Scheid family ties run deep at Monroeville

MONROEVILLE — Emily Scheid was ready. In a lot of ways, the Monroeville senior softball standout had been ready for the moment for most of her life. As pitcher Veanna Helmstetter fielded the ball, Scheid felt like she had never moved quicker to first base. With two outs in the seventh inning and the Eagles leading by a run, 6-5, against Carey in a Division IV regional championship game — this was it. And when the pitching duo — Helmstetter was on in relief for Scheid — completed the final out, it was a mob scene. "I trusted Veanna with the throw and I knew what it meant at that moment," Emily said. "As soon as I caught the ball, I just threw everything in the air and ran to her. It was so exciting." With the win over Carey at Rossford on May 24, the Eagles (23-6) advanced to the state semifinals for the first time in program history. They will face No. 8-ranked Vienna Mathews (23-7) at 12:30 p.m. at Firestone Stadium in Akron. The Monroeville program has been a steady winner at the Firelands Conference, sectional and district level for 10-plus years. But this marks the first regional title in the program's second time past the district rounds in program history. "I didn't grasp any of it until the day after," Emily said. "It was just so shocking. We did it. It finally happened." Growing up in the program Emily had a front row seat to the recent success of the Monroeville program. Oldest sister, Payton, was a standout for the Eagles from 2018-21. She was a two-time FC first team selection and honorable mention All-Ohio during her career, which also saw Monroeville reach the regional title game in 2019. Now, Emily is a senior and youngest sister, Taylor, is a freshman on the team. "Growing up watching Payton play in all her sports was something that sticks out, " Emily said of her sister, who also earned 10 total varsity letters in softball, basketball and cross country. "I just know being in this program, there has been a lot of support and energy from the community. I enjoyed being in that atmosphere growing up." Watching up close those years also gave Emily a perspective of what to expect when she reached high school. "It helped me focus, and I'm more connected with my teammates," she said. "We're a close community, a close family and a close team. So I was able to hit the ground running a bit in that sense." Emily is batting .351 with 10 doubles, two triples, one home run and 24 RBIs this season at the plate for the Eagles. In the circle, she is 10-3 with a 1.74 earned run average. Emily has struck out 77 batters and walked 31 in 100 1/3 innings as a pitcher. Taylor has appeared in 26 games and has six base hits and four RBIs. "I enjoy it a lot, because It brings us sisters closer together," Emily said about overlapping as teammates with both Payton and Taylor. "And even the girls on the team, we've all grown up together and played different sports together, so they feel like sisters to me, too. They are fun to be around." Far-reaching family The connections to the Monroeville program don't stop with just the three sisters. Their father, Pat, serves as an assistant coach. Their uncle, Neil, has perhaps the most underrated role of all. "Neil does all our field maintenance and prep," head coach Abe Helmstetter said. "Most people don't realize how important it is to have this field ready. Think about how many games we've gotten in that maybe some other schools haven't, and it's because of him and his willingness to be down here and do those things." Not to be forgotten, the sisters' youngest sibling, brother Mike, has been filming the game's as the team's videographer. "It runs pretty deep," said Helmstetter, who has also coached his four daughters at Monroeville. "Emily has had a great season in the circle and at the plate and in the field. "Taylor is just going to carry on that legacy is what we're hoping." Meanwhile, Helmstetter also noted Payton's role in this season. She's naturally found her way to some practices and games to contribute. "Payton comes here off playing at Heidelberg is throwing to us, which is a huge asset," he said. "She can simulate what we're going up against. We show her some video and she can really do it. "To see that kind of live pitching is a tremendous asset." Regardless of how Thursday turns out, Emily will always remember catching the final out — but also the way the 2024 Eagles came together. The team did not control their own destiny in the Firelands Conference until early May, and were trailing 5-2 after the fifth inning of the win over Carey. "We've really had good chemistry and play well together," Emily said. "We have fun, and I think that's the biggest part. We don't get upset. We pick each other up, crack a joke, then it's over and we move on to the next play. That's what makes this team so great."