BOARDMAN SOFTBALL Eastwood's motto used by motivated Spartans

Cincinnati Sycamore is Thursday's opponent in the state semifinals.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- Clint Eastwood has had a role in Boardman over the past two years, and he's making an appearance again.
The gritty actor Academy Award-winning actor/director/producer graces the TV screens of the Boardman High softball team bus.
You can bet he'll be seen again this week as the Spartans (27-4) play in a Division I state semifinal Thursday against Cincinnati Sycamore (16-10) at Ashland's Brookside Park.
The movie that coach Bill Amero shows is "Heartbreak Ridge," in which Eastwood turns a platoon of soldiers into a fighting machine. Eastwood's words that have stuck with the Boardman players are "adapt and overcome."
"The flow of the game can change at any minute," Amero said. "We can either adjust or suffer the consequences."
When the Spartans' four seniors -- outfielder Laura Amero, shortstop Mary McCabe, outfielder Leann Neiman and third baseman-pitcher Gina Rango -- reflect on their careers and the chance to defend their state title, they do so with the attitude of "adapt and overcome."
"That was our motto our junior year when we won it. Now it's come back into effect," McCabe said. "Right before we get off the bus for our warmups, we have to hear that line."
Pain
That motto may be more appropriate than ever this week as the Spartans try to overcome injuries -- to second baseman Jaclyn Corroto (calf), catcher Meagan Cunningham (thigh), pitcher Ashley DiDomenico (knee) and McCabe (elbow).
Amero shuffled his lineup successfully and showed the team's versatility last week in Boardman's 9-8 regional final victory over Madison.
Tuesday, Amero said he does not anticipate anyone missing Thursday's game. He may, however, change his lineup, if perhaps someone is still feeling some pain.
"We're not stopping until the last out is made. We're just not done," Rango said. "This team this year, we have a lot of heart, and I don't think there's one game that we've ever said, 'Let's pack it up, we're done.' "
Careers over the years
Boardman's seniors are capping careers that were highlighted at a young age, when they were part of a team that won the 10-and-under state championship.
There was more to come, though.
As freshmen, they reached the regional final but lost to North Canton Hoover. As sophomores, they reached the state title game but lost to Hilliard Darby.
As juniors, they won the state title, Boardman's first, over Hamilton.
"They've helped set the standard for other players in the program now and players coming up through the program," Coach Amero said. "The attitude of our team completely changed when those four young ladies joined the program."
All four seniors are planning to continue their softball careers at the next level -- Laura Amero at Youngstown State, McCabe at Ashland, Neiman at Mount Union and Rango at Bowling Green.
Right now, though, they have other business to address -- leading the Spartans to a second straight state title.
"We all have different leadership styles," Laura Amero said. "I'm quiet. I just kind of chill.
"Everyone knows when this girl [Rango] is pumped, and Mary's got a mouth," she said. "We lead in different ways."
The seniors consider their season to be a success, even if they don't win another state title. What another title would do, however, is further strengthen the legacy this senior class has left at Boardman.
Neiman is already reminded of that by the large picture hanging in the high school hallway, next to the athletic office, commemorating the 2001 state title.
"Every day I look at that and think, wow, 15, 20 years from now, people will walk the hallway and see me right there, underneath the state championship sign," she said.
richesson@vindy.com