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Shadyside looks back at title run

• Lady Tigers celebrate five-year anniversary of Division IV softball title

Photo Provided SHADYSIDE CELEBRATES after Kaitlyn Weaver scores the lone run of the Lady Tigers’ Division IV state championship softball game in 2015. Shadyside posted a 1-0 victory against North Lewisburg Triad to win the school’s first state title in softball and second in school history.

SHADYSIDE — From unranked during the regular season to Division IV state softball champions. That pretty much sums up Shadyside’s drive through the 2015 postseason.

The Lady Tigers, coached by Jillian Ongley, had a solid regular season, winning 14 of 19 games. However, no one, including Ongley nor any player on the team, knew what the ‘second season’ would hold.

The what came exactly five years ago on perfect Saturday night (June 6) in Akron. Shadyside defeated North Lewisburg Triad, 1-0, in 8 innings to capture the Buckeye State’s smallest division at an Orange-filled Firestone Stadium.

“It definitely took a while to sink in. It all felt so unreal for a long time. Even through the celebrations and dinners, it all felt like a dream!” Ongley recalled. “I knew that group of girls were special. It was just their love for softball and the game that made them stand out. I always felt like they had the potential to do anything.

“These were girls that focused on softball their entire lives. They were into it. Their parents were into it. We had some ups and downs throughout the season but when tournament time came we knew we had a great opportunity,” she continued. “I had a great support staff and great players. It was just an exceptional year and something none of us will ever forget.”

Shadyside’s Megan Heagney and Triad’s Hannah Watkins matched goose eggs for the first seven-and-a-half innings before senior catcher Lindsey Dunn laid down a textbook suicide-squeeze bunt that allowed speedy freshman Kaitlyn Weaver to easily score from third base, touching off a celebration that lasted well into the Stark County night.

During their unpredictable 8-0 tournament run, the Lady Tigers outscored the opposition 34-8. After breezing through the sectional with victories over Bridgeport (4-0), Toronto (4-0) and Steubenville Catholic (3-0), they defeated Tuscarawas Catholic (6-1) on its home field in New Philadelphia for the district crown. They then knocked off No. 1 Leesburg Fairfield (7-1) in the regional semis at Pickerington North before edging sixth-ranked Danville (3-1) at the same site for the regional title and a trip to the Final 4.

Ongley said in looking back, there were so many special times during the state title run.

“We had some amazing plays in the field, Megan’s pitching, timely hits and even a home run by Kenzie (Fielding), team support and confidence by all the girls to name a few,” she added. “We had some close games and it got stressful at times. Deep down, I knew that these girls could handle anything. In one of the first games, one of my assistants, Joe (Weaver), mentioned a suicide-squeeze. My reply was ‘we will save that for the state championship.’ Obviously, we both chuckled.

“When we called time in that final game, I looked at the girls and they knew what I was going to say. Our whole team and staff did as well. Of course, we were in the perfect situation with Kaitlyn on third and Karly (Klug) also on base. We knew we had an opportunity and decided to take it. Lindsey knew what needed done and she executed it perfectly. I loved that article with the title “Dunn gets it Done!

“It was a total team effort, of course, but to end the game and win a state championship like that was just magical. Definitely a storybook ending. I remember looking up in the stands and seeing my family and pretty much the entire town of Shadyside there jumping up and down! It was one of the best times of my life,” she noted. “Coaching can be hard at times, but that vision and memory is something that will forever be a part of me. We actually have a canvas printed hanging in our living room of the the end of the game as Kaitlyn slides into home with the crowd in the background.

“A memory that we will cherish forever.”

Those memories are still special to the three players that made them happen.

“Looking back all I can say is that our 2015 state championship run felt like a dream. With being a freshman, I was overwhelmed with shock and everything made you question ‘is this really happening to us right now?’ I was waiting to be pinched. It felt like it was destined to happen, that group of seniors and Lindsey Dunn were girls I had looked up to forever. I had played with them my entire career and had been their little bat girl for as long as I could remember,” Weaver said. “I idolized every single one of them and it was almost like finishing off our last games together with a bang — also with them as seniors and me as a freshman was meant to be.

“I felt so fortunate to be in those moments with the team and experience the support from all over the Ohio Valley. Starting off that final inning and barely being safe by a step to first base, then running in tears to Karly after she had moved me to third on a bunt was the most sentimental moment because in that moment we knew, ‘this is our chance to get this.’

