Springfield won just one game prior to Sadler’s takeover in 2017. Having already clinched at least of share of the divisional title with Centerville, Springfield had back-to-back chances last week to win an outright title.
On Monday host Miamisburg delivered a 7-4 defeat. It was more of the same on Tuesday, when Springfield resumed a suspended game with host Springboro batting in the bottom of the ninth inning. The restart lasted just one Panthers hitter, resulting in a 3-2 Springfield setback.
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Ironically, Springfield was back at Springboro on Wednesday. Springboro delivered the season-ending 10-1 knockout in the second round of the Division I sectional after the Wildcats drew a first-round bye.
Once 9-4 at midseason, Springfield finished 11-12 overall and shared the National East title with Centerville, each at 6-6. That was Springfield’s first softball title since South won a GWOC championship in 2002.
Junior Taryn Freer led the GWOC in RBIs (38), was fourth in batting average (.582) and tied for fourth in home runs (six).
“To see that growth and to do things that haven’t been done in 17 years is what I’m most proud of,” Sadler said. “They’re great girls and they work hard. I told them to use this as more motivation. I’m just blown away by how much they’ve improved.”
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• Austin Tyree won the 300-meter hurdles (37.92) and ran on the winning 1,600 relay (3:27.65) as Springfield placed sixth among boys in the GWOC track and field meet combined championships at Troy’s Memorial Stadium on Friday.
Tyree also was third in the 110 high hurdles (14.79) and ran on the 800 relay that placed second (1:30.02). Dane Klosterman overcame a 10-meter deficit on the anchor leg to win the 1,600 relay for the Wildcats.
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Springfield’s 400 relay was fourth (44.07) and freshman Jokell Brown added a fifth in the shot put (46-3.25). The Wildcats were fifth among boys in the GWOC National Conference meet at Troy on Wednesday.
The Wayne boys were powered by record-setting sprinter Zarik Brown and ran away with the team title, 108-89 over runner-up Centerville. Miamisburg (61.5) was third.
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Brown swept the sprints and opened by setting a record in the 100 meters (10.64), bettering the record Michael Willey of Miamisburg (10.74) set in 2008. He coasted to another 400 win (50.21) and just missed setting another record in the 200 (21.50).
Troy record-setter Lenea Browder led the Trojans to a girls team title, 105-89 over runner-up Beavercreek. Springboro (68) was third. A junior, Browder reset GWOC records in her specialties. She won the discus (152-1) by more than nine feet and added a shot put title (44-9). Both those new meet marks surpassed the previous records that Isis Trotman of Centerville established in 2016.
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• The three-week track and field postseason begins with district meets in all three divisions this week. D-I districts are Wednesday and Friday at Bellbrook and Piqua. D-II districts are Thursday and Saturday at Graham and Piqua. D-III districts are Tuesday and Saturday at Milton-Union and Piqua.
The top four district placers in each event advance to the following week’s regional.
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