Ellet continued its domination over City Series softball foes on Monday night when it needed only 4½ innings to dispatch Firestone in the postseason final.
Junior Maddie Anderson provided the pitching, and a host of Orangemen took care of the rest en route to an 18-2 victory over the Falcons at Firestone Stadium.
The Orangemen (15-6) scored two runs in the first inning, one run in the second inning and 10 runs in the third inning to separate from the Falcons (9-7) and remain perfect against league rivals this year.
“I am speechless,” Ellet senior Samantha Wolf said. “I am sad because this is our final game, but we had a great season though so I feel pretty good.”
The victory gave coach Chuck Shuman his 27th City Series postseason final title — 17th in a row — since he took over the program in 1985. The Orangemen have also won 28 City Series regular season titles — 17 in a row — under Shuman.
Junior Lexi Shultz totaled three hits, three RBI and three runs to lead Ellet’s attack. Sophomore Mackenzie McLeod contributed three hits, three RBI and two runs.
Wolf and her sister, sophomore Sydnie, both started and scored a run under the direction of Shuman, who is their grandfather.
“It is awesome to play for him,” said Samantha Wolf, who had three singles and an RBI. “I wouldn’t want anybody else to coach me. He is a great coach and a great person.”
Shuman said he liked his players’ “composure” and “confidence.”
“Firestone has improved and is pretty spirited,” Shuman said. “Chris [Pashke] does a great job with them, and I think the most impressive thing was our girls were patient. The second time around the batting order I think they realized that they could sit back and get the pitch they wanted.”
Sydnie Wolf finished with two RBI. Freshman Mary Murray totaled two hits, two runs and one RBI and sophomore Cassidy Golden had two hits, one RBI and one run.
Freshman Rosie Hayes scored three runs for Ellet, and senior Erin Rorar, sophomores Baylee Brown and Joey Chesser each scored one run.
“We are a very young team that lost five great seniors to graduation last year, so we had big shoes to fill,” Rorar said. “I am very proud of my team and how we came around. The beginning of the year was tough, but we pushed through and we went undefeated in the City and that is an amazing feeling.”
Anderson pitched a complete game. She said “positivity” and “team work” continue to be a key component to Ellet’s success.
“We stayed up and kept scoring runs,” said Anderson, who walked in three at-bats, scored twice, had one RBI and improved to 11-4 in the circle this season.
Pashke’s starting lineup, which included no seniors, produced two runs in the fourth. Junior Aleisha Fike hit a single and scored on a wild pitch, and sophomore Madison Morrow hit a double and scored on a single by freshman Skyler Colegrove.
“We had one junior, nine sophomores and two freshmen today,” Pashke said. “One or two innings against Ellet always hurts us. The kids put the ball in play and never gave up. That is the story with this group — they never gave up all year. ... We had four games where we won in the bottom of the seventh inning, which helped put us in this game.”
Michael Beaven can be reached at 330-996-3829.