Lady Leopards Blanked By Beavers 2-0 in District Semifinals, Finish 20-5 – Softball
#8 Painesville Riverside 2, #3 Louisville 0
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The #3 seed Louisville Leopards Softball Team was shutout by the #8 seed Painesville Riverside Beavers 2-0 in the DI Mentor District Semifinals Monday Evening at Mentor High School. With the loss, Louisville finishes the 2024 campaign with a final record of 20-5.
Benson Becomes LHS Career Hits Leader
Matti Benson singled on a 3-2 pitch up the middle in the bottom of the first inning to become the Lady Leopards career hits leader. The single was her 165th career base hit surpassing Kaycee Ollis (2016-2019) and Teagan Rice (2016-2019) who had previously held the record with 164 each.
Benson was Louisville’s first base runner of the game and would be the only Leopard to reach second base. Bailee Griffth drew a 5-pitch walk in the next at-bat that moved Benson into scoring position. However, the Louisville threat would end with a fly out and a strikeout.
Davis Delivers Early for Riverside
The Beavers broke the ice with a pair of runs in the opening frame and rode that advantage to the end. Maddi Proud cracked a 2-out double off the base of the left field fence to kickstart Riverside. She would go on to finish a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate for RHS.
Proud advanced to third on a wild pitch and Emi Jeras drew a walk to put runners on the corners. On the next pitch, Annaliese Davis smashed a 2-run double to right center field bringing home Proud and Jera to give the Beavers a 2-0 advantage. Davis would land on third after an error, but would be left stranded there.
Miller Strikes Out 6 in Losing Effort
Starting pitcher Katelyn Miller threw all 7 innings, gave up 2 runs on 6 hits, walked 2, and struck out 6. She retired the first two Riverside base runners in every inning except the sixth when Olivia Powell hit a 1-out double to center field. Miller retired the side in order in the third, fourth, and seventh innings.
With the loss, Miller finishes the season with a record of 6-2.
Granchi Throws 3-Hit Shutout for Beavers
Clara Granchi threw a complete game 3-hit shutout to lead the Lady Beavers. She only issued one walk and struck out 3 en route to the victory. Granchi retired Louisville in order in the third, fourth, sixth, and seventh innings. This included retiring the final 8 Lady Leopard batters.
Louisville’s Kenzi Denzer recorded a 2-out single to right field before getting caught in a rundown for the final out of the second inning.
Miller also singled on a line drive to left field with 1 out in the bottom of the fifth for the only other LHS hit. However, a pair of fielder’s choices ended the frame leaving Riverside ahead 2-0.
Lady Leopards Division I Era Closes
This was the first ever meeting between the Leopards and Beavers in softball.
Louisville is now 6-12 all-time in district semifinal contests, which includes a 3-10 record in Division I district semifinal games. The Lady Leopards are now 45-38 all-time in the postseason, which includes an 11-16 record in games played at a neutral site.
Louisville is now 32-27 all-time in the Division I tournament. This will likely be the last time the Lady Leopards will play in Division I. OHSAA softball will be moving from four to seven divisions next season which will likely put Louisville in Division III.
<<< 2024 Nordonia | Softball Tournament History
DI Northeast District Semifinal Schedule
DI Massillon District Semifinals (at Massillon Eagles #190 Sports Complex)
#2 Walsh Jesuit 16, #14 Archbishop Hoban 1, 5 Innings
#16 Lake 9, #11 Jackson 0
DI Mentor District Semifinals (at Mentor High School)
#4 North Canton Hoover 4, #5 Eastlake North 3
#8 Painesville Riverside 2, #3 Louisville 0
DI Youngstown District Semifinals (at YSU Softball Complex)
#1 Austintown Fitch 10, #18 Green 0, 5 Innings
#6 Chardon 6, #13 GlenOak 5
DI Northeast District Final Schedule
DI Massillon District Championship (at Massillon Eagles #190 Sports Complex)
#2 Walsh Jesuit Vs. #16 Lake, 5:00
DI Mentor District Championship (at Mentor High School)
#4 North Canton Hoover Vs. #8 Painesville Riverside, 5:00
DI Youngstown District Semifinals (at YSU Softball Complex)
#1 Austintown Fitch Vs. #6 Chardon, 5:00
Louisville Vs. Riverside Softball Box Score
BEAVERS 2, LEOPARDS 0
Records: Painesville Riverside 18-8, Louisville 20-5
