Champion out after 4-0 loss

By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
ASHLAND -- Champion High softball coach Cheryl Weaver stepped onto the field at Brookside Park and relished the Golden Flashes' first state appearance since 1994.
"I had to keep my heart from fluttering too much," said Weaver.
Only hours earlier, the Champion community sent the team to Ashland amid fans' cheers and a police escort.
"You don't get that very often, especially for a girls' sport," senior first baseman Lauren Seafert said of the widespread support.
End of the road
Unfortunately for the Golden Flashes, their memorable state ride ended prematurely Thursday with a 4-0 loss to Woodsfield Monroe Central in a Division III semifinal.
Five errors and silent bats damaged Champion's chances of playing for the state championship, which it captured in 1994, 1980 and 1978.
"We'll be back," Weaver told her team. "We're going to be back."
That's because of sophomore pitcher Kasey Karr, whom Weaver called the team's MVP. Karr suffered only her second loss this season in 15 decisions, striking out seven and walking one while allowing five hits.
"She kept her composure and pitched her game," Weaver said. "She's going to be an awesome pitcher. She's only a sophomore, and I've seen how she's matured. She's only going to get better."
Lack of production
Karr's three at-bats, in which she flied out deep to left field, were symbolic of the Golden Flashes' offense against Monroe Central pitcher Leekycia Brown, whose 31-0 record mirrors her team's.
"What happened to us in the early part of the season came back and haunted us tonight," Weaver said.
Champion (22-6) could only muster four hits against Monroe Central -- singles by Jessica Bova, Jessica Carpenter, Emily Hayes and Tara Shope -- as many hard-hit balls found fielders' gloves.
"Those were lined shots out there, but we hit right to them," Weaver said. "In the games we did lose [this season], that's what happened -- we'd hit the ball hard, but right to people, and we couldn't get the runners in."
Such was the case in the second and third innings when Champion put runners in scoring position. In fact, the Golden Flashes loaded the bases with two outs in the third.
Hayes came to bat, conjuring up memories of the dramatics she provided earlier this season.
"In one of our games [against Newton Falls], she hit a grand slam and we came back and won," Seafert said. "So we were all excited."
But Hayes grounded out, and Brown shut down the Golden Flashes, retiring the next eight batters.
"Everybody has their day," Weaver said of Champion's opponent, which will face Wheelersburg (25-5) for the state title Saturday. "I think this is their year."
Staying positive
There were few tears following the game as Weaver kept her team upbeat despite the loss.
"Even though we lost, it's still amazing we actually got this far," Seafert said.
The state experience is what they'll remember.
"That's probably the most fans we've had at a game before, and it made the game seem even more important," Karr said.
richesson@vindy.com