Thunderstorm postpones Div. IV game to Monday

The Bluejays have a 3-0 lead in the sectional final.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NORTH JACKSON -- Kelly Snowden and Kim Strimple stood side by side inside the Jackson-Milton dugout, cellular phones pressed against their ears and overcome with frustration.
The softball coaches -- Snowden of Jackson-Milton, Strimple of Lordstown -- had just endured a thunderstorm that forced the postponement of their Division IV sectional final at Liberty Park.
With a well-prepared field having turned to mud because of the rain, the game was called in the bottom of the second inning with Jackson-Milton leading 3-0.
"You hate to have the momentum broken up," said Snowden, whose team is seeking its sixth straight sectional title.
"We scored those runs with two outs, and that was the bottom of my order."
Coaches' duty
But instead of thinking about strategy and sectional titles, the coaches' attention turned to off-the-field matters -- deciding a time and place to resume the game.
"This month has been ridiculous," said Strimple, whose team, because of the weather, has been reduced to playing two games in that time.
Nearly an hour after the players were forced off the field, the coaches tried valiantly to reach the tournament director, but to no avail.
Other events, including Jackson-Milton's prom, were making the rescheduling process difficult, and the coaches wanted to explore their options with the director.
Not exactly the most glamorous side of coaching, is it?
"The problem is, when you go back to the girls and say that we're going to do it this day," Snowden explained, "and they're like, 'No, no, no, we can't do it that day!' "
Snowden ran various possibilities by her team. At one point, the players reminded her coach about prom and the fact that, "We have to get our hair done!"
Finally, it was decided that the teams will complete the game Monday at 4:30 p.m. at Jackson-Milton's home field.
Early lead
The Bluejays (18-6) opened their 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning, highlighted by senior Lynsey Kosa's two-run single. Freshman Lindsey Johns drove in the other run with a single.
Staked to the lead was Jackson-Milton senior pitcher Corey Velk (18-6), who is trying to match the school's single-season record for wins (19), held by former standout Heather Loomis.
On her first pitch of the game, Velk surrendered a single to Lordstown's Erica Gibson, but induced a fielder's choice before striking out the final two batters.
"We were all ready to go, we were pumped up," Strimple said. "But who knows what will happen between now and the next time we play? Moods can change."
richesson@vindy.com