Vote Now: What was the top play from the 2023 OHSAA softball state tournament?

Here are the nominees for the top plays in the OHSAA softball state tournament.

AKRON, Ohio -- The Ohio High School Athletic Association held the softball state tournament this past weekend at Firestone Stadium in Akron with Austintown Fitch, Tallmadge, Wheelersburg and Strasburg-Franklin taking home the top honors in their respective divisions.

There were plenty of great plays in the 12 games played across the four divisions, and here are some of the best (listed in chronological order). Read through the nominees and cast your vote. Voting will conclude Sunday, June 11 at 11:59 p.m.

(Photo of Wheelersburg's Macee Eaton by Jeff Harwell)

Macee Eaton home run, Wheelersburg

In the third inning of the state semifinal game against South Range, Eaton took a pitch and went opposite field, depositing it over the fence for her second homer in as many games at Firestone Stadium. The Pirates went on to win 6-1.

Rileigh Lang running catch, Wheelersburg

With Wheelersburg leading 6-1 in the fifth inning of the state semifinals against South Range, the raiders had runners on second and third with two outs. Kelly Szolek hit a sinking liner to right field that Lang ran in on and made a catch to end the inning and save a pair of runs.

Gianna Pannunzino double play, Canfield

In the first inning of their semifinal game against Steubenville, the Big Red had a runner on second and nobody out in the first inning. Sophia Zorne tried to bunt the runner to third but popped it up about 10 feet in front of the plate to the third base side of the outfield. Pannunzio came sprinting in and dove for the ball, made the catch, gathered herself, and then got up and threw to second to double off the runner.

Faith Morell walk-off bunt, Canfield

After the Cardinals had tied the semifinal game against Steubenville 1-1 in the seventh inning, Morell was at the plate with Hailey Freedy at third base. Morell laid down a bunt up the first base line to score Freedy and secure the 2-1 win.

Ashlyn Severns walk-off single, Tallmadge

In the bottom of the seventh of Tallmadge’s semifinal game against Greenville, the Blue Devils and Green Wave were tied 5-5 but Tallmadge had the bases loaded with one out and Severns at the dish. She lined a single back up the middle to score Leila Staszak to give the Blue Devils a 6-5 walk-off win.

Trinity Nowicki home run, Anthony Wayne

In the Division I semifinals against Watkins Memorial, she blasted a solo homer in the third inning that ended up being the game-winner in a 2-1 victory.

Ella Teubner running catch, Lebanon

In the Division I semifinal against Austintown Fitch, the center fielder chased down a gapper hit by Sydnie Watts and made a running catch to keep the deficit at 2-0.

Caitlin Mitchell diving play, Austintown Fitch

In the fourth inning of Fitch’s 3-0 win in the state semifinal, the second baseman made a diving stop on a ball hit between herself and the first baseman, got up and threw out the hitter to preserve Sydnie Watts’ no-hitter.

Sydney Lutz play up the middle, Canfield

With the Division II state championship game scoreless in the third inning and Tallmadge having runners on the corners with two outs, the second baseman ranged to her right to make the play and then was able to lunge and tag out the runner to end the inning.

Sydney Becks inside-the-park home run, Tallmadge

With the Blue Devils leading 2-0 in the fourth inning of the Division II state championship game, Becks hit a perfectly placed ball down the left field line and never stopped running, turning it into a three-run inside-the-park homer. The Blue Devils ended up with a 9-0 victory.

Leila Staszak running catch, Tallmadge

With two outs in in the sixth inning of the Division II state championship game, Canfield’s Faith Morell hit a foul ball to right field that the sophomore outfielder tracked down and caught despite making contact with her second baseman, who was also chasing to fly ball.

Ayla Ray home run, Fitch

With Fitch and Anthony Wayne tied 1-1 in the fifth inning of the Division I state championship game, the junior shortstop launched the first pitch she saw over the right field fence to give the Falcons a 2-1 lead. Fitch went on to win 6-1.

Morgan Roby basket catch, Fitch

After Fitch had scored four runs in their half of the fifth inning to take a 5-1 lead in the Division I state championship game, the defense showed up in the Anthony Wayne half of the inning. Teya Marshall hit a popup near the third base (Anthony Wayne) dugout that Roby ran after and the third baseman made a sliding basket catch on her knees.

Maggie Richards home run, Strasburg

Richards got the Tigers on the board early in the Division IV state championship game, as she crushed the first pitch she saw in the first inning for a three-run homer. Strasburg went on to win its ninth state title with an 8-2 win over Hopewell-Loudon.

Sidney Brickner inside-the-park home run, Hopewell-Loudon

Brickner was responsible for Hopewell-Loudon’s two runs in the Division IV state championship game as she lined a ball into the left field corner and motored around the bases. The play ended with a collision at the plate where the catcher dropped the ball and Brickner was able to tap the plate for the run.

Read More:

Indian Lake softball advances to first state championship game with 3-0 win over Johnstown

Wheelersburg softball remains perfect with 6-1 win over South Range in Division III state semifinals

Canfield softball wins in walk-off fashion in Division II state semifinals

Tallmadge softball feeds off crowd, walks off Greenville 6-5 in Division II state semifinals

"Blessed" Anthony Wayne advances to Division I state championship with 2-1 win over Watkins Memorial

Sydnie Watts tosses no-hitter to put Austintown Fitch in the Division I state championship game

Hopewell-Loudon remains unbeaten with 9-1 win over Parkway in Division IV state semifinals

Amelia Spidell fans 15 as Strasburg-Franklin defeats Gibsonburg 3-1 in Division IV state semifinals

A perfect repeat: Wheelersburg softball wins second straight Division III state title with undefeated season

Tallmadge softball wins first state title since 1998 with 9-0 win over Canfield

Austintown Fitch softball flies to first state title with 6-1 win over Anthony Wayne

Strasburg-Franklin softball has record night in winning OHSAA Division IV state championship