Week in Solon Sports: Softball Rallies, Track Races and More

The Week in Solon Sports is just that – a weekly look at Solon High School sports teams in action over the last week and quick previews of what's to come next week. Come to Solon Patch every Friday afternoon to get all the sports you need.

SOFTBALL

Some late-inning heroics gave Solon's softball team a  pair of big Northeast Ohio Conference River Division victories this week as the Lady Comets came from behind to down Twinsburg and Stow.

Kristen Confroy tripled twice, drove in two runs and scored the winning run on a hit by teammate Carly Simecek in the seventh inning of a 5-4 win over Stow on Thursday. Dani Zysek gained her sixth win of the season on the mound, striking out eight as Solon improved to 2-2 in the River Division.

Solon plated four runs in the seventh inning on its way to an 8-6 triumph over crosstown rival Twinsburg. Simecek's three-run triple keyed the rally and she then scored on a squeeze bunt by Emily Maxson, who also collected a pair of runs batted in with a triple. Confroy homered for the winners and Kristen Wong added another RBI.

The Lady Comets split a pair of games at the Rock N Fire Classic. Solon edged Beaumont 1-0 as Zysek pitched her fourth shutout of the season, allowing just two hits and striking out 11. Zysek doubled, stole third and scored on a wild pitch for the game's only run. In the second game, the Lady Comets dropped an 11-4 decision to Strongsville.

UP NEXT: Solon is scheduled to host Madison today and entertain West Geauga on Saturday. On Monday, the team hosts Nordonia before hitting the road to play at Hudson Tuesday and Cuyahoga Falls Wednesday before returning home to play Cuyahoga Falls Thursday.

TENNIS

The Comets' state-ranked team remained unbeaten on the season with a 4-1 victory over Mayfield. Solon winners were David Shankman (6-1, 6-1) and Brian Yang (2-6, 6-4, 6-2) at singles and the doubles teams of  Zach Singerman-Liam O'Brien (6-0, 6-0) and Brandon Gross-Andrew Branstetter (6-1, 6-3).

UP NEXT: The Comets, ranked ninth among the state's Division I teams, are scheduled to host University School this afternoon and will compete in the Lexington Invitational on Saturday. The team travels to Medina Monday and hosts WRA Tuesday.

TRACK AND FIELD

Another week, another relay title for the Comets. Solon ran away from the field at the Ranger Relays, taking nine first places on its way to the team title. Comet winners were A.J. Hicks in the discus (183-3) and the shot put (60-2.25), Brett Goudy in the high jump (6-4), Karl Pierce in the long jump (14-0), Rod Jackson in the 110-meter high hurdles (14.97) and the 300-meter hurdles (39.87), Khoury Crenshaw in the 100 meters (11.19) and Matt Thompson in the 200 meters (22.88). Solon also took first in the 4x800 meters with the team of Zach Zimmers, Paul Arters, Andrew Richard and Max Haiss (8:10.32), the 4x100 meter relay with Kyle Hammonds, Thompson, Jeremy Nelson and Crenshaw (43.10) and the 4x110 shuttle hurdle relay with Kegan King, Nelson, Goudy and Jackson (61.57).

The girls also captured a team title at the Ranger Relays as Paige Yaeger was named the track MVP for winning the 100-meter high hurdles (15.48) and the 300-meter hurdles (45.91). Other Lady Comet firsts came from Alexis Gray in the discus (99-7), Tinisee Kandakai in the long jump (15-3.5) and the 4x100 shuttle hurdle relay of Rachel Jurewicz, Hannah Johnson, Sarah Seiger and Yaeger (68.60).

The boys continued their dual meet wining streak by routing Twinsburg 112-25. Hicks won the shot put (59-0) and the discus (176-6) while Jackson was tops in the 110-meter high hurdles (14.3) and the 300 IM hurdles (40.8) and Crenshaw won the 100 meters (10.7) and the 200 meters (22.1). Other victors were Darian Hicks in the long jump (21-8.5); Thompson in the 400 meters (52.1); Eric Hansen in the 800 meters (2:03.6); Riordan in the 3200 meters (10:33.6); the 4x800 meter relay of Hansen, Arters, Kevin Blank and Andrew Richard (8:44.8); the 4x100 meter relay of Darian Hicks, Crenshaw, Nelson and Christian Jackson (43.3) and the 4x400 meter relay of Rod Jackson, Arters, Haiss and Dan McMahon (3:33.5).

Jelvon Butler paced the girls to a 93.5-43.5 win over Twinsburg as she won both the 100 meters (12.4) and the 200 meters (26.3). Other Lady Comet firsts came from Kandakai in the high jump (5-0); Kelsey Aamoth in the 1600 meters (5:38.9); Yaeger in the 300-meter hurdles (47.4); Therese Haiss in the 800 meters (2:28.1); Kelsey Harris in the 3200 meters (13:00); the 4x800 meter relay of Haiss, Ana Fakler, Melissa Yasnowski, and Kelsey Aamoth (10:26); the 4x200 meter relay of Hannah Johnson, London McNair, Natalie Ockunzzi and Butler (51.5) and the 4x400 meter relay of Yasnowski, Jurewwicz, Haiss and Yaeger (4:07.5).

UP NEXT: The boys' and girls' teams will compete at the Gary Smith Memorial on Saturday and at Medina in NOC action Wednesday.

BASEBALL

The weather again forced several cancellations for the baseball team, but the Comets did take on Stow, coming out on the short end of an 11-6 score. Matt Smoral (2-1) suffered his first loss of the season on the mound as Stow assumed an 8-0 lead after the first four innings before Solon got on the scoreboard. 

The Comets also dropped a close game to Twinsburg on Thursday, losing 8-7. The two losses drop the Comets' record to 6-8, and 2-5 in conference play.

UP NEXT: Solon is slated to host Stow today, travel to Mentor on Saturday, entertain Hudson Tuesday and travel to Hudson Wednesday.