MANSFIELD — If Lexi Falde’s senior season is anything like her recently completed junior campaign, Mansfield Christian fans had better buckle up.
It might be a wild ride.
The Richland Source Athlete of the Week, Falde pitched the Flames to a district runner-up finish last week. MCS came within an eyelash of advancing to the regional tournament for the first time in school history before falling to Seneca East 1-0 in the Division IV district championship game at Shelby High School.
The district runner-up trophy is the first ever for MCS.
“Lexi has been very strong all season. I’m very proud of here,” MCS coach Kelly Taylor said. “I’m glad she’s a junior. I get her again next year, along with my catcher (Madi Jackson).”
That is bad news for the rest of the Mid Buckeye Conference.
A hard-throwing right-hander, Falde struck out 270 batters this season. That included 16 in a 6-1 district semifinal victory over Plymouth and 11 more in the district final loss to Seneca East. She won 14 games and had an earned run average of 1.16 going into the district tournament.
She wasn’t bad at the plate, either. Falde took a .405 batting average into the district tournament and had three hits in the district semifinal victory over Plymouth. She added another base hit in the sixth inning of the loss to Seneca East and was stranded at third base.
“She is a very good pitcher,” Seneca East coach Steve Coppes said. “She mixes her pitches well and works both sides of the plate.”
Falde’s season started with a bang. She struck out 13 batters in Mansfield Christian’s 3-2 win at Northmor. She had 17 strikeouts in a 9-1 win over Mount Gilead in late April. She was selected the JJHuddle.com Week 5 softball player of the week after leading the Flames to two wins over East Knox and a doubleheader sweep of Kidron Central Christian. She surrendered two hits (one in each game) and struck out a combined 29 batters in the two victories over East Knox then allowed one hit and struck out 12 in a shutout of Kidron Central Christian. She teamed up with Rachel Pfeiffer to throw a no-hitter at KCC in the second game of a doubleheader.
As a freshman Falde twirled a no-hitter and had eight wins with 138 strikeouts and a sub-1.00 ERA. She tossed another no-hitter as a sophomore, part of a 10-win season. She had 191 strikeouts and a 2.53 ERA.
The Flames lose three seniors, including starters starting shortstop Aimee McPeek and starting third baseman Mariah Stearns.
“I lose incredible leadership and the third and fourth batters in my lineup,” Taylor said. “Those are going to be tough shoes to fill.”
With Falde back in the fold for her senior season, a return to the district tournament — and possible beyond — is a distinct possibility.
“Lexi is strong and getting stronger,” Taylor said.
Follow Curt Conrad on Twitter @curtjconrad.
