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NORTH JACKSON -- In a rematch of the 2019 Division IV softball district championship, East Canton and McDonald squared off at Jackson-Milton High School on Wednesday.
The sunny, steamy, weather set the stage for a heated matchup. In the end, No. 3 seeded East Canton (21-4) got some redemption from the loss two years ago to the Blue Devils (19-4) and prevailed 5-1.
"I'm just really proud of these girls," McDonald coach Michelle Titus said. "They came a long way. They played hard. They hit the ball. East Canton was just there to catch them. We had a good season. I'm proud of the girls, and they should be proud of themselves."
The second-seeded Blue Devils were a worthy opponent indeed. Senior Bri Callow went the entire way on the mound for McDonald and shut down the Hornets for the first four innings. Each team loaded the bases, and failed to score in the second and third innings.
Senior Sarah Lerello got an infield single to begin the bottom of the fourth for McDonald. Riley Matig bunted Lerello over to third. Matig stole second and Alli Dean walked to load the bases again for the Devils. Unfortunately for McDonald, East Canton pitcher Marisa Hall got out of the jam again by striking out the next two batters, and getting a ground out.
Things went from bad to worse for the Devils in the top of the fifth when Kaley Steigerwald blasted a 2-run homer over the leftfield wall for the Hornets. A throwing error cost McDonald another run, and the Devils trailed 3-0.
Lucia Wolford got things going offensively for McDonald in the bottom of the fifth. After a leadoff double, Wolford swiped third base. Alivia Morrison brought her home with a sacrifice fly. Lerello got a two-out single, but McDonald trailed 3-1 heading to the sixth.
Callow (3.8 GPA), who received a full-ride scholarship to pitch for John Carroll University next year, tossed her final game with the Devils. She sat down the Hornets' bats 1-2-3 in the top of the sixth.
"We played a hard-fought game today," Callow said. "I think I got a little worn out in the end there. Overall, I've had a great time at MHS. I wish them all the best next year. I'm super excited to go up to John Carroll. Hopefully, we'll win an OAC title while I'm there."
Callow may have been a little worn out after pitching a no-hitter in the district semifinals on Monday. East Canton got to her again in the top of the seventh. This time, Tori Hankins connected on a 2-run homerun over the wall in center field.
"It wasn't really about revenge today," East Canton coach Jason Hall said. "It was more about getting to the regionals like we did in 2018. The opponent just so happened to be McDonald."