In softball, well-timed hits can mean the difference between winning and losing.
Walsh Jesuit produced nine hits, and Amherst had two hits after the first inning in the Division II Region 6 final on May 29.
With a 6-2 loss to Walsh Jesuit, Amherst’s season came to a close in the program’s second regional final appearance.
“(Walsh Jesuit) has some tough outs in that lineup. We just did not have the offensive firepower today,” Amherst coach Lacey Reichert said.
Amherst Coach Lacey Reichert after the Comets 6-2 loss to Walsh Jesuit.@MJournalSports pic.twitter.com/jXk7YaiQup
— Mark Perez-Krywany (@Perez_Sports) May 30, 2026
Walsh Jesuit advanced to a Division II state semifinal and will take on Westerville Central, which defeated Whitehouse Anthony Wayne, 1-0, in Shelby.
The score was even at 1-1 after the first inning. The turning point was Walsh Jesuit lead-off hitter Ella Girard.
The Michigan State signee got on base in all four plate appearances, hitting a single, double and triple to drive in two runs.
After two straight walks Walsh’s Michigan State commit Ella Girards drives in a single for a 2-1 lead@WJ_Warriors @MJournalSports pic.twitter.com/UDH04Yer1P
— Mark Perez-Krywany (@Perez_Sports) May 29, 2026
“She is calming, reliable and can do it in all ways,” Walsh Jesuit coach Charlie Schrader said. “She can put the ball down, play small-ball, she can stand in there and swing away like she did (in the Division II Region 6 semifinal) when she went over and off the scoreboard.”
Girard was intentionally walked in the fourth inning, as Reichert was well aware of the threat at the top of Walsh Jesuit’s order.
Amherst pitcher Karina Shuster represented Lorain County as one of its premier pitchers. As a second-team All-Ohio junior, Shuster was tested with long at-bats, throwing 150 pitches while facing 34 batters.
At one instance, Shuster went on a 17-pitch at-bat against Warriors outfielder Kat Taylor. There was another at-bat that went nine pitches and resulted in a walk.
“(Shuster) threw a hell of a game,” Schrader said. “She moved the ball in and out (of the zone), kept us off balance and that was a lot of it too. … We were just trying to check pitches just to get a pitch we could handle.”
Despite giving up nine hits and five earned runs, Shuster struck out eight Warriors in a lineup that included four college recruits.
“I just knew that I had to hit my spots and make sure that my spin was good. I was trying to stay relaxed and confident in my pitches and spins,” she said.
Offensively, Amherst put together two hits in the first inning, which resulted in a one-run single from Makenna Dorobek.
Dorobek brings Rebman home but the inning end with Walsh up 4-2@WJ_Warriors @MJournalSports pic.twitter.com/FEjKJ55dfW
— Mark Perez-Krywany (@Perez_Sports) May 29, 2026
Dorobek recorded half the team’s hits, as she also drove in a one-run single in the third inning.
“I just wanted to play as hard as I could and do as much as I could for my team. I did not want my season to end, so I wanted to get as many hits as I could,” Dorobek said.
Until the sixth inning, Amherst trailed, 4-2.
PHOTOS: Amherst vs. Walsh Jesuit softball, May 29, 2026
However, Amherst was unable to score any more runs against Wheeling commit Katie Lippencott (four hits, two earned runs, five strikeouts).
The Comets’ hits were scattered, as Sienna Rebman hit a double in the sixth, but was ruled out because she did not step on first base when turning for second.
Shuster had a single in the seventh to start the inning, but the game ended two at-bats later with a double play.
Amherst concluded its season 19-11. Although the Comets did not win the Southwestern Conference, they advanced further than any SWC team in the OHSAA tournament.