Cardinals cut it close in tourney

Canfield's Lauren Sulick threw a one-hitter in 10 innings.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CANFIELD -- Canfield High softball coach Fred Mayhew sat down in the dugout bench, shook his head and managed a small smile.
"I don't like to cut it that close," he said. "I think I better schedule a stress test on Monday."
You know how good teams always say they weren't worried, that they always knew they'd find a way to win?
Yeah, well, forget it. Because at Thursday's Division I sectional final against Howland, the Cardinals were nervous.
Trailing 1-0 with two outs in the top of the seventh, Canfield's Courtney Porter lined a shot to short. For a split second, it looked like Canfield's season was over.
But the ball was bobbled, Porter reached first and Rachel Melewski came on as a courtesy runner. That brought up Ashley Bleggi with the game on the line.
No pressure, though.
"I was so scared," she said. "My heart was pumping. But all my teammates were cheering me on and I knew I had to get a hit."
She did, slicing a double down the right field line to tie the game and giving one of the best teams in school history new life.
"I was like, 'Thank God,'" Bleggi said. "I was really happy and really relieved."
Added senior Stephanie Zunic, "It was nerve-wracking, but we all believed in Bleggi."
Earning the win
Three innings later, Zunic drove in the game-winner on a sacrifice fly to center to give the Cardinals a 2-1 victory. Canfield (19-5) advances play Euclid on Thursday at Fields of Dreams in Boardman. Euclid beat Cleveland JFK 26-5 in the sectional final.
Zunic also had a single, a double and a triple and would have hit for the cycle if only she would have hit a home run rather than a sacrifice fly.
What gives?
"I don't know," she said, smiling. "I was just going up there swinging like I normally do."
Canfield freshman Lauren Sulick (8-2) gave up just one hit in 10 innings, striking out 16. Earlier this year, she threw a perfect game with 17 strikeouts.
Not bad for a freshman.
"She's overpowering for a freshman and I think she showed that today," said Mayhew. "She's mature beyond her years, talent-wise and maturity-wise."
Desiree Sibera drove in Howland's lone run in the fourth inning -- the only inning the Tigers had a baserunner -- on a fielder's choice. After beating the relay throw to first, Sibera screamed, "Yeah! That's what I'm talking about!"
Late-game injury
Three innings later, she screamed again, this time when she re-injured her knee sliding into first base and had to be taken off the field in an ambulance.
Gia Pahoulis walked and scored Howland's run, while Amy Cornicelli had the lone hit for the Tigers (12-9).
The two teams will meet again on Tuesday with a share of the league title on the line for the Cardinals.
"We'll come back and play them just as well," Bleggi said.
Mayhew doesn't doubt it. When asked if this is the best team he's had in six years, he didn't hesitate.
"The best," he said, "without any question."
And they're capable of a lot more.
"This team could go all the way," he said. "As long as they stay together and keep playing hard, there's no limit to what they can do."
scalzo@vindy.com