Hubbard loses, 3-1, to Edgewood

A controversy over the location of the pitching rubber may have played a role in the outcome.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
JEFFERSON -- The first three innings of Monday's Division II district tournament softball game between Hubbard and Ashtabula Edgewood was played with a pitching distance that was 3 feet too long.
Edgewood scored all three of its runs in those first three innings and went on to eliminate Hubbard, 3-1, to advance to today's district championship game against Poland.
Hubbard coach Ken Miller said that he questioned the pitching distance prior to the start of the game and was assured it was OK, but in the bottom of the third inning, when Edgewood had the bases loaded with one out, the pitching rubber came loose.
Not right distance
When the game was stopped to replace the rubber, the distance was measured and found to be too long. The distance was corrected, but for the Eagles the damage had already been done.
"They [Edgewood] scored all three runs with a pitching distance that was 3 feet too long and we had a freshman pitcher [Gabrielle Flynn] out there. It was definitely to their advantage," Miller said.
The incorrect distance didn't help the Eagles, who didn't get a base hit until the fourth inning and had only two for the game against the Warriors' Jaci Neczeporenco, who also struck out 10.
But for Hubbard (10-13) it was still an outstanding season after losing most of its starters from a year ago and with only two seniors on the roster.
"This season turned around when these kids started believing in themselves," Miller added.
Along with the pitching distance, the Eagles' defense early in the game was a problem.
Four first-inning errors
Hubbard committed four errors in the first inning and another in the second, which led to Edgewood's first two runs.
"These kids are young and they were extremely nervous at the start, just like they were last week against Struthers," Miller said. "Once they settled down they were fine."
Even with the four first inning errors, Flynn handled the situation like a veteran. She allowed only one run, getting the final two outs with runners at second and third.
Flynn allowed just six hits and struck out three.
Katie McMellen opened the first reaching on an error, stole second and then third and scored on the Eagles' second error of the inning.
Two more errors put runners on second and third, but Flynn struck out Jackie Bard and got Jen Reed to fly out to end the inning.
Added one in second
In the second Neczeporenco reached on an error to open the inning was sacrificed to second, took third on a wild pitch and scored on Alcyi Crish's single to right.
Edgewood (20-3) loaded the bases in the third on a two singles and a walk before the pitching rubber came loose, causing a 35-minute delay.
Neczeporenco hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring the third run, but again Flynn pitched out of the jam.
Eagles score in fifth
Hubbard scored its lone run in the fifth when Kim Budd reached on an error and was sacrificed to second. She scored when Tressa Scahill doubled to deep right field.
The Eagles had runners on second and third in the second inning with one out, but couldn't score. Those were the only two innings that they had runners on base.
mollica@vindy.com