Regional softball final: Once again, it’s Lebanon vs. Mason

The law of averages would seem to preclude the same two prep softball teams meeting for the Division I regional championship for the fourth time in the last five years.

That law doesn’t apply to Lebanon and Mason.

Top-ranked Lebanon (28-3) and fourth-ranked Mason (26-3) are scheduled to meet at noon on Saturday at Centerville to decide who will advance to the state semifinals on June 1 at Firestone Stadium in Akron.

Lebanon coach Brian Kindell was asked on Thursday afternoon if he could believe that it’s his Warriors and Liann Muff’s Comets — again.

“No, not really,” he said before pausing to ponder. “Well, I should say I can believe it. If you look at the last five or six years, we’ve had the best two teams in Southwest Ohio.”

Lebanon earned its berth by scoring five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning for a 14-13 walkoff win over Lakota West in a wacky Thursday regional semifinal that included five home runs — four three-run blasts and a grand-slam — as well as a broken composite bat and a winning pitcher who’d been relieved earlier in the game before returning to finish.

“We’ve got to be ready to play when we come out here this late in May, and we weren’t ready,” Kindell said after the game.

Mason advanced with a convincing 13-0 win over Springboro in which the Comets sent a combined 23 batters to the plate while scoring all of their runs in the first two innings and extending their winning streak to 20.

“We’re seeing the ball really well right now,” Muff said. “We have a lot of confidence on offense. Our short-gamers are getting on base and our 3-4-5 hitters are really seeing the ball well. Our goal when we go to the plate is to hit the ball hard right now.”

Seven of Mason’s last eight wins have been shutouts. Senior right-hander Elle Buffenbarger allowed just one Panthers runner to get past second base, and she was promptly thrown out by sophomore shortstop Ali Weekley after straying too far toward home while Weekley was tracking down a popup behind second.

Buffenbarger (23-3) followed up by striking out the last six batters she faced.

“When the defense is making plays behind me and the hitters are producing, it gives me a lot more confidence,” Buffenbarger said.

“This is the best she’s pitched her whole career,” Muff said. “She had s phenomenal regular season, and she’s building on that. She’s a sweetheart, but she’s a fierce competitor. She’s tough as nails.”

Mason reached the state semifinals last season after losing to Lebanon in two straight regional finals, 2-1 in 12 innings in 2015 and 3-2 in the 2014. Mason edged Lebanon 1-0 in the 2013 regional championship game, and Lebanon was the 2-1 winner in a 2012 regional semifinal.

That’s four games decided by a total of four runs. Lebanon also edged the Comets 2-0 back on April 2 this season.

“That was so long ago,” Kindell said.

“We have the highest respect for their program,” Muff said of Lebanon. “They do things the right way, but whether we’re playing Springboro or we’re playing Lebanon, we’re going to stick to our game plan, which is always sound fundamental defense, aggressive offense, aggressive base running and Elle hitting her spots.”

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