“Thanks to my dad for the plan, coach Jillian, (assistant coaches) Dave Ragase, Jaclyn Johnson and Amy Games’ faith in all of us, Lindsey’s perfect suicide-squeeze, Megan’s outstanding pitching, and amazing defense behind her — that chance happened. Our run was done and we made history for our school. Everyone’s team effort was amazing and we stuck together to get it done.

“I am so thankful and still do look back questioning if that really happened, I loved every minute of it. If I could relive any moment of my high school career it would be absolutely that with all of those girls. Proves that not being ranked means nothing !”

Dunn still has vivid memories of her bunt.

“My thoughts on the game from then and now are still unbelievable … it’s still breath taking when I think about it. Back then it was about all the hard work all of us girls put in. We all been playing together since we were little. All the travel ball, summer leagues, and winter leagues we played together throughout our softball career was unreal,” she revealed. “My dad (Bruce) coached us all the way until we were in high school. He prepared us with other coaches as well as Joe Weaver and Joe Heagney.

“We practiced that suicide-squeeze like over 1,000 times. So when that moment came, It was nothing to us. We just knew. I looked at Jillian and she just gave me a head nod. Having Kaitlyn on third was just icing on the cake because she was the fastest player on our team. It was our moment to shine,” she remembered. “That feeling after putting down that bunt when its 0-0 in the 8th inning of a state final game, is unbelievable. Running to first base with the crowd going crazy, was the best feeling in the world! I knew that we made history. I had turned and looked at my teammates who jumped on top of me for a dog pile! From there on out it was just a blur. I was just so overwhelmed with everything that had happened.

“Our team was like family, we all came together once we stepped onto the field. We were unstoppable at that point and we sure did prove it! Now it’s all in the passed and it’s about the memories we have that will last a lifetime. We still talk about it to this day.”

Heagney also recalls everything like it was yesterday.

“Before the state final is all a blur honestly. I was just trying to get my game face on and focus on what I needed to do as a pitcher and be one of the senior leaders of the team. I can remember the crowd going crazy when we walked on the field and the adrenaline through my body was at its peak,” she said. “Throughout the game we all as a team tried to stay calm and stay focused. It was awesome to watch the crowd scream and yell every play we had. As a pitcher being in the center of attention it was super important for me to stay focused, especially when the bases were loaded and I had a 3-2 count on the batter and two outs. That was the hardest thing I ever had to do and stay focused on.

“Then the suicide-squeeze and I don’t think I have ever been so happy to see a bunt go down with Kaitlyn on third. It was meant to be for us. After the game was just such a big relief,” she added. “We worked so hard for this especially all of us who played together since we have been like 4 years old. I remember being just so excited and holding that trophy meant the entire world to me. Seeing the expression on my parents faces was the best thing ever because I knew how proud they were of me. All the hard work we had to do to get this finally paid off and I would do it all over again to feel the way we felt that night.

“On the way home to Tiger Town it was just a shocking ride. None of us could believe we just won a state championship and we couldn’t wait to get home and enjoy it with our town,” she continued. “The escort we received through the loop was outstanding. I couldn’t tell you how many fire trucks welcomed us into town from the entire valley. The amount of people on the streets in the middle of the night was just unbelievable. I believe almost the entire town of Shadyside was out and it meant so much us to know how many people were proud to be a tiger.

“I can’t believe five years has passed already. I still don’t think I (fully) realize what an accomplishment it is to be a state champion.”

Ongley praised all those that followed the Lady Tigers on their unbelievable run.

“Shadyside is amazing and obviously we love our sports here. We couldn’t ask for a greater community! Everyone in town and every business was supporting and cheering us on. That always makes you feel special,” she said. “But the support from the valley is what was even more amazing. I had cards and emails from people I had never met before wishing us luck and telling us they were rooting us on. Other teams and coaches were so supportive. It was all just unreal! We had so many restaurant owners and businesses buy us meals and have celebrations for us. Our celebration seemed to last that whole summer. Those are things the girls will always remember as well.

“I would just like to thank everyone again for all the support. Our school staff, athletic director, Mr. (John) Triveri, people around the valley, the Eastern district, the OVAC, the media, the girls’ families and my husband and family for the love and support every step of the way. I think my dad and Nick took my babies to every game that year to support us.

“My assistants were the best and I’d like to thank them all again too. Jaclyn Brooks, Dave Ragase, Joe Weaver and Amy Games and I will forever share these special moments. But the girls on the team deserve the all the recognition. They were just awesome! I hope they all remember these times and always look back on them and smile or cry like I do!

“We will always share a special bond. I can’t believe it’s been five years!”

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