Poland blanks Hubbard, 3-0, in Div. II semis

By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
HUBBARD -- Flawless fielding, smart pitching and timely hitting comprised the cornerstones of victory in Poland High's 3-0 win over fourth-seeded Hubbard in a Division II district semifinal softball game Wednesday.
The victory sent the top-seeded Bulldogs (21-5) into today's district championship game at 4:30 against Cardinal Mooney.
The third inning was the difference offensively as Jess Modic's single knocked in Steffi Graf and Amanda Reardon to snap a scoreless tie.
Tested Bulldogs
Jessica Lamport allowed four hits and struck out six for the Bulldogs, who have four losses to Div. I teams, including top-ranked Boardman. Poland's other loss, a 2-0 defeat, came at the hands of Ohio's top-ranked Div. II team, LaGrange Keystone.
"She's not a power pitcher," coach Reid Lamport said of his daughter. "We don't try to blow by anybody. She's a pitcher, not a thrower. Today, she threw maybe eight to 10 fastballs, while everything else had some movement or was a changeup."
Lamport said Jessica averages seven or eight strikeouts, but has an earned-run average of 0.50.
"We knew Hubbard had hitters, but when we're errorless, Jessie will keep us in the game," he said. "The keys were timely hitting, pitching and good defense. If we can get up 2-0, it takes the pressure off our defense."
Wednesday's game was similar to last year's district semifinal when Poland beat Hubbard, 10-1.
In the third, Reardon was a courtesy runner for Lamport, who walked to load the bases. To start the inning, Krista Ginnetti walked and Graf singled.
Key play
The No. 5-ranked Bulldogs were alert to pull off an out that ended the first inning. With two outs and Kelly Hudy on first with a single, Lynle Cornell hit a dribbler to Graf at shortstop, but the throw to first was late. First baseman Mallory Conger's throw to Modic at third was also late trying to get Hudy, but Modic's bullet to Ginnetti at second found a sliding Cornell, who was promptly tagged out.
Lamport complimented the Eagles, especially Hubbard's shortstop, when he said: "Without Hudy, it's a one-hitter. Fortunately, she was up with no one on base."
The Eagles (13-10) also got close to scoring in the fourth when Hudy smacked a double into left-center and then reached third on Amanda Taylor's groundout.
Poland made the score 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth. Graf led off with a double, went to third on a wild pitch and scored when Lamport's grounder went around the feet of Taylor at the mound and over second base.
Stephanie Russell had two of Poland's nine hits.
"We felt like we matched up well," said Hubbard coach Ken Miller, "but they got hits when they needed them and we didn't. If we had a couple hits with Hudy at bat, it might have been a different ball game."
bassetti@vindy.com