Western Reserve's season ends, 2-0

Bellaire St. John's pitcher Meghan Johnson improved to 22-1.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
KENT -- Western Reserve High's first appearance in the Division IV regional softball tournament was a short one, but the Blue Devils made their presence known.
Taking on high-powered Bellaire St. John Central, the Blue Devils missed a couple of opportunities and lost 2-0 to the Fighting Irish Thursday at Kent State University.
St. John Central came into the contest with a 25-2 record, and senior pitcher Meghan Johnson was 21-1 with 224 strikeouts and just eight walks this season. Johnson had 14 shutouts, four no-hitters and a perfect game to her credit.
But the Blue Devils still held their own and if it wasn't for a couple of defensive plays by the Irish the outcome might have been different.
Western Reserve (18-7) was trailing 1-0 in the top of the fourth inning. With two outs and a runner on first base, McKenzie Mowery drilled a line drive single to left field.
The ball was hit very hard and it appeared it was going to get past St. John's left fielder Betsie Smith, but she backhanded the ball and held the runners at first and second, and Johnson eventually pitched her way out of the jam.
"That play just might have been the difference in the game," Western Reserve coach Joe Serensky said. "If that ball gets past the left fielder it goes to the fence and we get one run and a runner on third and anything could happen.
Defensive praise
"That's a very good team, they were scoring all kind of runs against everybody this year and we held them to two runs," Serensky said.
Blue Devils senior pitcher Katie Harmon just about matched Johnson pitch for pitch. Johnson allowed four hits and struck out only two, while Harmon allowed five hits and fanned five.
The difference was that St. John's hits came at opportune times and the Irish also scored on unearned run in the fourth inning.
"We played a very good team today," St. John coach Jerry Magistri said. "Their pitcher is a tough one, she kept us off-balance most of the game and if it wasn't for that great play by Betsie [Smith] in the fourth this game might have turned in another direction."
Serensky didn't think his players were intimidated by Johnson's statistics.
"She's a great pitcher and she kept us off balance all game, but I don't think she intimidated us," Serensky said. "I think that it was more that we were a little nervous playing in our first regional."
Double plays
The Irish also turned two double plays, both times the ball was hit back to Johnson, who fired to Ashley Marinacci at short who threw to Jenna Vavra at first.
"I don't think we had a double play against us all season long and we have two in the regionals," Serensky said.
"It was a great experience for these kids and I'm sure our program will grow from it," he added.
St. John gave Johnson the lead in the second inning when with one out Ellie Swartz singled, but then was forced at second by Loraine Skorich.
Amber Irwin then drilled a double into the left-center field gap scoring Skorich.
The other St. John run came in the fourth when Skorich walked to lead off the inning and was sacrificed to second by Irwin. Jenna Vavra grounded out with Skorich moving to third and then Smith reached on an error, scoring Skorich.
"We didn't do some things we should have done today," Serensky said. "We didn't get the bunt down a couple of times and we didn't take advantage of getting our leadoff hitter on base."
St. John Central will meet Maplewood Saturday at noon in the championship game.
mollica@vindy.com