Lady Wave falls short of state appearance
By George Starks

MASON- Looking to make another trio to Akron, the Greenville Lady Wave softball team fell one game short of that goal Saturday.
Giving up six first inning runs to Kenton Ridge in the regional final, Greenville could overcome that deficit, falling to the Cougars 6-2.
"It was very disheartening," said Wave coach Jerrod Newland. "The better team won this time."

Going into the game, the Wave was ranked number one in D-II while the Cougars were third in the state in the final poll of the season.
It was a day only a Cougars fan could appreciate as the Wave pounded out 13 hits on the day but stranded 11 runners in the process.
“If you would’ve told me before today that we would’ve had twelve or thirteen hits in a Regional Final game, we’d be packing our bags and heading to Akron,” said Newland. “It was just pretty disappointing we didn’t string anything together and left those runners on base.”

It was pretty much all decided in the top of the first as the Lady Cougars sent a plethora of hitters to the plate, denting it six times and taking a 6-0 lead.

"They came out ready to play today," Newland acknowledged. "We came out flat and they were able to get some hits and we allowed them to have hope."

Despite shutting the Cougars down for the final six frames, Kenton Ridge had set the tone and the Wave could not equal the task set before them.

It was the final game for three Lady Wave seniors that finishes the year with a 25-7 mark.

“I love the seniors to death. Erin Albright and  Rachel Class are studs. Sydney Slade didn’t get too many opportunities due to injuries but those girls had a great career,” he said.

And next year will prove to be another exciting season for the Lady Wave softball team, filled big expectations.

“The future’s bright. We have a lot of great kids coming in and good things will be happening. It’s going to be fun,” said Newland. “I just appreciate everybody for supporting us all season and the great run.”