The Green Wave are the No. 1 team in Ohio’s Division II coaches poll. The Red Devils are No. 4. They aren’t very far apart, either, geographically.
But what about that pitching matchup? Greenville’s Jordyn Fisherback versus Tipp’s Kacey Locker? Are you kidding? This game likely will be over in an hour.
Fisherback, who once played for Tri-Village, now is plying her trade for Greenville in an effort to experience the best competition possible.
She is committed to play her college ball at Middle Tennessee State. Along with her talented teammates, she is on a mission this spring.
Right on cue, Tipp’s Kacey Locker will be standing in her way.
The Red Devils’ softball coach, Charles Tackett, knows that he is lucky to have found a player of Locker’s caliber. A recent conversation with the coach:
Tackett: We played 10 innings tonight.
DDN: How did you do?
Tackett: We lost (to Kenton Ridge, a CBC rival). Pitching is 90 percent of the game. The thing is, even if you might have the best pitching in the world but you don't have that strong defense behind it, you can lose any game.
DDN: What happened?
Tackett: We had two errors and they led to two unearned runs. Kacey still had a great game (one earned run in 10 innings). That's some great pitching we wasted tonight.
She’s our Olympian. We need to play clean softball. We need to take care of the ball.
DDN: Locker had never had a high school no-hitter before, going into the season.
Tackett: She has one now (laughs). She's been sensational. Kacey has eight shutouts so far. She had a no-hitter and 14 strikeouts against Central Crossing; a perfect game against Bellefontaine; and a no-hitter and 12 K's against Tecumseh.
DDN: Locker shut out Notre Dame Cathedral Latin the other day.
Tackett: They were a very good squad, as you are probably aware, from the Cleveland area. Kacey threw a three-hit shutout.
DDN: We've been watching her for years. She's a nice girl and all, but she's nasty with a softball in her hand.
Tackett: And she always has been.
DDN: But she's regressing (tongue in cheek). Last year (as a sophomore) her ERA was 0.09, and this year (as a junior) it's 0.16!
Tackett: She was 18-3 last year, with 217 strikeouts. That's just one away from the Tippecanoe school record held by her sister, Jessica Locker (Class of 2006).
DDN: She must be attracting some attention.
Tackett: Yeah, she's heard from a lot of colleges and stuff. During the summer, she also plays a high level of traveling ball. Kacey plays against some of the best competition in the country. She's a serious player and she takes her game on the road. She's earned everything.
DDN: What about Greenville?
Tackett: Their pitching is almost as good as ours is. (Fisherback) is an incredible player. They are a great team, period. Playing teams like that? That's what this is all about.
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