Peterson in 3-hitter, as E. Palestine hands Lisbon first setback

The Bulldogs are a game behind the Blue Devils with two league games remaining.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
EAST PALESTINE -- The Tri-County League softball championship will have to wait until the final week of the season to be settled.
Lisbon's quest for a perfect season struck a speed bump in East Palestine City Park Friday, as the hometown Bulldogs pounced on the Blue Devils for three unearned runs in the first inning.
A day after Lisbon edged East Palestine 2-1, pitcher Chelsea Peterson scattered three hits as the Bulldogs (16-5, 10-2) defeated the Blue Devils, 4-1, to remain a game behind the leaders with two league contests to go.
"Palestine beat us today because they were better than us," Lisbon (17-1, 11-1) coach Dave Crismon said. "They didn't make the mistakes, they hit the ball.
"We didn't hit and we made mistakes, and you can't do that against the good teams," Crismon said. "I thought they took it to us today, so they deserved to win."
The win tied East Palestine's record for season victories.
While admitting the victory was huge, Peterson said it was similar to last year's win over league-leading Crestview.
"We definitely came out ready to play," Peterson (12-3) said. "We talked about it in the morning and throughout the day."
Lisbon's best start still has the Blue Devils in control of their destiny. A win over Columbiana will give them a share of the title and two victories over the Clippers will give it to them outright.
"In a way, it might be a blessing in disguise," Crismon said. "We need to regroup."
For East Palestine to gain a share of its first league title, the Bulldogs need to win their two remaining league games and Lisbon must lose once.
"We're very excited and praying for Columbiana," Peterson said.
Before the title is settled, Lisbon, the top seed in the district, will play Inter-County League champion Springfield in a Division III sectional final Monday in New Middletown. Springfield is not seeded.
"That's going to be a good ball game because they have a quality team," Crismon said. "We have a lot of respect for Springfield. They have 10 seniors and they are going to be a dominant force in the tournament."
Last week, Lisbon defeated Springfield, 11-1, but didn't face Tigers ace Krista Snyder.
Downplaying the lopsided score, Crismon said, "They didn't have a lot of their [regulars] playing."
East Palestine, the district's third seed, will play at home Monday against United, a team the Bulldogs split with in the regular season.
East Palestine coach Dan McKinstry said getting the quick lead "helps us relax. It boosted our confidence and allowed [Peterson] to not worry about every pitch being on the line."
After Jesse Gamble's lead-off single, Allison McMillen reached on an error and Becky Hill singled for a 1-0 lead. Peterson's single brought in the Bulldogs' second run and Katie Browne's two-out single produced the third.
In the second inning, a walk, sacrifice bunt and single put Gamble at third base and she scored on Peterson's sacrifice fly.
The only hit off Peterson in the first six innings was by Ashley Wilson in the first.
"We played excellent defense and [Peterson] moved the ball in and out well," McKinstry said.
In the first six frames, three Blue Devils reached base. McKinstry said Peterson needed just 35 pitches to get through the first four frames.
But in the seventh inning, Peterson was tiring. With one out, Erica Simms singled then scored on Rachael Wycoff's two-out double.
williams@vindy.com