High school softball: Buckeye bats explode against Medina at Prebis tournament

NORTH RIDGEVILLE — Looking to rebound from its first conference loss since 2024, the Buckeye softball team hit the ground running Saturday to defeat Medina 11-0 in a five-inning game at the Prebis Memorial Invitational hosted by Victory Park. Playing for the first time since a 4-2 Cleveland West Conference defeat to Rocky River on Wednesday, the Bucks (11-4) batted around twice and scored all of their runs in the first two innings against the Bees (10-4). Junior pitcher Lilly Young looked every bit of her 2024 Gazette MVP form, tossing a four-hitter with nine strikeouts. "Coming off the conference loss, I feel like that gave me the confidence and energy to push more and want it more than the other team," Young said. "My screw was working the best. I had some curves, rise and a few changeups as well." After Medina's Katie Rubino, the reigning Gazette MVP, doubled to center field to lead off the game, Young settled in to retire the next 10 batters, including a streak of six strikeouts that covered three innings. "I've played with (Young) for a long time, but have never gotten to face her," Rubino said. "She's a phenomenal pitcher. She knows how to move the ball so well. "I don't think we were ready for that. We could have done a better job adjusting to her riseball." Rubino had two of her team's four hits, adding a single with one out in the fifth that loaded the bases after Olivia Hendrickson doubled and Reese Todaro walked, but Young bounced back to get the final two outs. Medina's other hit came from Ryann Allar, who singled to right with one out in the fourth to end Young's streak of 10 straight retired. While Buckeye used the impromptu matchup between the Medina County schools, which was created after weather forced changes to the Prebis Memorial schedule, to bounce back, the Bees are hoping to refocus ahead of a key Greater Cleveland Conference contest with Brunswick today. "We usually come out guns blazing with a ton of energy," Rubino said. "We were kind of flat today. Our coaches talked about that. It's a learning experience, and we'll come out (today) ready to go with a bunch of energy." The Bucks only needed five hits to amass 11 runs thanks to Medina pitchers Brooke Housum and Kylie Thompson combining to walk seven and hit two batters. Juliana Melillo capped a seven-run second inning in which Buckeye sent 11 batters to the plate with a grand slam to left field. Her blast scored Ava Piovarchy (double), McKenzie Cenname (walk) and Kelsey Morano (error). The grand slam was Melillo's second of the season in as many home runs. "This is a team game, and I really just want to help my team out with getting some runs in," she said. "I'm really just looking for base hits, but it's nice to have a home run, too." In another game: Perrysburg 14, Buckeye 8 NORTH RIDGEVILLE — Sarah Michaels (3 runs) and Ava Piovarchy (RBI) each had three hits for the Bucks (11-5) in this non-league loss. Faith Shaw had a double, triple, two runs and three RBIs as Buckeye attempted to come back from a 12-2 deficit midway through the sixth inning. Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com. Buckeye 11, Medina 0 (5 inn.) MEDINA 000 00 — 0 4 2 BUCKEYE 470 0x — 11 5 0 WP — Lilly Young (9-2) 5 innings, walk, 9 strikeouts. LP — Brooke Housum (9-3) 0 innings, 4 runs, 2 hits, 2 walks. Medina (10-4) — Katie Rubino single, double; Olivia Hendrickson double. Buckeye (11-4) — Maddie Wilhelm single, 2 runs; Faith Shaw single, double, 2 runs, RBI; Ava Piovarchy double, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Juliana Melillo home run, 4 RBIs. Perrysburg 14, Buckeye 8 PERRYSBURG 413 031 2 — 14 16 4 BUCKEYE 100 103 3 — 8 13 4 WP — C. Sanders 3 1/3 innings, unearned run, 4 hits, 2 walks, strikeout. LP — Olivia Piovarchy (2-2) 4 1/3 innings, 10 runs, 7 earned, 9 hits, 4 walks. Buckeye (11-5) — Maddie Wilhelm single, 2 runs; Sarah Michaels, 3 singles, 3 runs; Faith Shaw double, triple, 2 runs, 3 RBIs; Ava Piovarchy 3 singles, RBI; Cassy Minarchick single, double. Perrysburg — Y. You 2 singles, double, 3 runs, 2 RBIs; M. Von Sacken single, 2 RBIs; G. Quiroz 3 singles, 4 runs, RBI; K. Thomas single, run, 2 RBIs; K. Miller 2 singles, 2 runs, 2 RBIs.