'This is the best we've been': Southeast softball stockpiles strong bats

GARRETTSVILLE — Where's the reprieve?

Garfield was on its way to blanking Southeast for a third straight inning Wednesday and had the Pirates' eight hitter down 0-2 when Bailey Morris sliced a liner to right field. The same thing happened with Southeast's nine hitter, Mya Sutcliffe, who lofted an 0-2 rise to short left for another single.

Even with the bases loaded and no outs, the G-Men seemed poised to escape with minimal damage after limiting two red-hot hitters to one run as Lexi Morris hit a groundout and Morgan Muncy hit a sacrifice fly.

Southeast catcher Ava Stephens wouldn't let Garfield off the hook, bashing a rise ball to left field to bring home two runs.

Soon after, first baseman Izzy Schuller lined a low drop ball to right field to drive home another run. Just like that, the Pirates had a five-run third and were well on their way to a 13-run, 15-hit performance.

"I've grown as a batter and I know a lot of other people have, too," Sutcliffe said. "It's just practicing a lot, in and out of the cages, in and out of practice. Whether we're with the coaches or we're on our own time, it's just dedication to the game."

There have been a lot of performances like Wednesday's this season. Through 18 games, Southeast is averaging 10.44 runs.

The only teams to keep the Pirates' prolific offense in check? Rootstown, led by Miami (Ohio) commit Shelbie Krieger. Mogadore, led by all-state pitcher Katie Gardner. And Boardman, a much bigger school.

Southeast has scored at least eight runs against every other opponent.

How have the Pirates done it? Well, they have a loaded middle of the order with Muncy, Stephens and Lexi Morris all at four-plus homers and 27-plus RBIs.

And there are no easy outs. Eight of Southeast's nine starters are hitting over .300. All nine are hitting above .275.

The balance of the Pirates lineup showed in that five-run third and it also showed in their four-run fifth when their five through nine hitters recorded five straight singles.

"I feel like we've gotten a lot of good freshmen this year," Stephens said. "And definitely this is the best we've been throughout my high school career, I would say, and it's just been proven."

Southeast stockpiles slew of strong bats

Every year, the Pirates have added young talent.

Sutcliffe, who had three hits from the nine spot Wednesday, has been starting since her freshman year, as has fellow senior Lexi Morris.

A year later, Stephens took over at catcher as a freshman and immediately emerged as a middle-of-the-order hitter.

"I feel like you can't focus on, 'Oh, my God, like this is such a high level,'" Stephens said. "You just got to go in there, like, 'I'm going to absolutely rip this ball and they're not even going to see me coming.'"

It was a similar story for Addie Goldstein, another member of the Class of 2025 who became one of Southeast's leading hitters as a freshman.

Last year was the high school debut of Morgan Muncy, who was a star as a freshman and who has had a hit in two out of every three at-bats as a sophomore, with 17 of her 34 hits this year going for extra bases.

"She's got so much confidence right now," Pirates coach Erin Muncy said. "It's like superhuman, kind of."

This year has brought another talented crop of freshmen, with three starting and starring for the Pirates. Indeed, Neena Truex (.362) fared so well that she earned a chance to lead off for Southeast. Similarly, Miranda Timko (.302) and Schuller (.340) quickly proved varsity ready.

Truex's rise allowed Muncy to make an intriguing shift to Southeast's lineup, moving Goldstein from the top to the middle of the order.

"Neena has got a really high on-base percentage, so we moved her to the top and then Lexi Morris was nine and she's hitting the crud out of the ball this year so we've moved her up," Muncy said. "And then Mya slid into that nine spot and just turns it right back over to the top."

Perhaps the most exciting part for the Pirates is seven of their nine starters will be back next year, including three freshmen and two sophomores.

"Most of our team is a lot of younger girls, so I'm excited to see what the next couple of years hold for them and I wish them the best of luck, but I'm really glad that I have this team for my senior year because they never give up," Sutcliffe said. "They're constantly up in the dugout cheering all of us on and they're just super supportive."

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Southeast High School softball features loaded lineup