SOFTBALL Poland scores in 10th to remain alive in MAC

Champion and Lakeview were big winners in Trumbull Athletic Conference games.
POLAND -- Allie Patton's sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the 10th inning triggered a throwing error that allowed Ashley Conger to score and preserve the Poland High softball team's hopes for an 18th-consecutive league crown.
A day after a 3-0 loss at Canfield, the Bulldogs defeated their Metro Athletic Conference rivals 4-3 in the completion of a nasty weather-suspended contest that began on Monday.
The game resumed Thursday in the fourth inning with Poland (18-1, 10-1) ahead, 3-2. The Cardinals (15-2, 7-1) tied the game in that frame and the contest remained knotted until the bottom of the 10th inning when the international tiebreaker rule was used.
In the fifth inning, Patton relieved Poland starter Kristy Hertz, who had struck out two batters and gave up all three runs. Patton struck out six batters and did not allow any runs in the six innings she worked.
Patton had two hits, scored a run and drove in one. Conger had three hits, scored once and produced a RBI.
Canfield freshman pitcher Lauren Sulick (6-1) struck out nine batters in suffering her varsity loss.
Stephanie Zunic led the Cards' offense with two hits. Jena Ervin and Danielle Spencer had RBIs.
Coached by Reid Lamport, Poland has won 17 straight MAC and Mahoning Valley Conference championships. The Bulldogs will clinch a tie for first if they defeat Howland in a makeup game next week.
The Cardinals have four remaining MAC games against Howland and Alliance. Canfield can clinch a tie with four wins.
Champion 17, Brookfield 1
BROOKFIELD -- Sophomore pitcher Brittany Skeels scattered three hits and contributed a triple for the Trumbull Athletic Conference-leading Golden Flashes (21-1, 12-0).
Hillary Beach homered and tripled for Champion and Kasey Karr's three hits included a homer. Jessica Carpenter also doubled.
For the Warriors (3-14, 2-10), Jessie Shaffer's two hits included a double.
Lakeview 10, Girard 0
GIRARD -- Lauren Whetzel's first-inning grand slam helped the Bulldogs (12-5, 7-5 TAC) jump out to a 6-0 lead.
Whetzel had two hits and five RBIs.
Winning pitcher Kailynn Cerny scattered four hits, struck out three batters and walked none.
For Girard (7-16, 3-9), Ashley Esposito had two hits.
Hubbard 9, Liberty 7
HUBBARD -- The Eagles (9-10, 6-5 TAC) put the game out of reach by scoring five runs in the fourth inning.
Callie Oyler hit three singles and scored three times for the Eagles. Stephanie Zubyk hit two doubles and drove in four runs.
Michele Dykes hit a double and single and Ashley Hackett hit two singles to spark the Leopards (3-12).
Jackson-Milton 12, McDonald 2
NORTH JACKSON -- Kay Bruss and Kortney Gherardi doubled as the Bluejays scored eight runs in the sixth inning.
Gherardi, Carrie Fiol, Krista Kiraly, Cara Conrad and Ashley Berry had two hits each. Kiraly had three RBIs and Erica Wilmoth had two.
Kiraly (8-11) tossed a two-hitter for the Bluejays (8-11, 4-7 Inter-County League).
South Range 3, Lowellville 1
LOWELLVILLE -- Skye Walley pitched a one-hitter and Cindy Schuller had a two-run single in the fourth inning to spark South Range.
Walley also added two hits, while Heather Stacy and Lynn O'Conners had a pair for the Raiders (5-11, 3-5).
Lindsay Wilson had the only hit for Lowellville (11-8, 3-6).
Southeast 5, Mineral Ridge 4
MINERAL RIDGE -- The Pirates scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to improve to 8-9. Jess Hines hit a triple and double.
Losing pitcher Kaili Gehring (8-5) tripled for the Rams (11-10).
West Branch 3, Canton South 2
CANTON -- The Warriors (8-11, 3-9 Northeastern Buckeye Conference) scored the winning run in the top of the sixth inning.
Bri Benedict scattered three hits to pick up the win and she hit a double to spark West Branch. Vana Morgan hit two singles.
Wednesday
Southern 11, Youngstown Christian 2
YOUNGSTOWN -- Hanna Crews of Southern set a school record as she struck out 11 batters in pitching a complete game to pick up the win in the Division IV girls sectional softball tournament.
Sara Brown, Frankie Copven and Ashley Bach each had two hits for the Indians.