Keystone, Elyria Catholic Dominate in Softball Doubleheader

Lorain County powerhouses sweep games against Medina Highland and Independence

Apr. 18, 2026 at 9:13pm

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A fragmented, abstract painting depicting the motion and intensity of a high school softball game, with sharp, overlapping planes of navy, green, and red.The dynamic action and energy of a high school softball doubleheader is captured in a cubist, geometric painting style.Elyria Today

Keystone and Elyria Catholic, two of the top high school softball teams in Lorain County, Ohio, put on a dominant display in a joint doubleheader on April 18. Keystone won both of its games convincingly, defeating Independence 16-0 and Medina Highland 15-8, while Elyria Catholic also swept its matchups, beating Highland 7-1 and Independence 11-2.

Why it matters

The impressive performances by Keystone and Elyria Catholic showcase the strength of high school softball in Lorain County, which has produced some of the best teams and players in the state. The joint doubleheader allowed the two powerhouse programs to showcase their offensive firepower and depth on the mound against quality opponents.

The details

Keystone's offense was led by Brooklyn Modock and Kailee Zealley, who each drove in three runs with two hits against Independence. Freshman pitcher Macie Banks earned both wins for the Wildcats. For Elyria Catholic, Paytin Baehr hit a two-run triple in a six-run third inning against Highland, and also hit a solo home run in the second game against Independence. Jessica Conner added a solo home run and four hits, two RBIs, and five runs scored on the day for the Panthers.

  • The doubleheader took place on April 18, 2026 at LaGrange Community Park.

The players

Jim Piazza

The head coach of the Keystone Wildcats softball team.

Anna Saxton

The head coach of the Keystone Wildcats softball team.

Lila Manfredonia

A sophomore pitcher for the Independence Blue Devils, who was named First-Team All-Ohio in Division VI.

Megan Stang

The pitcher for the Elyria Catholic Panthers in their win over Medina Highland.

Kailey Tomasch

The pitcher for the Elyria Catholic Panthers in their win over Independence.

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What they’re saying

“Overall, I thought we played pretty well today. We had a little setback. Any time you play in not-so-perfect conditions, you are going to have those things. Overall, I thought we competed very well (against) both teams.”

— Jim Piazza, Keystone head coach

“(Ten hits) are our team goals per game. We are focusing on what we can contribute, regardless of what team shows up against us. What we can focus on is our strength, which is hitting. We want to make sure we have double-digit hits every time.”

— Anna Saxton, Keystone head coach

“This means our team culture is in a really great place. From Keystone softball player No. 1 to Keystone softball player No. 18 has everything to do with this program, and they are the reason why we are succeeding. Whenever one is down, the next person is going to be able to bring them up.”

— Anna Saxton, Keystone head coach

“This team feels really comfortable offensively to get runs on the board, because it is helping out our pitcher. Now, they do not feel so much pressure.”

— Jim Piazza, Elyria Catholic head coach

“I feel really positive about this group. We can go as far as we want to take ourselves. That is one of the things that we can do.”

— Jim Piazza, Elyria Catholic head coach

The takeaway

The dominant performances by Keystone and Elyria Catholic in this doubleheader showcase the depth and talent of high school softball in Lorain County, Ohio. Both teams displayed impressive offensive firepower and strong pitching, cementing their status as two of the top programs in the region.