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Softball action in Akron, but only team from area is North Canton Hoover
By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Tuesday, Jun 03, 2008
In a year when the State Fast-Pitch Softball Tournament comes to Akron for the first time, the local representation is at one of its lowest levels of all time.
North Canton Hoover (30-2) is the lone area team left in the event, which will be Thursday through Saturday at Firestone Stadium.
However, the makeup of the field is not going to change anything for the tournament committee.
''Sure, we would have liked to have more Akron teams here, but our job is to provide the best possible experience for all the teams, regardless of where they are from,'' tournament director Dave Suncire said. ''We will treat each of the 16 teams the same. We are happy to have them and happy the tournament is here.''
The state tournament was held in Ashland from its inception in 1978 to 2007. The Ohio High School Athletic Association voted last fall to move it to Firestone Stadium for at least the next three years.
In those 30 years, there was only one time (2000) when the tournament did not have a team from the Beacon Journal's circulation area of Summit, Stark, Portage, Medina and Wayne counties.
In four other years (1978, 1982, 1994 and 2001), only one area team qualified.
Those seasons and this one defy the odds and circumvent the norm because the five-county local area has accounted for 43 percent (41-of-95) of all the state championships decided.
Having only one local squad in 2008 comes directly after four area teams did so in 2007 for the first time. Hudson (Division I) and Dalton (IV) won titles, Fairless (III) lost in the final, and Archbishop Hoban (II) lost in the semifinals.
North Canton Hoover coach Jerry Goodpasture said the tradition of softball excellence in the area remains intact, no matter how many teams win state championships.
''Everyone knows about the softball in this area. Teams do well and a lot of it has to do with the competition,'' said Goodpasture, whose Division I team will be seeking the fourth state title in the program's history. ''Day in and day out, you are facing good teams and good pitching. That helps you come tournament time.''
Teams and fans from around the state will begin arriving here Wednesday. Semifinals will be Thursday and Friday. Four championship games are Saturday.
''We are totally organized and very, very excited,'' Suncire said. ''We are ready to kick this thing off.''
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
In a year when the State Fast-Pitch Softball Tournament comes to Akron for the first time, the local representation is at one of its lowest levels of all time.
Get the full article here.
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