Bryan softball set for D-II regional semifinal against Tallmadge

Bryan will be looking to break through that barrier on Wednesday and advance to its first regional final in program history.

The Golden Bears (23-1), the No. 1 seed and victor of the Division II University of Northwestern Ohio District for the second straight year, take on Parma District-winner Tallmadge (21-8) in a regional semifinal 5 p.m. Wednesday at New Riegel High School.

The winner faces the victor of the Maumee/Ontario regional semifinal, which is set for 2 p.m. Wednesday, in the regional final 5 p.m. Friday at New Riegel.

The Golden Bears secured their second straight district championship with a 6-0 district final win over Lima Bath on Saturday at UNOH in Lima.

And like last year's district final, a dominant force in the circle and at the plate was a big reason why and will be in charge of slowing down Tallmadge, which has outscored its opponents 57-0 in 15 innings (three games) so far this postseason.

Freshman standout Thea Staten has 289 strikeouts, breaking the single season record set by 2022 Bryan High School graduate Addie Arnold last year (253), a 0.54 ERA, 23-0 record and has only allowed 69 hits and 42 walks in 157 innings.

At the plate, Staten is just as dangerous as Arnold. The right-handed No. 3 hitter has the single-season record in homers (four) with teammate Kailee Thiel, is batting a team-best .452, has team highs in RBI (33) and doubles (11) and is tied for second in runs (27) with Marlee Yoder.

She fired 13 strikeouts with only four hits and two walks along with a two-run single at the plate Saturday.

"Thea is an amazing player and amazing athlete," Bryan softball coach Molina said after Saturday's game. "Obviously, she's a huge key to our team and does incredible things on the mound. Excited for her and excited to see how she can keep us going in the tournament.

"I think between her and (assistant) coach (Brian) Arnold, they're able to connect on a level and be able to understand their batters, and be able to read kind of what they need and where to pitch the ball — and Thea is great at hitting locations. They're able to see different things and communicate really well."

Most players from last year's tournament run have been a huge part of this year's success as well.

Yoder and fellow juniors Ella Voigt and Kailee Thiel, along with sophomore Caitlyn DeWitt, were all instrumental in last year's tournament run and are key contributors again.

Yoder has a team-high 23 stolen bases, is second on the team in batting average (.444) and has eight RBI in the No. 2 spot of the lineup entering Wednesday.

Voigt, Bryan's catcher and leadoff hitter, has scored a team-high 29 times, is third in batting average (.385), second in doubles (six) and has 11 RBI.

The duo also combined for seven of the Golden Bears' 12 hits against Lima Bath on Saturday.

"Those are two huge junior leaders for us," Molina said. "... They're there for a reason. So, we're able to get going in the beginning of our games normally. They set the tone for everyone."

Thiel mans first base and broke the program record for home runs a season (four) with help from a three-homer game against Wauseon on April 10. She is also second in stolen bases (16), third in RBI (17), third in doubles (five), fourth in runs (23) and is batting .293.

DeWitt has a .243 batting average with 13 RBI and eight stolen bases, both good for fourth on the team, and 17 runs.

Senior Reese Grothaus (.369, 13 runs, 11 RBI), who is in her first year playing softball, and junior Tabithah Taylor (.364, eight runs, five RBI) have been contributing as well, while a plethora of freshmen are making a big impact.

Josey Arnold (.342 batting average, 21 RBI for second on team, 18 runs), Mackenzie Blevins (.267, seven runs, five RBI) and Mylie Vollmer (.187, 12 RBI, 10 runs, two home runs) have all stepped up for the Golden Bears in their first year of high school.