Lodyn's coming-of-age performance is 4-0 win

The Spartans defeated South Range as a couple of seniors helped at the plate.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- Senior Melanie Lodyn has reached the peak of her softball career at Boardman High, and finally there's a window of opportunity.
Lodyn waited in the shadows of other Boardman pitching standouts while becoming a reliable starter for her traveling team, the Ohio Stars.
Now, with Jennifer Pancake, the Spartans' No. 1 pitcher last season, having graduated, Lodyn, along with juniors Ashley DiDomenico and Sarah Albani, has been given her chance by coach Bill Amero.
"It's really exciting, especially because I've played travel ball for the last six years, and I've pitched constantly there," Lodyn said. "So it's really nice to come here and pitch for my high school in my senior year."
Strong start
Lodyn earned her first victory of the season Wednesday when Boardman blanked South Range 4-0 at Fields of Dreams.
"I want to give them all a chance," Amero said. "All of the pitchers work hard during the winter; they practice on their own and do everything that's necessary."
Lodyn's performance came one night after the Spartans (2-0), behind DiDomenico, defeated Federal League opponent North Canton Hoover 1-0 in the season opener.
"It's a great way to start the season, especially after being indoors for so long," Lodyn said. "We finally get to play; I didn't think we'd get to play 'til August. We have a warehouse where we practice, and there's no windows. It was just terrible."
With Albani striking out the side in the seventh inning Wednesday, the Boardman trio has shown an early glimpse of its talent.
"We're three strong pitchers," Lodyn said. "If someone's ever having a bad game, the others will be there to pick them up, and there's not a weak link in the three of us."
Amero added, "I want to give them all innings and chances to pitch because you never know what's going to happen. But at some point, it's going to come down to crunch time, and somebody's going to have the ball."
Wednesday, it was Lodyn, who limited South Range (1-1) to three hits while striking out four and walking one. She attacks hitters with an assortment of pitches -- fastball, changeup, curveball, dropball and riseball.
"She just moves the ball around really good," Amero said. "And what really has helped us, too, is Meagan Cunningham, our catcher. The pitchers have a lot of confidence in Meagan."
Offensive leaders
Cunningham showed confidence at the plate Wednesday as the senior went 3-for-3 with two doubles to lead the Spartans. Senior Krysta Sylvester added a solo home run in the fifth inning that hit the right-field foul pole.
"I couldn't get her to slow down running the bases," Amero laughed of Sylvester. "Krysta's been hitting the ball solid during the preseason; that's a good confidence-builder for her."
Sophomore Lynn O'Connell singled twice, while sophomore Cindy Schuler doubled for South Range, which hadn't played in about two weeks.
"We have an outstanding pitcher [junior Skye Walley] who's going to keep us in every game," South Range coach David Owen said. "It's just a matter of getting her the support she needs."
richesson@vindy.com