PREP SOFTBALL, BASEBALL Clippers top Crestview to win title

Liberty's Mike Smallwood earned a shutout victory in baseball action.
COLUMBIANA -- The Columbiana High softball team scored the go-ahead run in the second inning Saturday, as the Clippers held on to capture a Division III sectional title with a 2-1 victory over host Crestview.
Ashlie Spaite led off the second inning with a double, and Megan Pacella reached on an error. Whitney Goist then hit a sacrifice bunt that scored Spaite to snap a 1-1 tie.
Whitney Goist and Spaite each had two hits for the Clippers (20-4), who will play Rootstown in a district semifinal Wednesday at the Green Beaver complex in Beaver Township.
Columbiana pitcher Stevie Goist held the Clippers to one run on three hits. She had 10 strikeouts and no walks in improving her record to 12-2.
The game between the Tri-County League rivals was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but it was postponed due to the death of Crestview student Amanda Radman.
Rain on Thursday and Friday postponed the game until Saturday.
Baseball
LIBERTY -- Liberty pitcher Mike Smallwood tossed a three-hit shutout as the Leopards defeated visiting Columbiana, 1-0, in baseball action Saturday.
Smallwood (3-2) struck out 16 and walked one for Liberty (6-11-2). He also drove in the game's only run, hitting an RBI single to score Rick Lopez in the third inning.
Rick and Joe Lopez each doubled and Mike Brown also had a double for the Leopards. Dean Stokes tripled and doubled for Columbiana.