DIV. III SOFTBALL Flashes' Karr is perfect

She retired all 21 Newton Falls batters in a 1-0 win for Champion.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
ORWELL -- Moments after center fielder Meghan Packman caught a fly ball to end the game, Champion High sophomore ace Kasey Karr was congratulated by her teammates for her first perfect game.
"I actually didn't know," said Karr, after retiring all 21 Newton Falls batters in the Golden Flashes' 1-0 victory Wednesday in a Division III district semifinal.
"I wasn't even paying attention," said Karr. "Usually I do then I end up messing up, so I'm glad I didn't know this time."
Good defense
Thanks to several excellent plays behind her, including five outfield catches and 9-3 putout on an alert play by right fielder Tara Shope, Karr and the Golden Flashes (19-5) advanced to today's district final against Ursuline at Grand Valley Middle School.
"Those were great," Karr said of her outfielders' performances. "When you have catches like that out in the field, you just don't have to worry if they hit it or not."
Karr struck out six while the infield recorded nine outs.
"Kasey is just a wonderful pitcher -- we're blessed to have her," said Champion coach Cheryl Weaver, who acknowledged her team's strong defensive play. "A lot of the game was between the pitcher and catcher [Alyshia Brink], but it was a total team effort."
Third close meeting
Wednesday's game was the third close encounter between the Trumbull Athletic Conference rivals. Despite getting just one hit, the Tigers (17-5) won the first game, 1-0. The Flashes won the second regular season game on Emily Hayes' walk-off grand slam in the ninth inning.
Wednesday, the Champion broke a scoreless tie in the sixth inning. After Lauren Seafert singled, Tigers pitcher Lindsey McCartney (16-5) retired Jessica Bova on a fly ball.
Brink hit a comebacker to the mound and McCartney threw to first base as Seafert took second.
"Physically we played well today, but we had a mental breakdown there," Newton Falls coach Tami Sinn said. "Overall, [McCartney] pitched well.
"If you can't hit and you can't score, you can only rely on your defense for so long, and our defense did get us out of some bad situations," Sinn said.
Winning run
Shope, a senior, connected for a two-out single to right field to score the go-ahead run. But as she was taking second after a throw to the plate, Shope was plunked in the helmet by a throw.
Holding an ice bag against her head, Shope said, "I can only move my jaw so far, but I'm playing [against Ursuline]."
Weaver said Shope is motivated.
"With graduation coming, she just wants to go out on top," Weaver said. "She's really picked it up out there."
The Flashes did squander numerous opportunities to score, especially in the first inning when they loaded the bases with no outs. McCartney responded with a line drive out, strikeout and groundout.
"We've been stranding too many base runners," said Weaver, noting that the Flashes left seven runners on base in the first four innings.
Packman and Jessica Carpenter had two hits each as part of Champion's eight-hit attack.
williams@vindy.com