Carter Wachtel leads Triway softball back to Division 2 state title game with 3-0 win over Heath
AKRON, Ohio – Triway felt right at home at Firestone Stadium on Thursday and defeated Heath 3-0 in the Division II state semifinals behind another great pitching performance from Carter Wachtel.
The sophomore hurler struck out 15 hitters and allowed just two hits in a complete game. She took advantage of the aggressiveness of the Heath hitters and made that her game plan going into the game.
“Having them help us,” Wachtel said. “Working my pitches, maybe a little further out off the plate seeing what they were willing to bite at.”
And when the hitters weren’t biting, she kept going outside seeing as how the home plate umpire was calling the outside strikes from the start.
“I am ready to use that,” Wachtel said. “I like living out there.”
Wachtel also got into the act at the plate for the Titans. After Clowie Flinner hit an RBI single in the second, Wachtel followed it up with a two-run triple to center to make it 3-0.
That was all the offense she would need, as she struck out nine hitters over the next three innings.
When Heath did have a scoring threat, it was the Triway defense that made the play behind Wachtel.
With runners on first and third and one out in the bottom of the fifth, Kaitlyn Jardine hit a fly ball to left field that was going foul. Triway left fielder Hanna Massaro made the catch in perfect position to throw and then threw a perfect strike to the plate to get the runner trying to score from third for an inning-ending double play.
“She hit that foul ball, and everybody was screaming ‘four’ and I just let it go,” Massaro said. “I was thinking catch it and go four.”
Her pitcher appreciated the play.
“I was so pumped,” Wachtel said. “That play is so huge in any game, especially in the state semis.”
Wachtel did the rest, striking out the side in order in the sixth and then striking out two in the seventh.
The win sends Triway to the state championship game for the second season in a row, as they lost to Keystone in the title game last season.
This was the third game this postseason for Triway at Firestone Stadium, and the Titans have yet to give up a run in any of the three games. And Wachtel has allowed just three hits total.
“We have just kind of have taken this and made it our home,” Wachtel said. “We love coming here. We always say thanks for bringing us back to our home.”
Triway will get to return home one more time, as they will play for the state championship at 10 a.m. Saturday.
