WELLINGTON — Christine Lyzen pitches sparingly but effectively for Columbia’s Class C softball team.
The smoke-throwing ninth-grader, whose fastball has been clocked at 64 mph, struck out 13 Wellington Lightning batters Thursday night and pitched a one-hitter in a 9-3 victory.
The win, Lyzen’s fifth of the season, secured a Lorain-Medina OGSO district championship and earned Columbia (18-1) a spot in the state tournament next weekend in Lordstown. Class C is for players 14 and younger.
In Thursday’s other Class C final, Spencer drilled the Wellington Fire, 10-5, behind a 10-strikeout performance by Kayla Finkel. Spencer also advances to state.
Columbia manager Bob Doll said Columbia has posted lopsided wins every time Lyzen has pitched this season.
“She’s been, like, unhittable,” he said. “She allows very few hits. I think I can count all the hits she’s allowed on one hand. She’s one of the most talented girls I’ve ever met and one of the nicest.”
She also has three strong pitches, her 60-plus mph fastball, a curve and changeup.
“My fastballs were working tonight,” Lyzen said. “My curveballs were slipping but I got a couple of them in there.”
The Columbia batting star was Megan Hawke, who hit three singles. Allison Bowes hit a single and double, catcher Emily Viccarone belted a double and Brianna Hanchin and Samantha Doll each singled. Wellington’s Raven Howard broke up Lyzen’s no-hitter with a single.
Finkel struck out 10 and Dagmar Smith hit a single and double in Spencer’s victory over the Wellington Fire. Like Columbia’s Lyzen, Finkel throws a fastball, curve and changeup.
So, what was working for her?
“Everything, plus I knew I had my team behind me,” she said. “I knew we’d get it together, even if we did have a couple of errors. We’d bring it all back because we work together very well.”
Manager Cheryl Leach said teamwork has been Spencer’s key to success.
“I’m very proud of every single one of these girls,” she said. “They’ve all given 100 percent all season. For a bunch of 13- and 14-year-old girls, they came together wonderfully as a team. The biggest strength they have is togetherness.”
Thursday’s championship games completed district play for teams in Classes A (10 and under), B (12 and under) and C. Each class sends two district winners to state. Class D (18 and under) district semifinals and finals will be played Saturday. Four Class D teams advance to Lordstown.
Oberlin’s Class D squad is seeking its fourth consecutive OGSO state championship. If successful, Oberlin would tie the record set by manager Dave Moore’s South Amherst clubs in 2002-05.
Thursday results
District finals
Class C
Columbia 9, Wellington Lightning 3
Spencer 10, Wellington Fire 5
Saturday games
Class D
Semifinals, 4 p.m.
Vermilion vs. North Ridgeville
Midview North vs. Lorain
District finals, 6:30 p.m.
Litchfield vs. Amherst, field 1
Medina vs. Vermilion-Ridgeville winner, field 2
South Amherst vs. Midview North-Lorain winner, field 3
Wellington vs. Oberlin, field 4
Bob Daniels | The Chronicle-Telegram
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