Highland's Keirsten Trayte honors late mother, caps career at Strike Out Cancer

MEDINA — The annual Strike Out Cancer offered senior Keirsten Trayte the opportunity to close her softball career on a high note with her Highland teammates Saturday with a 10-0 victory over Medina and a 4-3 nine-inning decision over Buckeye. The event at Fred Greenwood Park also offered Trayte a chance to honor her late mother, Mary Lou Trayte, who died of ovarian cancer five years ago. The festivities featured varsity and junior varsity teams from Medina, Highland, Cloverleaf and Buckeye wearing special "Strike Out Cancer" T-shirts in place of their traditional jerseys. "This is really important to me and why I have a teal bow in my hair," Trayte said. "This is a really special event for me and all of the girls. It's a really important cause, and I'm glad we got to be here to support." Trayte went 5-for-9 with a double and RBI on the day while also throwing five shutout innings with five strikeouts against the Bees. After Trayte doubled against Medina in the third inning, the Hornets entered Paige Kramer as a courtesy runner. Kramer scored in the middle of a five-run inning that also included a two-run single by Kennedy Steinbacher. Trayte also featured prominently in a two-out rally in the bottom of the ninth inning against Buckeye when her single brought Emily Miller to the plate for a game-winning single off the third base bag that scored Colleen Clark. The Hornets ended their season on a three-game winning streak after being knocked out of the tournament Wednesday against Strongsville. "I thought they played loose, relaxed and everyone had fun," coach Brent Belsole said. "We're out of the tournament and once that pressure is off of you, I think it makes a big difference. They had fun, and that's what this event is about." Led by three singles, two runs and an RBI by leadoff hitter Natalie McGraw, host Medina rallied to end its season with a 9-12 record following a 7-5 victory over Cloverleaf. The Bees needed a two-run sixth inning to pull off the victory. McGraw scored the go-ahead run from first base on a single by Sammi Rambo, paired with a Colts error. "I don't think (a win like that), would be possible without this team," McGraw said. "I honestly think it was our bond, because we always have each other's back on and off the field. We trust each other and in the moment that really helps." Cloverleaf took a 4-0 lead against Medina with a breakthrough second inning that was punctuated with a two-run double by Nikki Goode, who had three of her team's seven hits. All four of the runs scored with two outs with Cora Neura, Abbey Myers and Goode delivering RBIs. "I think we showed a good fight, played as a team and made some good plays," Goode said. "It was a whole win overall today, because the whole point of it is to be about cancer and remembering those loved ones." The annual event raised money and awareness to fight all forms of cancer and featured a ceremony honoring those that had passed, those still fighting and those in remission from cancer lining one of the parks diamonds. Many of the players and coaches from all of the teams walked survivors to the middle of the diamond before a balloon release and group photo was taken. Proceeds went to Collin Cares, started by former Medina student Collin Kiousis in 2016. Kiousis was diagnosed with cancer as a senior in 2014, and Kiousis' mother, Liz Kiousis, threw out the ceremonial first pitch. "This is a true community event that takes all of the schools, their teams and all of the community members around that team to be able to pull this off," Medina coach Jessica Toocheck said. "It's an honor to raise awareness and remember all of our family members." Among those remembering a lost loved one was the Bucks' Casey Cash, who hit a solo home run in the sixth inning to tie the game with Highland at 3. Cash's cousin, former Brunswick basketball and baseball player Josh Herron, passed away from Osteosarcoma in the spring of her freshman year. "He actually passed away during softball season, so this means a lot," Cash said. "It's super emotional and it's great that we get to raise money doing something we love for a really great cause." Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com. Highland 10, Medina 0 (6 inn.) MEDINA &emsp;&emsp;000 000 — 0 4 2 HIGHLAND &emsp;&emsp;105 022 — 10 13 1 One out when game-ending run was scored. WP — Keirsten Trayte (8-1) 5 innings, 4 hits, walk, 5 strikeouts. LP — Jodi Rabung (6-11) 5 1/3 innings, 8 earned runs, 7 strikeouts. Medina (8-13) — Natalie McGraw double. Highland (16-7) — Ashley Brewster 2 singles, run, RBI; Keirsten Trayte 2 singles, double, RBI; Corinne Mutch single, 2 runs, RBI; Kennedy Steinbacher 3 singles, double, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Mallory Wendl 2 singles, run, 2 RBIs. Medina 7, Cloverleaf 5 CLOVERLEAF 040 010 0 — 5 7 3 MEDINA &emsp;&emsp;003 202 x — 7 14 0 WP — Jodi Rabung (7-11) 4 innings, earned run, hit, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts. LP — Jenna McGarry (8-8) 6 innings, 5 earned runs. Cloverleaf (11-17) — Abbey Myers single, 2 runs, RBI; Nikki Goode 2 singles, double, 2 RBIs; Lexi Crow double, run. Medina (9-13) — Natalie McGraw 2 singles, double, 2 runs, RBI; Sammi Rambo 3 singles, 2 runs; Trista Melcher double, RBI; Madelyne Singer 2 singles, run, RBI; Jodi Rabung sngle, double, 2 RBIs. Highland 4, Buckeye 3 (9 inn.) BUCKEYE &emsp;&emsp;100 101 000 — 3 2 0 HIGHLAND &emsp;&emsp;011 100 001 — 4 12 5 WP — Ashley Brewster (9-6) 9 innings, earned run, 5 walks, 14 strikeouts. LP — Cassie Girard (6-5) 3 2/3 innings, earned run, 5 hits, strikeout. Buckeye (15-8) — Casey Cash home run. Highland (17-7) — Emma Hetkey 2 singles, RBI; Ashley Brewster 2 singles, run; Keirsten Trayte 2 singles; Emily Miller 2 singles, RBI; Maya Weber double, RBI; Kennedy Steinbacher double, RBI.