The dust at Youngstown State’s softball complex hadn’t yet settled from Walsh Jesuit’s postgame celebration when Riverside, victims of a 10-0 regional loss, gathered on the outfield grass. Related Articles High school scoreboard for March 30 High sch ool softball rosters for 2025 season High school scoreboard for March 27 High school softball watch list for 2025 season PHOTOS: South vs. Wickliffe softball, March 27, 2025 The loss stung and the trio of seniors who had played their last game had tears in their eyes acknowledging the end of their high school careers. But as the Riverside coaching staff looked around the postgame gathering, they saw a fledging program that had just played in its first regional game in 17 years. Through the pain of defeat, everyone knew most of those girls would be returning in the spring of 2025 hungrier than ever. Well, the spring of 2025 is here — and just as the coaches surmised last May, the Beavers are hungrier than ever. After kicking the door in on a regional tournament that had eluded them for 17 years, Riverside and its deep and talented roster is back for more this spring. “In that postgame, we talked about the players that would be returning and how we could take everything we did, improve on it and go even further,” said senior catcher Emi Jeras. “Now we’re working toward their goals.” Goals that all of a sudden don’t stop at the regional tournament. “The goal and the bar has definitely been raised,” said senior Annaliese Davis. “We want to make it to state this year. I think we can do it.” The Beavers just returned from a spring break trip to Myrtle Beach, S.C., going 4-2 against a highly competitive list of opponents. They came back to Ohio a battle-tested team bent on proving that last year was not a flash-in-the-pan season. It’s a team ready to take the next step. “We’ve talked about it, absolutely, this team taking things aa step further,” Coach Bill Ross said. “We’ve set the bar higher than just getting to the district final or to regionals. We want to make it to the state tournament.” If the trip to South Carolina is any indication, Riverside is picking up right where it left off last season when the ultra-young Beavers went 20-0. Still a young team — Jeras and Davis are the only seniors — the Beavers batted .492 and averaged 12 runs per game in the sunny south. Emma Wilhelm (.700), Jeras (.550), Maddie Proud (.526), Clara Granchi (.520) and Davis (.500) all hit .500 or better. Becca Tornow — the nine-hole hitter a year ago — hit three of the team’s season-opening seven home runs. Catcher Emi Jeras, an Indiana State University signee, returns behind the dish this season for the Riverside softball team. (Paul DiCicco – For The News-Herald) “Last year was really great and we bonded really well as a team,” Davis said. “This year can be even better. We have some new players to fill in the gaps. I think we’ve bonded even better on this year’s Myrtle Beach trip.” To suggest Riverside has an embarrassment of riches from top-to-bottom in its program would not be a stretch. As one area coach noted earlier this week, “Riverside’s got kids on their JV team that would start for any other team in the area.” Related Articles Bench support shows foundation of successful high school programs | Opinion High school scoreboard for March 31 Destiny Leo, Cleveland State women advance to WNIT Fab 4 with 76-65 win at Fort Wayne PHOTOS: Broadmoor Bobcats vs. Area Coaches, March 31, 2025 Annual Broadmoor Bobcats/Area coaches game draws another big crowd at Mentor Clara Granchi, the reigning News-Herald softball player of the year, is back for her junior year after going 14-5 on the bump last year with a .462 batting average. Davis (6-4 as Granchi’s backup to go with .372 average) gives Ross a scary 1-2 punch. “I look at them as 1 and 1-A,” Ross said. “Annaliese is so good. Maddie Kevern, too, when she’s healthy. We’ve got two juniors on the JV team — Jenna Janezic and Kenleigh Hammond — who would probably start for a lot of other varsity teams. Jeras, an Indiana State University signee, gives Riverside another stellar catcher behind the dish following in the steps of former standout backstop Delaney Keith, who is now at Ashland University. “She,” Ross said of Jeras, “is tremendous.” The Beavers have experienced sluggers in sophomore shortstop Proud (.422, 31 RBI), sophomore infielder Wilhelm (.382, 28 RBI), sophomore outfielder Tornow (.367, 26 runs) and junior designated player Olivia Powell (.369). There are a handful of new faces, such as junior outfielder Brooklynn Kleps, freshman second baseman Sammi Granchi, junior Maggie Corlette, as well as sophomores Kim Hedrick and Nica Dolce. But the depth and everyday challenge of practice has them — and others — ready for varsity action at the drop of a hat. “We do have so many high-level players that it pushes everyone else,” Jeras said. “I’m very grateful we have that. When one person does something great, it energizes you do do something great, too.” In an effort to bring out the best in his team, Ross set up a challenging schedule to test the Beavers from beginning to end. There are two games (April 2 and April 4) against Chardon this week, leading into a high-level twinbill on April 5 in Warren against Champion and Louisville. Aside from the rigors of the Western Reserve Conference schedule, Riverside also has games this spring scheduled against the likes of North Canton Hoover, Mentor, Gilmour, Perrysburg, Midview, Boardman and Austintown-Fitch. A loaded team with a loaded schedule could garner greatness, that is if Mother Nature allows. “We came back from Myrtle such a tight-knit group,” Ross said. “You worry about losing some of the momentum we gained down there because of the weather we have up here. Our bats were on fire. But it’ll be fine.” With the expansion of OHSAA softball divisions to seven from the previous four, Riverside finds itself in Division II this year after previously playing in Division I. Regardless of division, Riverside has goals in sight. After getting the taste of a deep playoff run last spring, the Beavers have every intention of taking it a step further this year. “The WRC is not going to be around much longer,” Jeras said, nothing the league’s disbanding after next season, “so winning that is one of the goals. Last year was such a big breakthrough for this team. But we want more this year. We want to to go even farther.” The Riverside softball team had a lot to celebrate last season, going 20-10 and advancing to the regional tournament for the first time in 17 years. The Beavers head into this season with even higher goals. (Paul DiCicco – For The News-Herald) ...read more read less