TRUMBULL ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SOFTBALL Champion derails Newton Falls' title run

The teams are tied for first place with three games remaining.
By ROBERT J. FUSCO
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CHAMPION -- Newton Falls High was looking to put the finishing touches on a Trumbull Athletic Conference softball championship.
Champion freshman Kasey Karr wasn't about to let that happen.
"This was a big game for us and we came through," said Karr, after firing a two-hitter in the Golden Flashes' 2-1 win Thursday at the Champion Athletic Complex.
The win vaulted Champion (14-3) into a tie with Newton Falls (15-6) atop the TAC standings at 9-2 with three league games remaining.
"Kasey gets all the credit," Champion coach Cheryl Weaver said of her freshman, who struck out 12 and walked only two.
"She mixed up her pitches well and hit her locations."
Brings out the best
Karr is no stranger to facing Newton Falls and sophomore pitcher Lindsey McCartney.
Two weeks ago, Karr came in relief and shut the Tigers down, but the Champion offense sputtered in a loss.
Karr and McCartney are also teammates on a summer traveling team.
"It's a big competition between the two, and Kasey got the better of it today," Weaver said.
"I think facing Lindsey and Newton Falls brings out the best in [Kasey]."
Karr (4-0) limited the Tigers to just four base runners. Besides the 12 strikeouts, Karr forced the Tigers into six groundouts and three fly balls -- all to the right side of the field.
"Kasey was throwing a lot harder than she has in the past," Weaver said. "[Newton Falls] couldn't catch up with her pitches."
Scoring
After Newton Falls scored on Ashley Shaver's run-scoring single in the top of the fourth, Champion manufactured all of its offense in the bottom of the inning.
Junior Jessica Carpenter singled, moved to third on a wild pitch and throwing error and scored the tying run on a fielder's choice off the bat of Meghan Packman. After Bethanie Rowland worked McCartney for a walk, Jaclyn Carpenter moved the runners with a fly to right and Packman scored on an groundout to second.
"I feel Bethanie's at-bat was key," Weaver said of Rowland's walk.
"She kept on showing bunt and I think that kept their defense off-balance. She has great speed and can beat out a bunt. I don't think [McCartney] knew what to expect and may have lost her composure a bit."
After the fourth, Karr took control of the game. She allowed two-out walks in both the sixth and seventh innings, but left the runners stranded.
"I was a little nervous out there," Karr said of the last two innings. "I knew if I got my pitches down, I'd be fine. I have all the confidence in the defense behind me."
McCartney (9-2) allowed only three hits and fanned six.