High school softball: Markie Aliff, Khloe Racz lead Brookside to season's first league win

SHEFFIELD — Juniors Markie Aliff and Khloe Racz have been playing softball together since they were practically toddlers and they wear Nos. 83 and 82 on the diamond. On Tuesday, they were the key performers in Brookside's thrilling 9-8 win over Firelands to give the Cardinals (3-6, 1-2 Lorain County League) their first conference win of the season. The Falcons are 2-5 and 1-2. Why 82 and 83? "Back when we started playing for the first time around 5 (years old), our friend was 84 and we wanted to continue it so we were 83 and 82," said Racz, who wears 82. "They've been playing together since they were 4 or 5 years old," said Marc Aliff, Brookside's coach and Markie's dad. "They had another friend who used to play for EC. They've all stayed close. They're bonded." The No. 84 they referred to was Jadia Dixon who played at Elyria Catholic but grew up playing with both Racz and Aliff growing up. Racz, Brookside's shortstop, had a two-run triple and drove in another run while Aliff put on a gutty pitching performance in addition to driving in three runs with a double and a single. Aliff gave up 11 hits but she struck out five and wiggled out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the top of the sixth and got the final out of the game on a pop-up to strand the tying run on third. She's also scheduled to undergo another surgery on her arm, originally injured last spring. "Actually (Tuesday) we scheduled my second shoulder surgery," said Aliff. "I knew it would be tough. My arm's been hurting the whole season but I knew I had to go pitch for my team." Marc Aliff said the injury situation has been tough for him. "She may have come back a little too early," he said. "She's an athlete and always wanted to play. We had a scrimmage against Lorain and she made an overhand throw and it tore her anchor loose inside. We had to schedule another surgery." Racz felt something different going on even after Firelands scored three runs in the top of the first. "It felt really good especially since our team was 'up' and really cheering for us," said Racz. "It really gave us the momentum to keep going and really want to win it." Brookside scored two in its half of the first, added three more in the second to lead 5-4, added three more in the fourth to tie the game at 8 before finally winning it by pushing across a run in the bottom of the sixth on a two-out infield single off the bat of sophomore Cailynn Weppleman to score sophomore Alexis Callahan. "It's been our big problem," Mark Aliff said. "We've had trouble when we've been down. We've had long talks in practice and getting everyone to battle once we get down. Stay in the game. That's the biggest thing." "Hats off to Brookside for gutting it out at the end," said Firelands coach Chad Parsons. "It was a hard-fought battle by both teams. Unfortunately, we came up on the wrong side of the score but I'm proud of my girls. We put a lot of balls in play. We made some really good defensive plays. It was just a battle from start to finish." Firelands was led offensively by Lexi Schrader's three hits and three runs scored. Three batters — Karlee Songer, Addison Beal and Lyla Keathley — drove in runs with two hits apiece. Contact Tim Gebhardt at (440) 329-7135 or at timothygeb@msn.com.