Boardman loses, 1-0, to Federal League rival

The Spartans are out of the tournament, but they can still win the league title.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
AKRON -- It's got to be an empty feeling, playing the team that kept you from your goal of winning the state championship.
Playing them 24 hours after they eliminated you no less.
Such is the scenario for Boardman today, when the Spartans (24-4) play Uniontown Lake (20-4) at Field of Dreams at 5 p.m.
The Federal League game comes on the heels of Uniontown Lake's 1-0 win over Boardman on Wednesday at Buchtel Field. The Division I regional semifinal was decided when Meghan Allen scored in the bottom of the fourth inning.
It spoiled a two-hitter for Ashley DiDomenico (21-4), whose only hits allowed were off the bat of winning pitcher Julie Boyes (16-2).
"All I asked my girls is that they score one more run than the other team," Lake coach Ed Lantzer said. "Then our defense makes the plays behind her [Boyes]."
Winning run
Allen walked to open the fourth, then went to second on Rachel Walker's fielder's choice. After Boyes loaded the bases with Lake's first hit, Boardman right-fielder Krysta Sylvester caught Maggie Wright's fly ball for the inning's first out. Lauren Enlow got the game's only RBI when the Spartans made a putout on her grounder as Allen crossed the plate.
"One run killed us," Boardman coach Bill Amero said. "We talk about leadoff walks and walks come back to haunt you."
Boardman had a good chance to score in the third inning when Sylvester's hit between third and shortstop enabled a sliding Mallory Hay to reach third base. DiDomenico's grounder to second baseman Katie Walko was returned home to catcher Kathi Shoulders, who tagged Hay for the second out.
Boardman left two runners stranded in the third and, for the game, six.
"Our objective was to get base-runners and we did," Amero said. "We just did a very poor job at the plate once we had base-runners. We had opportunities at the plate. We had a beautiful suicide squeeze on, but we couldn't get the bunt down. We had situations, but we just didn't advance runners. We had nobody to blame but ourselves for this one."
Boyes struck out eight.
Defense backs her
"I really put it in there," the junior said. "I wasn't taking anything for granted. I knew some [hitters] were better than others, but I approached them all the same way. I moved it in and out and never gave any one hitter the same ball twice. But my defense is awesome, so whatever I threw, I knew they would get it."
Sylvester, who along with Danielle Burin had Boardman's only stolen bases, was the only Spartan to get two of her team's four hits.
With its state title hopes dashed, Boardman still has a good chance of winning the Federal League championship outright. The Spartans are 10-2 and the Blue Streaks are 8-2. A Boardman win today would clinch a tie for the Federal title.
Boardman and Lake also have a suspended game to complete. Two weeks ago, a downpour interrupted the teams in the bottom of the second inning of a scoreless game. The resumption is scheduled next Wednesday.
bassetti@vindy.com