Friday’s game
What: Division I state softball semifinal, Lebanon (32-0) vs. Canton GlenOak (24-6)
When: 12:30 p.m.
Where: Firestone Stadium, 1575 Firestone Parkway, Akron
The spotlight doesn’t shine in her direction often.
That is Jordan Crawford’s reality as part of Lebanon High School’s unbeaten softball team. She proudly accepts it with a smile.
And why not? It’s not a bad place to be.
“I’m in the background and do the little stuff, but you need those people on the team,” Crawford said. “So it’s totally OK with me. I’m just a team player. I like being that person.”
She mans left field and is hitting .315 with 15 RBIs for the Warriors, who are headed to Akron to compete for the Division I state championship. They’ll meet Canton GlenOak in a semifinal Friday at Firestone Stadium.
It’s an important time for the program, which failed to win a title in its previous two trips to the state tournament. It’s especially important to a senior who’s about to say goodbye to competitive softball.
“Every game could be my last. That’s kind of what was going through my mind in the Mason game (last Saturday),” Crawford said. “I just knew that we had to come together and pull it across or I would never play competitive softball again, and that was awful to think about.”
She’s excited about her next step. She’s going to Ohio State and planning to major in education. Teaching is in her future. “It’s in my blood,” she said.
Crawford hopes to play some recreational softball too. But the grind of the sport is coming to an end for her.
Part of the reason is a lingering injury that’s no small thing. She suffered a fracture in her lower back during her junior volleyball season, and there are daily reminders that it’s simply time to move on.
“I always have that ache, but some days it’s shooting pain,” Crawford said. “I have a pretty high pain tolerance, but if it gets unbearable, I have to stop for a day or two. My chiropractor tells me I have a 68-year-old body.”
She was in a brace for a while. Surgery is a risky proposition, and the decision was made not to go that route.
So Crawford has simply dealt with the pain in her last two seasons on the softball diamond. She hit .381 in 21 official at-bats last year.
“It’s really just a matter of sucking it up,” Crawford said. “Sports have kind of been my life. Being part of a family and a team like this is awesome.”
Lebanon coach Brian Kindell is quick to point out that Crawford, who bats seventh, has been an important part of the Warriors’ success this season.
She was named to the All-Greater Western Ohio Conference team that covers all three divisions this spring. Lebanon had just one RBI in the 2-1, 12-inning win over Mason in the regional finals, and it came from her bat.
Crawford believes her physical limitations have made her a smarter hitter.
“She does battle a lot of aches and pains,” Kindell said. “As someone who just recently had back surgery, I can sympathize with her. It’s not a lot of fun. I’m proud of her for gutting it out and having a really nice senior year.”
Crawford has been with the team for all of its state appearances, though she didn’t get a chance to play in 2012 when the Warriors made it to the state championship game.
She was at third base last year when North Canton Hoover handed Lebanon a semifinal defeat.
“I remember more from my freshman year,” Crawford said. “It was the first time I’d ever been in that kind of atmosphere. It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.
“Last year was just a blur. It was a crazy week. It’ll be cool to do it again one more time.”
One more time, hopefully two more games, and then …
“I don’t know how I’m going to feel,” Crawford said. “I haven’t been super upset with graduation. I cried last year at the end of the season, and I’ve never cried at a sporting event. So we’ll see what happens.”
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