REGIONAL PREVIEW High school softball

DIVISION II
Who: Poland (20-6) vs. Conneaut (16-5)
When: Thursday, 4:30 p.m.
Where: Firestone Stadium, Akron.
Also: West Branch (18-10) vs. Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit (25-1).
When: Wednesday, 4:30 p.m.
How to get there: Take I-76 west to Akron to I-77 south, take Wilbeth road Exit. Turn right and proceed about a mile. Stadium is on the right.
Poland scouting report: In last week's final state poll, Coach Reid Lamport's Bulldogs were ranked third by Ohio coaches. In district play, Poland defeated Hubbard (10-1) and Canfield (4-0). On the mound will be senior ace Sarah Knill (13-4) who pitched the Bulldogs to the state championship game in 2001. Stepahnie Russell is the catcher. The infield has Tiffany Fonagy at first base, Jessica Lamport at second base, Kristy Gaudiose at shortstop and Michelle Nespeca at third base. Outfielders are Katie Naumoff in right, Emily Patton in center and Aslyne Rodriguez in left. Steffi Graf is the designated hitter for Fonagy.
Conneaut scouting report: Conneaut defeated Ravenna, 5-0, and Tallmadge (No. 8 in the state), 4-1, in district action. Junior ace Adrianne Tuttle is the key to Conneaut's success.
Common opponent: Boardman. Conneaut defeated Boardman, 1-0 while Poland lost to the Spartans by the same score.
West Branch scouting report: In the Alliance district, Coach Sis Woods' Warriors defeated Louisville, 2-1, and Marlington, 3-0, to earn their second regional trip in six seasons. Nikki Pierce (16-9) scattered five hits for the shutout. Her catcher is Jenn Griffith. The infield has Carissa Wayland at first base, Angela Myer at second, Taylor Woods at shortstop and Jen Moore at third. In the outfield are Ellie Geiger in left, Deidre Snively in center and Evelyn Woods in right.
DIVISION IV
Who: Mineral Ridge (19-6) vs. N. Robinson Col. Crawford (26-3).
When: Wednesday, 4:30 p.m.
Where: Kent State University Softball Field, Summit Street (next Dix Stadium).
How to get there: Take I-76 west to state Route 43 exit. Turn right on Route 43 and travel 3 miles to intersection with state Route 261. Turn right onto Route 261 and travel 2 miles to Summit Street intersection. Turn right onto Summit. Softball field is on the left.
Also: Bristol (17-2) vs. the winner of the Mogadore (17-11)-Cuyahoga Hts. (19-8) district final, scheduled to be played today.
Mineral Ridge scouting report: Coach Gene Cheredar's Rams defeated two Inter-County League rivals to win the Cortland district. Mineral Ridge defeated Western Reserve, 3-0, in the semifinals and Jackson-Milton, 3-1, in the title game. Senior pitcher Ashley Ault (14-4) won both games. Other starters are catcher Holly Mills, right fielder Sarah Gerberry, third baseman Katie Olive, left fielder Kaili Gehring, designated hitter Sylvia Dubic, shortstop Robin Zimmerman, second baseman Katie Garland, first baseman Christi Panovani and center fielder Renee Loomis.
Bristol scouting report: Panthers ace Jamie Maraczi (17-2) fired a two-hitter at Southington for a 3-2 victory in the Fairport Harbor district title game. It was the third victory of the year for Bristol over the Wildcats (15-9). Junior Ashley Rasmussen had two hits and drove in all three runs. Her third-inning double brought home Trisha Rowles and Katie Casserlie.
-- Vindicator staff reports