Photos and video by Larry Bennet



With one game left in the Southwestern Conference fastpitch softball season, the race is officially over.

On Thursday, Amherst won its second-straight title with a narrow 2-1 win over second-place Brecksville. At Westlake, the Demons - who were also tied for second - had their championship dreams dashed in a crushing 14-3 defeat at the hands of Midpark.

Avon Lake, which fell out of contention last week, got a four-hitter from pitcher Annie Wennerberg as the Shoregals topped North Olmsted, 8-0.

Amherst, now 11-2 in the SWC, scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and squelched a Bee uprising in the seventh to clinch the crown. Comet senior Jennifer Sutton allowed just five hits in winning her duel with Brecksville’s Kristen Lang.

Mackenzie Gambetta took the loss for Westlake as the Demons allowed seven runs in the top of the sixth inning. Midpark banged out 16 hits overall and scored nine runs in the final three innings to end Westlake’s title hopes.

All SWC teams will now turn their attention to the upcoming Division I tournament.

On Monday, North Olmsted will travel to Avon, with the winner facing fourth seed Avon Lake on Tuesday. The winner of Monday’s Midview-North Ridgeville contest will travel to third seed Westlake on Tuesday.

Also on Tuesday, Magnificat will travel to Amherst, while top seed Elyria hosts the winner of Monday’s Olmsted Falls-Lorain game. The district semifinals are scheduled for Monday, May 14 at North Ridgeville, with the championship game to be played the next day.

Larry was at Avon Lake Thursday afternoon and got some photo and video highlights.

Southwestern Conference Standings
1. Amherst 11-2 (16-5), 2. Westlake 9-4 (12-7), Brecksville 9-4 (15-5), 4. Avon Lake 8-5 (16-6), 5. Midpark 6-7 (11-10), 6. North Olmsted 4-9 (11-13), 7. Berea 3-10 (11-12), 8. Olmsted Falls 2-11 (5-13)

   

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