PREP REGIONALS Poland making 5th trip to Akron

The Bulldogs played for the state softball title in 2002.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
When regional semifinal softball games get under way this week, two schools -- Cardinal Mooney and Western Reserve -- will be making their debuts. LaBrae also will be making a rare trip to Stark County.
Fitch, after one of the most impressive turnarounds, will be traveling to Akron for its first regional game in at least eight seasons.
And then there is Division II Poland, easily the Mahoning Valley's most consistent softball team over the past five years.
Reid Lamport's Bulldogs (25-3) are making their fifth straight regional trip to Akron's Firestone Stadium and are once again hoping to replicate the success of the 2002 team that played for the state title.
Meets Walsh Jesuit
Wednesday at 5 p.m., Poland will play Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit (18-5). The other semifinalists are Chardon Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin (18-5) and Akron Springfield (23-4).
In Div. I, Melody Rice's Fitch Falcons have reversed last year's 1-21 season into a regional appearance.
"I really never expected this in my first year -- I was hoping for a nice turnaround this year and possibly several years down the road turn this program around," Rice said. "So it's really kind of nice to get this success in the first year."
Fitch earned the regional trip by defeating: Boardman, 2-0; Solon, 2-0, and Canfield, 10-9.
"The seniors really took it upon themselves to step up this year and brought everyone with them," Rice said. "Everybody wants to be a winner and it's such a great feeling. It's so exciting to come to these games and watch."
Fitch takes on Lake
Next up for the Falcons (15-9) is a third game against Federal League rival Uniontown Lake (24-3).
"Our first game against Lake was a great game -- 0-0 until the sixth inning," Fitch senior third baseman Andrea Lucente said. "Then they put some hits together and scored four runs.
"We consider ourselves unstoppable right now," Lucente said. "We have our eyes on the prize."
The Lake-Fitch winner will play the Akron Ellet (23-5)-Painesville Riverside (21-2) winner.
In Div. III, Mooney (18-8) and LaBrae (13-6) have fewer victories than their regional opponents and escaped close calls in the district semifinals. Both teams hope that playing elevated competition has prepared them well for this week.
At the South Range Sports Complex, Mooney edged United, 7-6, then romped over Columbiana, 10-0. Dana Palazzo's three-run double was a key hit for the Cardinals.
Beat Champion in district
In Orwell, Chad Kiser's Vikings (13-6) avenged two one-run Trumbull Athletic Conference losses to Champion by edging the Golden Flashes, 2-0, in eight innings. The Higgins twins -- Lindsey and Stepfanie -- combined to pitch the shutout against the 2004 state semifinalists.
"We've lost five games by one runs," Kiser said. "When you lose those close ones, it's easy to get down on yourself. Our girls have believed since the first time we played them that we are good enough to beat them."
In the district final, the Vikings avenged two league losses to Newton Falls with a 9-5 triumph.
Wednesday, Mooney plays Burton Berkshire (22-6) at 5 p.m. at Massillon's Genshaft Park. Thursday at 5 p.m. at the same complex, LaBrae will face Wellington (21-5).
In Div. IV, Western Reserve will make its first trip to the Kent State University regional to face Bellaire St. John Central Catholic (25-2).
Baseball
Three area baseball teams remain alive in the state tournament, but only two can advance to state competition. That's because Mooney and Champion (both 22-4) are competing Friday in the Massillon regional at Washington High School.
Steve Leslie's Cardinals will face Sullivan Black River (12-13) Friday at 2 p.m. Three hours later, the Golden Flashes will play Rootstown (23-4). The winners will meet Saturday at noon.
In Div. II, Rich Murray's Poland Bulldogs (16-9) will play Mentor Lake Catholic Friday at 2 p.m. at Hudson High.
Track
Regional tournaments for track and field athletes begin Wednesday when the Div. II athletes compete at Ravenna and the Div. III athletes travel to Navarre near Canton.
Their finals are set on Friday.
The Div. I track and field competition will be held Thursday and Saturday at Fitch Falcon Stadium.
williams@vindy.com