DIVISION II SOFTBALL Taylor's three-hitter helps Eagles

Hubbard High advanced to a district semifinal against top-seeded Poland.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
HUBBARD -- After establishing a 6-0 lead in its first at-bat, Hubbard High rode the pitching of sophomore Amanda Taylor to beat Niles, 8-4, in a Division II sectional softball championship game Wednesday.
Taylor, a first-year player, struck out six and gave up five walks while pitching a three-hitter. Hubbard (12-9), the fourth seed, will play host to top-seeded Poland in a district semifinal Tuesday at Hubbard. The game will be a rematch of the 2002 district semifinal, which Poland won.
"It's always fun playing Poland," said coach Ken Miller.
First inning
Hubbard jumped on Niles shortly after leadoff batter Anna DeJulio stepped into the batter's box.
Although DeJulio was thrown out bunting, teammate Brittany McKee followed with a single. Kelly Hudy hit a double, Lynle Cornell reached on a fielder's choice, Taylor singled, Colleen Sullivan also had a fielder's choice and Jessica Williams doubled to score courtesy runners Danielle DeJulio and Stephanie Zubyk.
An error in the outfield with Loni Sargent batting enabled Williams to cross home plate with the sixth run before Sargent, a junior, was thrown out at second to end the inning.
"A big first inning is what we were hoping for," said Miller, "but it got our pitcher a little too relaxed out there. I think she was a little too comfortable at first and wasn't concentrating."
DeJulio had two singles and scored twice, while Hudy added a single.
"Kelly really hit the ball hard," Miller said of the junior.
Taylor said she was throwing more fastballs and curves and fewer changeups than usual.
"It depends what the coach calls for the catcher to give me," said Taylor. "After [the first inning], I had to concentrate and push myself a little harder."
Niles' hits
Lisa Brown, Maria Caicco and Kelly Leonard each had a single for Niles (9-13). Brown scored the Red Dragons' first run in the bottom of the first inning on a wild pitch. Hubbard made it 7-1 in the second before Niles pulled within 7-3 in the third.
The Eagles' middle infield duo of Hudy at shortstop and McKee at second made some good defensive plays. In the fifth, Hudy backpeddled and reached high to catch Ashley Lokash's popup, then, for the first out in the last inning, the junior dashed forward to snag Brown's blooper.
With Leonard and Kelsey Mikesell on second and first, respectively, and two outs in the fourth, McKee fielded Brown's grounder in front of second base and stepped on the bag to end the inning.
bassetti@vindy.com