Tuscarawas County softball coaches analyze the top pitchers in the league. The Tuscarawas Valley Trojans recently secured a 10-0 victory against Sandy Valley.
Tuscarawas Valley stands along third baseline as the National Anthem plays in its contest against Sandy Valley on April 28, 2026. The Trojans won 10-0.
Tuscarawas Valley's Brennen Reichman fires a pitch to a Sandy Valley batter on April 28, 2026. The Trojans won 10-0.
Tuscarawas Valley's Brennen Reichman takes a swing against Sandy Valley on April 28, 2026. The Trojans won 10-0.
Tusky Valley's Brennen Reichman stands on third base against Sandy Valley on April 28, 2026. The Trojans won 10-0.
Sandy Valley's Alyssa Hummel fires a ball to first base, recording an out against Tuscarawas Valley on April 28, 2026. The Cardinals lost 10-0.
Sandy Valley's Brooklyn Davis fries a ball to second base against host Tuscarawas Valley on April 28, 2026. The Cardinals lost 10-0.
Sandy Valley's first basemen Brynna Curley stretches to record an out against Tuscarawas Valley on April 28, 2026. The Cardinals lost 10-0.
Sandy Valley's Alyssa Hummel fires a pitch against a Tuscarawas Valley batter on April 28, 2026. The Cardinals lost 10-0.
Sandy Valley's Alyssa Hummel smiles while tossing the ball in the area in a game against Tuscarawas Valley on April 28, 2026. The Cardinals lost 10-0.
Sandy Valley's Gracyn Winters catches a fly ball against Tuscarawas Valley on April 28, 2026. The Cardinals lost 10-0.
Sandy Valley's Lucia Meade catches a fly ball in a contest against Tuscarawas Valley on April 28, 2026. The Cardinals lost 10-0.
Sandy Valley huddles by dugout after recording three outs in a contest against Tuscarawas Valley on April 28, 2026. The Cardinals lost 10-0.
Tuscarawas Valley players high five at the pitchers mound prior to an inning beginning against Sandy Valley on April 28, 2026. The Trojans won 10-0.
Sandy Valley gathers at pitchers circle in a contest against Tuscarawas Valley on April 28, 2026. The Cardinals lost 10-0.
Tusky Valley's Brennen Reichman prepares to take a swing against Sandy Valley on April 28, 2026. The Trojans won 10-0.
Tuscarawas Valley's Brennen Reichman stares down a Sandy Valley batter on April 28, 2026. The Trojans won 10-0.
Sandy Valley's Lucia Meade lays down a bunt against Tuscarawas Valley to advance the runners on April 28, 2026. The Cardinals lost 10-0.
Tuscarawas Valley's Hallee Borell (9) gears up to hit a pitch, and Emma Matthews (99) prepares to hit the Sandy Valley pitcher on April 28, 2028. The Trojans won 10-0.
Tusky Valley's Brennen Reichman fires a pitch to a Sandy Valley batter on April 28, 2026. The Trojans won 10-0.
Tuscarawas Valley's Brennen Reichman stares down a Sandy Valley batter on April 28, 2026. The Trojans won 10-0.
Sandy Valley gathers in the outfield after losing 10-0 against Tuscarawas Valley on April 28, 2026.
Tuscarawas Valley gathers in the outfield after the 10-0 victory over Sandy Valley on April 28, 2026.
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Tuscarawas Valley stands along third baseline as the National Anthem plays in its contest against Sandy Valley on April 28, 2026. The Trojans won 10-0.
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Tuscarawas Valley stands along third baseline as the National Anthem plays in its contest against Sandy Valley on April 28, 2026. The Trojans won 10-0.
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Tuscarawas Valley's Brennen Reichman fires a pitch to a Sandy Valley batter on April 28, 2026. The Trojans won 10-0.
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Tuscarawas Valley's Brennen Reichman takes a swing against Sandy Valley on April 28, 2026. The Trojans won 10-0.
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Tusky Valley's Brennen Reichman stands on third base against Sandy Valley on April 28, 2026. The Trojans won 10-0.
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Sandy Valley's Alyssa Hummel fires a ball to first base, recording an out against Tuscarawas Valley on April 28, 2026. The Cardinals lost 10-0.
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Sandy Valley's Brooklyn Davis fries a ball to second base against host Tuscarawas Valley on April 28, 2026. The Cardinals lost 10-0.
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Sandy Valley's first basemen Brynna Curley stretches to record an out against Tuscarawas Valley on April 28, 2026. The Cardinals lost 10-0.
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Sandy Valley's Alyssa Hummel fires a pitch against a Tuscarawas Valley batter on April 28, 2026. The Cardinals lost 10-0.
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Sandy Valley's Alyssa Hummel smiles while tossing the ball in the area in a game against Tuscarawas Valley on April 28, 2026. The Cardinals lost 10-0.
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Sandy Valley's Gracyn Winters catches a fly ball against Tuscarawas Valley on April 28, 2026. The Cardinals lost 10-0.
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Sandy Valley's Lucia Meade catches a fly ball in a contest against Tuscarawas Valley on April 28, 2026. The Cardinals lost 10-0.
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Sandy Valley huddles by dugout after recording three outs in a contest against Tuscarawas Valley on April 28, 2026. The Cardinals lost 10-0.
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Tuscarawas Valley players high five at the pitchers mound prior to an inning beginning against Sandy Valley on April 28, 2026. The Trojans won 10-0.
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Sandy Valley gathers at pitchers circle in a contest against Tuscarawas Valley on April 28, 2026. The Cardinals lost 10-0.
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Tusky Valley's Brennen Reichman prepares to take a swing against Sandy Valley on April 28, 2026. The Trojans won 10-0.
