High school softball: Dale Dawson named new Buckeye coach

Coming off the first regional final appearance in program history, the Buckeye softball team will be under new leadership next season. Pending board of education approval Monday, the Bucks are prepared to hire 2021 Ohio High School Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Famer Dale Dawson. "I've been around softball for a long time and am familiar with the schools in their conference," Dawson said. "Watching from afar, I've always thought highly of the Buckeye community and their sports programs. I feel like it's a really good fit for my coaching style and their short- and long-term goals for the program." Dawson replaces Howard Calame Jr., who led the Bucks to a 22-7 record and the Great Lakes Conference East Division championship along with the first district title. In 17 seasons, the 1985 Buckeye graduate went 183-179. With the exception of All-Gazette catcher Madi Lichty, pitcher/utility Olivia Matras and outfielder Alexa Rundle, the Bucks return the vast majority of a team that won 12 straight games before losing to eventual Division II state champion Canfield. The depth of talent Buckeye is expected to have back this spring starts with sophomore pitcher Lilly Young, who was named Gazette MVP as a freshman after going 12-4 with a 1.68 ERA and 182 strikeouts in 104 1/3 innings. The Bucks also welcome back honorable mention All-Gazette selections in outfielder Kelsey Metter, first baseman Kwynn Czerwony and second baseman Cassy Minarchick. Metter and Czerwony are seniors, while Minarchick is a junior. "I'm extremely excited," Dawson said. "When I see the talent and what the school wants to do with the program, it's early in the fall, but I'm champing at the bit and always asking (athletic director John Myers) when I can get started." Using philosophies that the process is more important than the outcome and the journey is more important than the destination, Dawson has compiled 333 wins in seven seasons at Milan Edison, six at St. Joseph Academy and the past three at Margaretta, where he won two district titles and advanced to the district finals in all three seasons. His 333 wins are among the state's all-time leaders, according to the OHSAA record book. Dawson, who has led eight teams to district titles, helped Edison to its first state appearance in 2012, when the Chargers were ranked first in D-III by The Associated Press. He also helped Margaretta set a program record for wins in 2022 with 26 on the way to the program's first district championship in 30 years. Prior to becoming a high school head coach, Dawson was an assistant at Lorain Southview. He also has compiled a lengthy résumé as a travel ball coach. The Vermilion resident began coaching when his oldest daughter, Jordan, began playing. "I've been blessed to work with a lot of quality people, from administrators to fellow coaches to parents and athletes," Dawson said. "I've won a lot of games and I've lost a lot, too. I want to be able to teach them to take the lessons and positives out of the losses. "The details matter, and we want to be the smarter team that puts ourselves in position to create our own good luck." Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com.