Editor's Note: This is the fourth of a summer series.
We're at the halfway point of the Crawford 12 and for the second consecutive week, we're looking at a pair of teams from the same school.
Both feature some outstanding returning athletes — a few overlapping — and have everything it takes to battle for league titles and postseason glory. But in order to do so, they'll need to battle through a difficult Northern 10 schedule.
In case you missed the first three installments featuring the honorable mentions and teams 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, that can be found in the links below.
Crawford 12 - No. 8, 9Two talented teams teeming with excitement for spring
Crawford 12 - No. 10, 11, 12:Trio of teams enter fall with high expectations
Crawford 12:Honorable mention teams have what it takes to compete
Without further ado, let's check out the No. 6 and 7 teams in the Crawford 12.
7. Buckeye Central Volleyball
The Buckettes are coming off a phenomenal season making a run to the regional championship before ultimately finishing as regional runner-up. It was significant because the program hadn't won a district title since making state in 2017.
They were led last fall by Telegraph-Forum Player of the Year and second team All-Ohioan Mia McDougal and her 319 kills, 28 aces, 108 blocks, 359 digs, 44 assists, 200 receptions. But she has graduated, along with libero Ella Steele who stepped up in a major way taking over the position and hitter Kimmy Biglin who really came on at the end of the season. Steele was second on the team in receptions with 346 and Biglin third offensively with 162 kills.
But the cupboard isn't bare by any means as Mia's younger sisters — rising senior Mara and soon-to-be junior Maren — are back having played a TON of volleyball over the course of their lives. Mara could play virtually any position and returns as the team's leader in kills (271), aces (99), digs (438), and receptions (490) while Maren is one of the best setters around dishing out 760 assists last fall along with 51 aces, 73 kills, 28 blocks, and 193 digs.
Junior Aleyse Siefert showed tremendous growth and proved to be a difference-maker late in the season and during the postseason run. She finished her sophomore year with 51 kills, 27 aces, 30 blocks, 119 digs, and 127 assists. Her classmate Adrienne Jury developed into a threat at the net finishing with 132 kills, 35 blocks, and 47 digs — her, Siefert and the two returning McDougals were four of the five Buckettes to feature in all 92 sets.
Fellow junior Olivia Bishop was used sparingly last season appearing in 27 sets and recording three aces, 52 digs, and 89 receptions. Savannah Pace, a junior, was the only other player to see varsity time. These two, along with rising sophomores Graceyn Hook, Emma Keller, and Myli Estridge, and freshman Megan Siefert will likely be thrust into action this fall and will need to adjust to the varsity game quickly.
Luckily they have an experienced senior in Mara along with junior leaders in Maren, Jury and Siefert to lead the younger girls. The Northern 10 is always a tough conference and it should be no different this year with Mohawk returning the reigning player of the year, Carey and Wynford bringing back a ton of talent, and Seneca East boasting a slew of returners, too. As for defending their district title, the Buckettes know what it takes to win big games when it matters.
6. Buckeye Central Softball
Yes, the program has only won 47 games over the last decade with 28 of those coming in three seasons — 2015, 2016, 2024.
Yes, the Buckettes are more known for their volleyball (see above) and basketball.
But this is no typical spring coming up for Buckeye Central softball. Centerfielder Faye Betts is the lone graduate from the roster, and while she has been a staple in the lineup since her freshman year, they have talent that can slot right in.
It all starts with Collene, arguably the best pitcher/hitter we've seen since Bucyrus' Caleigh Rister, who almost half of her junior season due to a suspension. Still, she managed to bat .474 with 18 hits, six home runs, 16 runs, and 17 RBIs along with boasting a 2.73 ERA with 110 strikeouts and 15 walks in 74⅓ innings. For stat lovers … 33% of her hits in the 13 games played went beyond the fences, she averaged 1.48 strikeouts per inning, and struck out seven batters for every one walked.
Add in Jury at shortstop who was second on the team offensively and filled in pitching in Collene's absence. She finished with a .357 average, 20 hits, two triples, 19 runs, five RBIs, and drew 19 walks while striking out 37 with a 6.05 ERA in 37 innings pitched. Plus rising sophomore Phoebe Rafferty (.254 avg., 15 hits) at first base, Pace (.216 avg., eight hits) at second, Siefert (.218 avg., 12 hits) at third, and senior Zoey Hoskins (.281 avg., 16 hits, 11 runs) at catcher. The Buckettes have every single infielder back which is a huge advantage over a lot of teams.
Friday Night Lights:Crawford County high school football schedule for 2024 season
Bishop (.200 avg., nine hits) is back in left field and junior Leah Fields in right. Junior Cierra Schneider (.212 avg., 11 hits) is a contender to take over centerfield, but she will likely see competition as seven additional players featured in at least three games last spring.
Coach Todd Messmer has helped revitalize the program taking the Buckettes from two wins in 2022, to five the following year, and eight most recently along with back-to-back years with postseason wins since 2015 and 2016.
Anyone that knows softball understands how valuable a star pitcher is. With Collene in the circle, an experienced infield, plus big hitters at the top of the order and reliable bats at the bottom — Buckeye Central could be in for a historic spring in 2025.
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Twitter/X: @Zachary_Holden
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