DIVISION I SOFTBALL Boardman plays Howland for title

Boardman blanked Euclid while Howland defeated Garfield Heights.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- The Boardman High softball team is one victory away from earning its fifth consecutive trip to the regional.
Howland is one triumph away from earning its first regional appearance in Coach Brian Earich's seven years.
Today at 5:30 p.m. at the Fields of Dreams, the Spartans (27-1) and Tigers (18-4) will play for the right to represent the Mahoning Valley next week at the University of Akron.
"It's going to be a big game, but we can't look at it as being big," Howland senior catcher Kristina Ferenac said. "We just have to go out and try and do the things we do [well]."
Monday, the Steel Valley Conference champion Spartans defeated Euclid, 11-0, in one semifinal, while the Tigers, the second-place team in the Metro Athletic Conference, defeated Garfield Heights, 8-1.
"It's the first time we've won a [district semifinal] so it's a big accomplishment for us," said Ferenac, a four-year varsity player.
Early lead
The Tigers jumped on Garfield Heights starter Nikki Makowski for two runs in the first inning.
After Meredith Schneidner and Darcy Quinlan singled, Amy Cornicelli bunted to load the bases and Ferenac walked for a 1-0 lead. Kim Moore's fielder's choice brought home Quinlan.
Howland scored two more runs in the third inning when Ferenac walked and Moore doubled her home, then scored on an error.
Cornicelli's RBI triple in the fourth inning extended Howland's lead to 5-1.
Tigers starter Barbie Lewis limited Garfield to three hits and struck out seven.
"She wasn't hitting the corners as well as I like, but they weren't hitting her," said Ferenac of Lewis.
Spartans romp
Boardman had little trouble dismissing Euclid. Sophomore Ashley DiDomenico hit a solo homer in the second inning and Jaclyn Corroto connected for one in the fifth inning.
In between, the Spartans scored six times in the fourth inning to break the game open as Jennifer Pancake improved to 20-1. Meagan Cunningham homered.
Quinlan said she feels there's less pressure on the Tigers.
"They've been here [five straight] times and it's our first -- we've got nothing to lose," Quinlan said. "It will be a good game the way it should be when the top two teams play for a championship. That's what it's all about."
Ferenac and Quinlan haven't forgotten that the Boardman basketball team ended their varsity careers in the district semifinals in February.
"There's a little bitterness, so I'm glad there's another opportunity to test them," said Ferenac, who picked off Makowski at first base in the fourth inning.
williams@vindy.com