Young leads Eagles to thrilling walk-off victory in district final
Maria Young earned a complete victory and also knocked in the winning run in walk-off fashion as Avon won its first Division II district softball title since 2022 Thursday with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Mayfield at Waddell Park in Niles.
With the victory, the 14-13 Eagles move on to the regional tournament next week.
Young, a sophomore, pitched all seven innings, allowing five hits, walking three and striking out 11. Mayfield’s lone run came on a double by Sarah Piazza in the fourth inning.
Katie Heilmann started the bottom of the seventh inning for Avon with a walk. Averie Reichert then reached on an error by Mayfield, followed by a single by Jordyn Aysh to load the bases. After an out, Maria Holztrager successfully executed a squeeze bunt to plate a run and tie the score at 1-1.
One out later, Young laced a single down the left field line to score Reichert with the winning run. Young had two of Avon’s four hits, with Aysh and Michaela Jankowski having the others.
The Eagles will face either Painesville Riverside or Solon in a regional semifinal at the Willig Softball Complex in Canton on Wednesday.
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