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Tuscarawas Valley's Brennen Reichman stares down a Sandy Valley batter on April 28, 2026. The Trojans won 10-0.
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Sandy Valley's Lucia Meade lays down a bunt against Tuscarawas Valley to advance the runners on April 28, 2026. The Cardinals lost 10-0.
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Tuscarawas Valley's Hallee Borell (9) gears up to hit a pitch, and Emma Matthews (99) prepares to hit the Sandy Valley pitcher on April 28, 2028. The Trojans won 10-0.
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Tusky Valley's Brennen Reichman fires a pitch to a Sandy Valley batter on April 28, 2026. The Trojans won 10-0.
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Tuscarawas Valley's Brennen Reichman stares down a Sandy Valley batter on April 28, 2026. The Trojans won 10-0.
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Sandy Valley gathers in the outfield after losing 10-0 against Tuscarawas Valley on April 28, 2026.
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Tuscarawas Valley gathers in the outfield after the 10-0 victory over Sandy Valley on April 28, 2026.
Speed. Control. Spin.
The three components that make up an elite pitcher. What do opposing coaches think of some of the top high school softball pitchers around Tuscarawas County?
âWe have stressed to our players how important the on-deck circle is,â Sandy Valleyâs head coach Cortney Geiger said. âThis is where you can dial in your reps, making sure youâre going to be prepared when you step into the box.â
Tuscarawas Valleyâs head coach Staci Martin echoed a similar message for her team.
âPreparation is what matters most,â she said. âIn the past weâve struggled with making adjustments, and this year weâve seen a lot of communication between our girls as we getting ready to bat.â
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The key, Tuscarawas Central Catholicâs head coach Kelly Hysong said, is recognizing movement.
âJust because the ball looks like itâs going to be a strike, doesnât mean thatâs where itâs going to finish,â she said. âSo, getting our girls starting to have pitch recognition has been a learning curve, but something we have improved on.â
We asked six coaches about five pitchers and what makes them difficult to face and plan against. This is what they had to say.
The Ohio University commit has had a dominating 2026 season, racking up 106 strikeouts over 44.2 innings while only allowing 25 of 155 batters to reach base as of May 1.
Kara Lint stares down a Malvern batter on April 13, 2026.
âShe has amazing control and speed,â Strasburg-Franklinâs head coach Tom Spidell said. âShe is able to command a strike zone and have a lot of spin on her pitches that make contact a hard thing to come by.â
Reichman, who is committed to play at Ohio State, has seen her ERA drop each year from 2.39 her freshman season, 1.38 her sophomore season to 0.16 her junior season. She has notched 10 or more strikeouts in every start this season.
Tuscarawas Valley's Brennen Reichman fires a pitch to a Sandy Valley batter on April 28, 2026. The Trojans won 10-0.
âYou can see the amount of work she has put in over her offseasons,â Hysong said. âHer speed is what makes her stand out and shows how important offseason work is.â
Through 68 innings pitched this season, Kelley has raked up 115 strikeouts, a 1.34 ERA and 7-3 record. She is committed to play softball at Valparaiso University.
Starting pitcher Maddison Kelley (14) of the Conotton Valley Rockets takes warmup throws before an OHSAA Division VII East District Softball Final game against Strasburg at Tuscarawas Central Catholic High School, May 24, 2025, in New Philadelphia, OH.
âWeâve played against her quite a bit,â Spidell said. âSo, weâve gotten a little more comfortable facing her, but it can be hard to prepare for someone who throws the ball that hard with control.â
The junior pitcher has tossed 40.1 innings this season, striking out 44 batters. She has pitched four scoreless outings as of May 1.
Starting pitcher Audrey Miller (12) of the Garaway Pirates throws the game-winning pitch during an OHSAA DVI State Softball Tournament Semifinal game against Gibsonburg, June 6, 2025, in Akron, OH.
âShe is able to create a lot of movement on her pitches,â Martin said. âThat can cause a lot of problems for a line up. Since it can become a guessing game on where a pitch is going to finish.â
After a sophomore season where Reifenschneider appeared in six games and had an 8.62 ERA, she has since appeared in 32 games with an ERA of 1.7. During her senior season, she has totaled 112 strikeouts and allowed 49 hits over 75.2 innings.
âSheâs a powerful pitcher that is going to hit her spots,â Dover head coach Hannah Duff said. âSheâs going to challenge batters with speed and movement on her pitches.â
Strasburg-Franklin senior Miley Reifenschneider prepares to pitch against Inter Valley Conference foe Conotton Valley on April 14, 2026.
âMiley has the experience and then the plus of being apart Strasburg softball,â Hysong added. âSheâs worked very hard, and you can see the effort sheâs put into the game pay off.â
The key to having success against top pitchers is easier said than done. Making contact is essential.
âYou have to keep your strikeouts to under 10,â Spidell said. âYou want to put the ball in play and make someone else get the out. When you start getting up in strikeouts the opposing team is having to make three or four plays.â
âYou have to put the ball in play,â Garaway head coach Dennis Koshmider added. âThat is something we focus on; anything can happen once that ball is hit. Itâs too easy of an out for the pitcher to record a strikeout.â
Success comes from preparation, communication and the willingness to put the ball into play.
âYou have to make the defenses play,â Koshmider said. âThere are times when teams have a defense that hasnât been tested, so when we get into the box you have to do what you can to make the other team make plays.â
Jshondel@usatodayco.com; X:@JacoBShondeL
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Tuscarawas County's top softball pitchers in the eyes of the coaches
The article features insights from Tuscarawas County softball coaches on the leading pitchers in the league.
Tuscarawas Valley won the game against Sandy Valley with a score of 10-0.
The game between Tuscarawas Valley and Sandy Valley took place on April 28, 2026.
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