Waynesville coach Tim Williams said Allen will receive a combination academic/athletic scholarship. She will be the first athlete from Waynesville High to play Division I collegiate softball, according to Williams — the former standout place kicker at Ohio State who is in his third season coaching the Spartans.
Allen struck out 179 and had an ERA of 0.91 with a record of 14-9. She was named the Southwestern Buckeye League player of the year in the Buckeye Division.
At 5-foot-9, she is an imposing mound presence and backs that up with a 63 mph fastball. That’s the equivalent of high 90s in baseball. She also bats clean-up and popped four home runs last season.
“She has the size to be intimidating and she has the attitude of a football player,” Williams said. “When you press her buttons she comes out throwing harder. She’s a joy to coach. You look for mental toughness and that’s the quality that she possesses.”
Waynesville opened the season on Monday at Carlisle.
Familiar team: Cedarville senior golf standout Jordan Reese will take his game across the street to Cedarville University. A two-time Ohio Heritage Conference player of the year, Reese has signed with the Yellow Jackets.
The Indians’ No. 1 player for four seasons, Reese averaged 36.5 strokes per nine as a senior. He was seventh in the 2012 D-III state tourney.
“It’s exciting for our program to sign a player of Jordan’s caliber, who is also a local product,” Cedarville University head coach Joe Poelzer said.
The Jackets are in their first season as an NCAA D-II program.
It's an honor: The Division I state champion Fairmont girls basketball team will be honored at Trent Arena this morning from 8-8:30. The ceremony is open to the public.
The Firebirds completed a program-best 27-1 season by defeating Twinsburg 52-48 in the championship at Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center last month. Twinsburg beat Fairmont in the previous two D-I state title games.
Fairmont started spring break the week after the title-clinching weekend.
Fifth Third games: Fifth Third Field, home of the Dayton Dragons, will host a series of high school baseball games for the eighth straight year. Marion Local will play New Bremen in Thursday's 6:30 p.m. opener.
All the games are free to the public. Thirty area teams are scheduled to play.
Coach needed: Lehman Catholic is looking for a boys varsity basketball coach. Contact Cavaliers athletic director Richard Roll at r.roll@lehmancatholic.com.
Isaiah Williams led Lehman (10-14) this just-completed season.
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