Doug Hawkins Memorial Games: Highlights, Performances & Playing For Doug
The Stow-Munroe Falls Bulldogs hosted the annual Doug Hawkins Memorial Softball Games at the Doug Hawkins Softball Complex on a cloudy Saturday afternoon.
The Memorial Games honor the late Doug Hawkins, who was a graduate of Stow-Munroe Falls in 1977 and the head coach for the Bulldogs from 2006-2017. Hawkins passed away in 2018 to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, he was 59. The memorial games were first hosted in 2017, with Tallmadge and South Range as fellow competing teams. Donations and memorial Game T-Shirts for players and families to wear during games are made every year, with all proceeds going to the Doug Hawkins Memorial Fund to provide scholarships to help continue academic and softball careers in college.
Game #1
Kicking off the memorial games honoring the late Doug Hawkins, the Tallmadge Blue Devils defeated the Stow-Munroe Falls Bulldogs 5-2. The Blue Devils finished the first game with 10 hits for 5 runs, with PaytonAlmond (3-4, RBI) and Leila Staszak (3-5, 2 Runs, RBI) leading with 3 hits each and Lexi Gray (2-4, Run) following with 2 hits and Ashlyn Severns (1-2, Double, Run, 2 RBIs) batting in 2 RBIs. On the mound, starting pitcher Larissa Taylor pitched one inning, allowing a hit for 2 runs on 2 errors and walked 4 batters. Caitlyn Carter closed out the game to earn the win after six innings, allowing 3 hits for no runs while walking three batters and striking out three.
The Bulldogs collected 4 hits for 2 runs, with senior Erin Dodd (1-2, Double, Run), junior Kenzie Orosz (1-3, Double), sophomore Aiyana Williams (1-3) and senior Lily Chambers (1-2, RBI) earning one hit each. On the mound, Lily Chambers took the loss after allowing 10 hits for 5 runs on 4 errors and 4 walks in seven innings.
Game #2
Following the first game, the South Range Raiders took down the Tallmadge Blue Devils 3-0. The Raiders collected a total of 4 hits for 3 runs, with Keira Brogan (2-3, Double, Run, 2 RBIs) and Riley DeCiancio (2-3, Run) splitting with 2 hits each. On the mound, Jayli Wilt earned the win after striking out 4 batters, while allowing 5 hits and 4 walks in seven innings.
The Blue Devils finished their final game of the day with 5 hits, with Leila Staszak (2-4) collecting 2 hits, while Sydney Becks (1-3), Ashlyn Severns (1-3) and Payton Almond (1-3) tallied one hit each. On the mound, Riley Jackson took the loss after allowing 4 hits for 3 runs on 2 errors, despite walking only one batter and striking out nine.
Game #3
Concluding the memorial games, the South Range Raiders defeated the Stow-Munroe Falls Bulldogs 11-7 to end the day with a 2-0 record. The Raiders tripled their hits from the first game, finishing with 12 hits against the Bulldogs. Anna Aey (3-5, Run, RBI) and Jayli Wilt (3-5, Double, 3 Runs, 2 RBIs) finished with 3 hits each, while Keira Brogan (1-5, Double, 2 RBIs), Gretchen Bartels (1-4, RBI), Ashley Rupert (1-4), Solena DeJesus (1-4, Run, RBI), Riley DeCiancio (1-2, 2 Runs, 2 RBIs), and Heidi Bartels (1-1, 2 Runs) adding one hit each. On the mound, Ashley Rupert earned the win after pitching seven innings, allowing 8 hits for 7 runs, while walking 4 batters and striking out two.
The Bulldogs tallied up 8 hits for 7 runs in the loss, with senior Erin Dood (3-4, Double, RBI) leading with 3 hits, while sophomore Aiyana Williams (2-3, Double, Run, 3 RBIs) followed with 2 hits and senior Emma Oshel (1-4, Double, 2 RBIs), junior Kailey Adams (1-3, Run, RBI) adding one hit each. On the mound, Lily Chambers started the first 2.2 innings, allowing 4 hits for 2 runs on 2 errors, while walking two batters and striking out one. Junior Natalie Betz took the loss after allowing 8 hits for 9 runs on 8 errors, while walking 8 batters in 4.1 innings.