By: Christina Easter
The Cuyahoga Community College Softball team sprung into first place in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference to start the season by dominating opponents in hitting, scoring, pitching and fielding. Unlike last season’s tie for first place, head coach Brian Komlos and the players left nothing to chance or circumstance as the team captured first place early and never let it go.
Komlos continued his tradition of scheduling games against four-year college varsity teams. This level of competition contributed to the team unquestionable first place position in at bats, hits, doubles, triples, runs batted in, batting average, strikeouts and other statistical categories.
In March, the Lady Tops won 17 of 20 games and held seven opponents to zero runs in eight victories. They continued blowout performances in April against Owens Community College (18-0 and 15-0), Lakeland Community College (14-0), Hocking (9-0), Frederick Community College (8-0 and 8-0) and Hagerstown Community College (13-0).
With these numbers, the team also ranked second in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II.
“We probably have one of the best hitting teams that we’ve ever had and one of the best pitching teams that we’ve ever had statistically,” said Komlos after winning another double header against Hagerstown Community College in Maryland on April 27.
“Our batting lineup is the best in the OCCAC and the country. Our overall earned run average is 1.94 and 2.14 in the conference which is extremely good.”
The team’s statistical dominance came behind the arm of pitcher Julee Phillips and relentless hitting performances by three players whose batting average was .500 or better.
During the season, four Lady Tops won player of the week honors (Isabelle Kepple, Lexi Grey and Reese Adkins, and Josie Milken). Kepple, Grey, Adkins and Sophie Durbin were also in the OCCAC top five in hitting all season.
Kepple led the OCCAC in home runs and each player scored and knocked in one run in at least 20 games this season.
Phillips’ stellar performances for the season included 12.6 strikeouts per seven innings and an overall ERA of .333 and .481 in the conference after more than 105 innings pitched.
Phillips also won pitcher of the week each week in March after she pitched more than 80 innings, struck out over 100 batters, allowed only half the batters she faced to reach base and pitched three complete games.
“Between our hitting and pitching, we’re unstoppable,” said Komlos adding that, “if we get behind, we can get the runs and do a lot to keep us in the game.”
Komlos said, “pitcher of the week and player of the week are great honors.” He attributed the team’s success this season to players doing all of the little things like fielding, good throws, how to run the bases, knowing what to do in situations and knowing who you can turn to.
“All of the little things made us very good,” said Komlos. “When you do all the little things right the big things fall in place. Plus, our team is very sound from top to bottom.”
As the regular season came to an end, the team shifted focus to the postseason. The Lady Tops are one of two teams who qualified for the Region 12 District Playoffs in Tinley, Ohio beginning in May.
Read more about the Lady Tops 2025-2026 season here.
