By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

The Field softball team made history on Friday.

Twice.

First, the Falcons were making the program’s first-ever appearance in a regional championship game.

Facing off against West Geauga at Kent State University’s Devine Diamond, the Falcons made history a second time by winning the game.

In a consistent offensive onslaught, the Falcons defeated West Geauga 15-5 in six innings — the game shortened by the 10-run rule — to win the Division IV regional championship, which was the second piece of history.

Next up for the Falcons will be a state semifinal game on Friday (June 5) at 3 p.m. at Firestone Stadium in Akron vs. Kenton Ridge.

Field’s appearance at the state level is the first for Portage County since Rootstown and Crestwood did it back in 2003. The Red Devils went on to win the state championship, defeating Kenton Ridge.

For the Falcons (22-3) on Friday, the regional final did not start off on the right foot.

The Wolverines, the visiting team, jumped out to a 3-0 lead to take hold of momentum.

That momentum, however, did not last long.

Field found its own offense answers in the bottom of the first inning, plating four runs to take the lead.

Lilli Sutkowy doubled, Gracie Hoskin singled, Averi Weis had a sacrifice fly, Carly Eldreth walked, Ryann Huddleston singled and Bre Homan doubled.

It was just the start of the fireworks at the plate for the Falcons, who went on to collect 15 hits in the game and scored runs in every inning except the fourth.

Field added onto its lead with two more runs in the second inning, pushing ahead 6-3, on a doubler by Ali Barto, triple by Hoskin and single by Weis.

After West Geauga (22-6) got two runs back on a home run to right-centerfield by Farlynn Backrest in the top of third inning to make the score 6-5 in the Falcons’ favor, Field delivered with one of its biggest answers of the season with a five-run bottom half of the third.

Huddleston was back in the mix, leading the inning off with a double, then Addy Lay walked, Sophia Roberts singled, Sutkowy doubled, Hoskin singled and Weis doubled.

The rally lifted the Falcons’ lead to 11-5, then extended with a pair of runs in the fifth inning (highlighted by a double from Sutkowy) and three more in the sixth inning (highlighted by a triple from Lay and a home run by Carly Eldreth).

While Field’s offense was staying busy, pitcher Adrianna Berry settled in after the tough start in the first inning.

Berry pitched all six innings, throwing 90 pitches (57 strikes), striking out four, walking two and allowing three earned runs.

West Geauga totaled eights hits in the game.