Tuslaw living out the dream as they beat Miami East 6-1 in OHSAA softball state semifinal

AKRON, Ohio – Dream it, believe it, achieve it.

That was the motto for the Tuslaw softball team at the beginning of the season.

And with a 6-1 win over Miami East in the OHSAA Division III state semifinals on Friday, the Mustangs have achieved the dream of being the first team in school history to play for the state title.

“At the beginning of the year, we were figuring out what we wanted to put on our shirts,” Tuslaw coach Cayla Mattox said. “We put on ‘dream it, believe it, achieve it.’ We knew that it was a dream that we could have and we dreamt it and we believed and we pushed and now we have achieved it and we are going to that game tomorrow.”

Tuslaw kept pushing away offensively, as Miami East pitcher Kyleigh Kirby had set the Mustangs down in order in the first two innings. But the bats started going in the third inning and Tuslaw was able to get an early lead.

A Camryn Kiefer walk and a Brandie Cooper single set the stage for Macaira Fox, who had flown out in her first at-bat. This time, Fox took a pitch and turned on it, sending it into the left field corner for a double to plate both Kiefer and Cooper. 

Fox said she had felt the nerves in her first at-bat but then she got more comfortable.

“I think I had to settle in,” Fox said. “I went up there with the mindset that I had to make something happen. The main thing I told myself was to slow down and drive through the ball.”

Lillian Bucher followed with a double into the exact same spot that scored Fox, and then Meridith Rankl singled her home. Rankl then scored on a single by Kylie Johnson and it was 5-0.

“The way the inning went is how these three (Fox, Bucher, Rankl) have performed all year,” Mattox said. “They constantly feed off each other and they follow each up so well. This is what these three do every single day. It was picture perfect.”

Five runs was plenty for Rankl, who gave up just one run on six hits and struck out 11 hitters in the game.

“As soon as we got that lead, I was pretty confident we weren’t going to let it slip away,” Mattox said. “This team has so much drive and they are so confident and determined.”

The one time it looked like Miami East might mount a rally, it was shut down by the defense of Tuslaw.

Kayly Fetters led off the fifth inning with a double for the Vikings and then Abigail Kadel followed with a single up the middle. As pinch runner Rachael Haak hit third and headed for home, Fox picked up the ball in center field and fired home to catcher Miriam Peterson, who caught the ball and held on despite contact with Haak for the out. Rankl retired the next two hitters to end the inning with no runs scored.

“I went to pick it up and I saw no runner close to (home) so I knew I still had some time and I threw it as hard as I could,” Fox said. “I trust Miriam back there. She holds it down very well. She is incredible back there. I knew we had her as soon as I let it go.”

It’s that confidence Tuslaw has in everything they do, and the fun they have in playing the game, that has gotten them to within one win of hoisting the state championship trophy for the first time.

“I try to make it as light as I can,” Mattox said. “They dance, they try to stay loose, and they have fun with each other. On the bus ride here, we were just trying to have fun. What our message was as a coaching staff was ‘it’s just a game.’ No matter what happens, it is just a game and they have been playing this game since they were five years old.”

That atmosphere has rubbed off on the players, who couldn’t stop smiling before, during and after the game.

“It is so much fun, we are all in it to win it,” Fox said. “It is just so fun to know that our families are out there supporting us and our friends. It’s just a blast, honestly. I don’t think the smile is ever going to leave my face.”

A lot of these players have played together since they were young girls and have grown up together. They believe the closeness they have created has also helped them on the field.

“It creates a strong bond together and we love each other,” Rankl said. “We just play for each other.”

Mattox sees it as an opportunity to make the community proud and to show what Tuslaw can do.

“What are the chances little ol’ Tuslaw from Massillon Ohio,” Mattox said. “Most people have never even heard of us. We wanted to make a statement.”

Statement made. Loud and clear.