Spartans fall to Hoover
North Canton redeemed itself in the teams' second meeting.
& lt;a href=mailto:scalzo@vindy.com & gt;By JOE SCALZO & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NORTH CANTON -- North Canton High softball coach Jeff Hite doesn't like the term "big game," because it seems to imply that there are little games. So Hite tried to treat Thursday's game against Boardman as just another game.
His second baseman, Ashley Riccardi, did no such thing.
"If we wanted to win one game this year, this was it," she said.
Riccardi went 2-for-3 and drove in the game's first run as Hoover won 4-2 to avenge an earlier Federal League loss to the Spartans.
"We played pretty well," said Hite. "We played with as much intensity as we have all year."
Off balance
The Spartans, the state's top-ranked team in the coaches Division I poll, got off to a shaky start, giving up a run in each of the first two innings. They also never seemed to solve Hoover pitcher Karla Pittman, managing just three hits while striking out 10 times.
"I take my hat off to Karla," said Boardman coach Bill Amero. "Really, I thought she pitched well in both games. She kept us off balance. We couldn't lay off her drop pitch."
Pittman (16-3) also had 10 strikeouts in the teams' first meeting -- Boardman won 1-0 in 10 innings -- but couldn't match Spartan junior Ashley DiDomenico's performance. Unfortunately for Boardman, DiDomenico wasn't as sharp on Thursday, giving up nine hits while not striking out a batter.
"Ashley didn't have her best stuff today," Amero said.
Senior Jaclyn Corroto led the Spartans (13-2, 6-1) with two hits and an RBI, while Mallory Hay added a run and two stolen bases and Sarah Albani had a hit, a stolen base and scored a run.
Ashley Dietz and Debbie Warner also had two hits for Hoover (16-3, 6-2), which stayed alive in the league race. Boardman, Canton GlenOak and Lake each have one loss.
Targeted
Hite, who won state titles in 1998 and 1999, also knows that being ranked No. 1 in the state puts a bull's-eye on your chest.
"When teams play you, the stakes are a little higher," he said.
When it comes to Boardman-Hoover, you rarely need extra incentive, but the teams could meet again this year in the regional tournament.
"We're hoping to see them again," Amero said. "We beat each other around, but that's what makes you better."
& lt;a href=mailto:scalzok@vindy.com & gt;scalzo@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;