DIVISION IV SOFTBALL Vocal Jackson-Milton squad rattles East Canton

The Bluejays are close to winning their first district championship since 1999.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CORTLAND -- With every ounce of vocal energy, Jackson-Milton High softball players made their presence known.
Their cheering from the dugout Friday was so loud that they began drawing nasty looks from East Canton players.
Feel the love. Feel the tension. Welcome Friday's Division IV district championship game at Lakeview High.
"We're said to be the most obnoxious team in the [Inter-County] league," Jackson-Milton junior first baseman Rhea Weimer said. "We like it a lot."
Postponed by rain
The Bluejays (20-6) had a lot to cheer about Friday. They took a 6-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning when lightning and heavy rain postponed the finish until today at noon.
If everything goes as planned, Jackson-Milton will clinch its first district championship since 1999.
"We have a really good team," Weimer said. "Coach [Kelly Snowden] always told us that we could go all the way, and we believe her."
The Bluejays proved it against East Canton.
They took leads of 2-0 and 3-1 before a three-run fifth inning put them in command 6-1. Leading the way with two hits each were seniors Jayne Fenton and Corey Velk.
"We're just hitting right now," Snowden said. "We have four girls hitting at .400 or better. Our seniors are producing in key situations and we're peaking at the right time."
By the time Jackson-Milton built its 6-1 lead, a variety of cheers were emanating from its dugout and tempers grew short on East Canton's side.
Unhappy pitcher
Wizards starting pitcher Ashlee Mundy, who had injured her back in the third inning but stayed in the game, was visibly shaken by the endless chants.
Mundy took extra time walking around the pitcher's circle while glaring into the Bluejays' dugout. Her coach and teammates tried to calm her.
"She didn't like us at all," Weimer said, "but that's how we play the game."
Snowden said, "If you watch any game at any level, that's part of softball. It's a girl thing. We were in her [Mundy's] head. It's probably not the best thing to say, but she was rattled."
The biggest blow against Mundy came in the fifth inning when Weimer hit a two-run triple to right-center field. It put the Bluejays ahead 6-1 and chased Mundy from the game.
"When she gets a hit, it's usually in a key situation," Snowden said of Weimer. "We needed those two runs. It gave us some comfort."
That was more than enough runs for Velk, Jackson-Milton's senior pitcher, to work with.
In Velk's hands
Through six innings, Velk allowed only the one run on three hits. Her control was off at times as she walked four and threw two wild pitches, one leading to East Canton's only run, while striking out four.
But Velk, who eclipsed 50 career wins this season and set the school's single-season wins record (20), is three outs away from directing Jackson-Milton into the Kent State regional.
"This group of players has been together since they were 5 years old," Snowden said. "You have to set goals, and they believe they can achieve them."
richesson@vindy.com