As Anthony Wayne High School heads to its third Division I state softball final four on Friday, the Generals will be bidding farewell to a group of senior players who have been part of the best four-year run in program history.
Third-ranked Anthony Wayne will take a 29-1 overall record into Friday's D-I state semifinal matchup against second-ranked Pataskala Watkins Memorial (30-1) at Firestone Stadium in Akron at 5:30 p.m.
That mark by the Generals, which included a perfect 14-0 Northern Lakes League record, is part of a four-year AW record of 114-12 overall and 50-6 in the highly-competitive NLL.
The only season AW did not reach the final four since 2021 came in 2022, when a top-ranked Generals squad finished 30-1 with a 5-4 regional semifinal loss to NLL rival Springfield, which finished as D-I state runner-up that year.
Playing a big part in AW's impressive four-year run have been the five seniors in the Generals' batting lineup, four of whom will continue their softball careers at the collegiate level next year.
One senior in that accomplished group is especially thrilled with getting back to Akron.
“It is wonderful feeling,” said Essence Dobbelaere-Buchman, a fourth-year starting outfielder, following AW's 9-1 regional-final win over NLL rival Perrysburg last Friday in Clyde. “It's so awesome to watch the team work together like this, and I get to go [to state again] with some of my best friends for 10-plus years.”
Unlike her teammates that will continue softball in college, Dobbelaere-Buchman will not play at the next level. But, it is not because of lack of talent or a recruiting failure.
Dobbelaere-Buchman, best known the past four years at AW as “Essence D-B,” is ending her softball career because of her academic pursuits.
During her high school years she was able to also earn enough college credits to secure an associate's degree. She will enter the University of Cincinnati as a junior Pre-Med major this fall.
“Her career goal is to become an ER doctor,” AW coach Ron Myers said. “She has the talent to continue her softball career at the next level but has chosen to end it at states this weekend to focus on her education and career goals.”
Thus, this final weekend is big for Dobbelaere-Buchman.
“It really has a special meaning for me,” she said. “One of my goals for this year wasn't anything special. I just wanted to have fun.”
Essence D-B had plenty of fun in helping the Generals post another memorable season that will conclude in Akron.
Heading into Friday's state semifinal, she carries the team's second-highest batting average at .563 (54-for-96), with 42 runs scored, nine doubles, five triples, one home run, 32 runs batted in, and 22 stolen bases. She bats second in the lineup, and splits time between right field and center field.
Only fellow senior Abby Kennelly, AW's shortstop and lead-off hitter, is hitting higher at .564 (62-for-110) on the season.
Kennelly, who has signed to play at Ohio University along with classmate Ally Meyers (second base, pitcher), has totaled 248 base hits in her four-year varsity career, ranking fifth in Ohio prep history in that category.
The speedy Kennelly, also a strong defensive player, has team highs of 45 runs scored and 40 stolen bases.
Ally Meyers ranks third on the team with a .484 average (44-for-91), and has contributed 27 runs, 29 RBIs, nine doubles, three triples, and two homers.
One of the team's ace right-handed pitchers in Ally's twin sister, Katelyn “Kat” Meyers, who has signed to play at perennial Big Ten power Michigan next year.
With a fastball that has been clocked up to 72 mph, Kat Meyers has overpowered AW's opposition this season while alternating in the circle with Generals junior and University of Notre Dame commit Molly Conner.
Meyers is 15-0 with just 16 hits and five runs (all earned) allowed in 81 innings. She has 130 strikeouts and just 16 walks in 81 innings pitched, and carries a season earned run average of 0.43, which currently ranks as the lowest single-season ERA in program history. She is also hitting .324 with 22 RBIs.
Conner, who also has a top-level fastball, is 12-1 with 43 hits and 27 runs (13 earned) allowed in 89 innings, with 160 strikeouts, 14 walks, and a 1.02 ERA. Conner bats fourth and is hitting .454 with 10 doubles, six homers, 27 runs, and a team-best 45 RBIs.
Rounding out the superb senior quintet is fourth-year starting catcher Trinity Nowicki, who will play Division I college softball at Kennesaw (Ga.) State University.
Nowicki is hitting .363 (33-for-91) with four homers and 30 RBIs. She ranks No. 1 in career home runs at AW with 35.
“Abby has been AW's lead-off hitter and starting shortstop all four years,” coach Myers said. “With the talent that has come through the program in her four years, that is a statement in and of itself.
“Abby, Essence, Trinity, and Kat, have been the keys to being in regionals all four years and going to state three of those four years. Also, being state-ranked, nationally-ranked, and winning the NLL in two of the four years.”
The other senior in the starting lineup is flex player/left fielder Abby Zeigler, and sophomore Kaci Jo Carter (.387, 26 runs) is a frequent-used utility player and courtesy runner.
The younger faction of the lineup includes sophomore third baseman and No. 3 hitter Megan Sumner (.451, 16 doubles, five homers, 37 runs, 36 RBIs), sophomore first baseman/designated player Gabi Nowicki (Trinity's sister, .275, 15 RBIs), and freshman first baseman Piper Phillips (.317, 14 RBIs).
Sumner has generated recruiting interest from several Division I programs, including Ohio State, Indiana, and Toledo.
First Published May 29, 2024, 11:46 p.m.
