SOFTBALL Conger carries Poland

She pitched a four-hit, 5-0 shutout over Hubbard in a district semifinal game.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
HUBBARD -- Hubbard High softball player Amanda Taylor had the game's first hit --a double -- but it was all downhill from there for the Eagles Tuesday as Poland defeated the Eagles, 5-0, in a Division II district semifinal at Hubbard High School.
Taylor had two of Hubbard's four hits and finished with a six-hitter as the Eagles (16-5) bowed out of the tournament.
Winning pitcher Mallory Conger (17-3) had seven strikeouts and tripled as Poland (21-5) advanced into the championship game.
Tuesday's other semifinal between Conneaut and Ashtabula Edgewood was halted by lightning in the top of the third inning. The scoreless, suspended game will resume today at 4:30 p.m. Barring a weather-related delay today, the title game will be played Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
Third straight year
Poland eliminated Hubbard in a district semifinal for the third straight year.
"We're going to see what we can do about getting in another bracket," Hubbard coach Ken Miller joked about the annual match-up.
But there was no laughing during the game because the Eagles were without their center-fielder, Callie Ann Oyler, whose mother died and was buried Tuesday.
"They had some heavy hearts on their bench," Poland coach Reid Lamport said. "Our prayers go out to the family."
The Hubbard player, however, showed up during the game to support her teammates.
As a courtesy runner for Conger who walked, Amanda Reardon scored the game's first run in the second inning with Amy Nelson getting the RBI.
Two runs in third
The Bulldogs broke it open with two runs in the third when Jess Modic and Steffi Graf came home. Modic tripled and scored on Graf's bloop single and Graf came across when she beat out a throw.
"We were opportunistic with heads-up base-running," Lamport said. "Of 10 base-runners, nine ended up in scoring position."
He was also complimentary of Conger's effort.
"Anytime you keep [Kelly] Hudy off base three times, that's good," Lamport said of Hubbard's top threat. "Mallory didn't give Hudy her pitch because she has shown she can crank it out."
Defense was another plus for the Bulldogs.
Catcher Kari Thompson caught Loni Sargent headed back to first base in the fifth inning to snuff a threat. Graf moved over and was on the spot to make the putout.
"That shut down a potential rally," Lamport said. "By picking off the leadoff batter, that got us jacked up a lot."
The Thompson-Graf play was followed by another Graf putout when the second baseman was on the receiving end of shortstop Ashley Conger's throw to get Carrie Gasser for the second out of the fifth.
"Our kids were pressing and didn't execute," Miller said, especially of two sophomores and a freshman. "We couldn't relax. We were trying too hard to win. The young kids had a hard time dealing with it, but we got beat, so there are no excuses."
Taylor (16-4) returns next year as a senior.
Modic also had a single and scored twice, Graf had two singles and scored twice and Ciera Urichich singled.
Poland's final two runs came in the fifth with Britt Davis and Conger getting RBIs.
bassetti@vindy.com