By ALBERT GRINDLE

Staff Writer

It’s hard to argue anyone can come close to what Mack Industries and coach Ray Kemp have done for Buckeye’s softball program.

Kemp, a 1955 Buckeye graduate, has poured many years of his life into softball at his alma mater with multiple coaching stints, winning seasons and impacting the lives of young athletes.

Mack Industries, meanwhile, donated its time and loads of cash out of its own pocket to build brand new dugouts with their precast walls.

It only seemed fitting the Buckeye Local School District paid it forward to both parties, which is why the field behind Buckeye High School is now known as Mack-Kemp Field.

“I’m very honored my name is up there and (Mack Industries is) also,” said an extremely humble Kemp, who has worked for Mack Industries for years. “It was a great honor.”

The idea of naming the field was an idea that was tossed around before, but never seriously considered.

Last spring, however, it was brought forward again and then-Superintendent Craig Bailey amended the proposal to include the popular Kemp.

“I thought it should be just named Mack Field because I do the work regardless,” Kemp said. “They did a big, big process (in building the dugouts) and they put a lot of money into that.

“It was mentioned before and I never thought it would come to pass and it just did. I didn’t want to push anything like that, but I’m happy.”

Buckeye athletic director Jake Robinson hosted a pregame ceremony last spring to honor Kemp, Steve Kemp, who was responsible for installing the dugouts, Betsy Mack Nespeca, the president of Mack Industries and Barbara Mack, owner of Mack Industries.

o o o BLACK RIVER (0-10, 0-7): The Pirates’ defense has been improving of late. After not having a game with less than three errors seven games into the season, Black River has committed two or less in two of its last three games. … The offense is still a work in progress, however, with seven hits in its last 15 innings. … Jessi Zumack struck out a season-high three batters against Clearview.

o o o BRUNSWICK (14-3, 3-0): The Blue Devils are currently ranked eighth in the Division I poll. … Star pitcher Emlyn Knerem has been dominating more than ever. Over her last 41 innings, the senior right-hander has been unbelievable, allowing one earned run (0.17 ERA), 10 measly hits and one walk with 74 strikeouts. … Megan Foley has been putting smear marks from her bat all over the yellow softballs lately. Sparked by a huge game last week against Medina, the senior first baseman’s recent tear helped her batting average rise to .354. She then followed with a 3-for-4 performance Wednesday against Strongsville.

o o o BUCKEYE (5-9, 3-5): As it turns out, a one-run loss to one of the best teams in the Patriot Athletic Conference is the recipe to turn around a losing skid. Since the Bucks came up short 2-1 in a hard-fought decision to 14-1 Columbia, Kemp’s squad has rattled off three straight wins over Lutheran West (8-6), Oberlin (16-1) and Brooklyn (10-0). … Take out three mercy-rule defeats to Revere (11-1), Wellington (13-0) and Keystone (11-1) — teams that have a combined record of 36-13 — and Buckeye has outscored its opponents 83-47.

o o o CLOVERLEAF (8-9, 2-6): Colts headman John Carmigiano racked up his 50th career victory when his squad defeated Suburban League foe Barberton Monday 7-2. … Eight of Joy Grills’ 18 base hits have gone for extra bases, giving the senior shortstop a stellar .780 slugging percentage. For comparison’s sake, Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley leads Major League Baseball with a .752 mark. Jessie Browne is the only other Colt with a slugging percentage above .300 at .543. … Grills doesn’t swing and miss, either. The senior has connected on 92.7 percent of her hacks.

o o o HIGHLAND (5-9, 1-6): Sophomore Alexa Montesano and junior Sam Wilkosz have been hotter than a Cajun-style chili recipe. Montesano, a slap-hitting leadoff hitter, was 9-for-17 last week with a triple, double, four runs, four RBI and four stolen bases. She also tagged her first career home run Saturday against Olmsted Falls, helping Hayley MacWhade pick up her first career victory in the circle. Wilkosz, meanwhile, has snapped out of a 2-for-20 slump to start the year in a ginormous way. Heading into Tuesday’s play, the left-handed first baseman has a jaw-dropping 10 hits in her last 16 at-bats, raising her season average from .100 to .333. … Highland is 5-3 over its last eight games.

  o o o MEDINA (2-12, 0-3): Senior hurler Kacey Rose struck out her 350th career batter over the weekend. The right-hander did it on Northeast Ohio’s most famous field, too, as she punched out five against Akron Ellet at Akron’s legendary Firestone Stadium. …. Freshman Dez Zada has been strong behind the plate with just one error in 64 chances.

o o o WADSWORTH (10-6, 5-3):  The Grizzlies recently have been playing without lone senior Katie McGaffick. The shortstop is currently out with a viral illness, but should be back soon. … Wadsworth is 3-0 when it doesn’t commit an error. … Alli Beery, who primarily plays first base when not pitching, has yet to commit a blunder in 67 chances and Stacey Ladd in perfect in 50 opportunities. … Coming into this week, opponents were batting just .182 off Wadsworth’s three young pitchers in sophomore Ladd and freshmen Beery and Sam Weaver.

Grindle may be reached at agrindle@ohio.net or 330-721-4043.