sending down Chardon’s lineup in order. The Leopards Ace seemingly got stronger as the game went along and LHS continued to build their lead. She faced the top of the Hilltoppers lineup in the fourth inning and struck out the side. Cantley then recorded her fifth straight strikeout to start the fifth inning sending down the Hilltoppers cleanup batter.

The only solid contact made off Cantley during the game came in the next at-bat when Russo lined out to Nolte in right field. Cantley got the final batter to swing and miss on three straight pitches to send Louisville to the Elite Eight.

UP NEXT: The Louisville Leopards Softball Team will next play for a Regional Championship on Saturday, May 25 against the Solon Comets. First pitch is slated for Noon from the University of Akron’s Lee Jackson Field. The winner will earn a trip to the State Tournament at Firestone Stadium.

OHSAA DI Regional Semifinal Tournament Softball Scores

Akron Regional
#4 Louisville 13, Chardon 0, 5 Innings
Solon 4, #5 Walsh Jesuit 0

Clyde Regional
#8 Perrysburg 5, #7 Brecksville-Broadview Heights 4
#8 Elyria 4, Oregon Clay 2

Columbus Regional
#3 Westerville Central 2, Grove City 1
#1 Mount Vernon 8, Gahanna Lincoln 5

Centerville Regional
#2 Lakota East 5, #6 Mason 4
#10 Lakota West 2, Harrison 0

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VARSITY SOFTBALL BOX SCORE

LEOPARDS 13, HILLTOPPERS 0, 5 INNINGS

Team 123-45–R-H-E

Chardon 000-00–0-0-7

Louisville 230-44–13-9-0

LOUISVILLE LEOPARDS SOFTBALL VARSITY BATTING STATS

LOUISVILLE LEOPARDS SOFTBALL VARSITY PITCHING STATS

CHARDON HILLTOPPERS SOFTBALL VARSITY BATTING STATS

CHARDON HILLTOPPERS SOFTBALL VARSITY PITCHING STATS

Records: Louisville 24-4, Chardon 17-11