Larrick, Pierson named All-Ohio for softball and baseball

The spring baseball and softball All-Ohio teams were released this week, and for Highland County, two players earned those honors. Fairfield’s Grace Larrick was selected first-team in softball, and Lynchburg-Clay’s Devin Pierson was named honorable mention in Division III.

Both seniors this past spring, Larrick helped lead the Fairfield Lady Lions to the Div. IV Regional Semifinals, as she was selected to the All-Ohio team by the Ohio High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association.

Larrick was the starting second baseman for the Lady Lions, as she batted over .450 on the season.

Following their regional semifinal game last month, Fairfield head coach Mark Dettwiller and assistant coach Tom Purtell spoke about Larrick, as she was the only senior on the Lady Lions team this past season.

“Grace has been really successful at Fairfield, and we’ve had a lot of really great players here in the history of our program, and what we always talk about is what not you only accomplish on the field, but what you leave behind … leave your thumbprint on,” Purtell said. “For Grace, she’s meant more to the program than any other player we’ve had. She’s worked very hard on becoming a slap hitter, and she started that in the seventh grade. She worked and worked at it, and if it wasn’t for her, I don’t know if we would have so many left-handed hitters in the lineup.

“Grace is a student of the game. She’s played in three different regional tournaments, she’s became a great leader, and on the field, she is the one who calms everyone down. Once everything is added up, she’s going to be at the top of three to five offensive categories, and her defense at second base is great as well. Grace joined an already successful program as a freshman and during her time here has helped elevate the program to a higher level.”

Dettwiller said the same of Larrick.

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“She is our only senior and is just a flat-out ball player, and she’s going to Capital to play and we wish her all the best,” Dettwiller said. “She’s very deserving of all the postseason accolades she receives and was a great leader for the team.”

Pierson was the lead-off batter for the Mustangs this season, as he was a part of an LC team that reached the district semifinals, plus they won their third straight Div. I SHAC championship. Also in his senior year, Pierson was selected All-Ohio in basketball.

“Devin had one of the bigger turnarounds from junior to senior year. His approach was much better, probably due to his more aggressive approach at the plate,” LC baseball head coach Garyn Waits said. “He was moved in this year to shortstop from centerfield, and he played very well defensively. He batted leadoff in about 95 percent of the games and more often than not got into position to get a run on the board.

“Devin led or was second in about every offensive category we track. He has a passion for competition that drives him, and you cannot coach that. When kids come along who have that and a developing skill set, they often will have some success. I've enjoyed coaching him through his high school years and wish him much luck and success this fall as he attends Ohio Northern.”