Poland's run in seventh wins it

The Bulldogs' Julia Johnson singled home the only run of the game against Canfield.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
POLAND -- Anytime Poland and Canfield get together on the softball field it's usually going to be a pretty good game.
Monday night was no exception.
Junior Julia Johnson drilled a single to center field, scoring pinch-runner Ashley Tadla with the game's only run in the bottom of the seventh inning of Poland's 1-0 victory over the Cardinals.
Poland improved to 17-3 (10-1 in the Metro Athletic Conference), while the loss was the first in league play for Canfield (16-3, 6-1).
First try stopped
It took two tries for the Bulldogs to score the winning run. Designated player Jenna Susany opened the seventh with high bouncing single over third base. Amanda Reardon came on to pinch run and was sacrificed to second by Amanda Gittings.
Senior Ciera Urichich then singled to center and Poland coach Reid Lamport waved Reardon home. But Canfield center-fielder Courtney Rothbauer made a perfect throw, nailing Reardon at the plate for the second out.
Urichich, who went to second on the throw, was lifted for Tadla and Johnson followed with a line drive to center and this time Tadla beat the throw.
Lamport said he had no thoughts of holding up Tadla.
"She wasn't going to do me any good on third base and it would have taken two perfect throws in a row and that didn't happen," Lamport said.
Pitchers' duel
A couple of sophomores, Liz Maher of Poland and Lauren Sulick of Canfield, were locked up in a pitchers' duel for six innings.
Maher struck out seven and walked just one while allowing six hits, while Sulick, who had a two-hitter going until the seventh, finished with five strikeouts and one walk.
"They both pitched very well, but that was probably the best Liz has pitched since she joined the program," Lamport said.
Canfield threatened in the top half of the seventh as sophomore Tricia Bettura, who led the Cardinals with three hits, singled to lead off.
Sophomore Brittany Danilov followed with an infield single that bounced off the leg of Maher. But then the young pitcher settled down and retired the next three batters to get out of the inning.
"I was never nervous or anything after those first two hits," Maher said. "I was just hitting my spots and we got out of the jam.
"Everything was working well today and I was really pumped up, after all this was Canfield and you are always ready for Canfield," Maher added.
First game-winner
When asked how may game-winning hits she has to her credit, Johnson promptly put up one finger.
"That was the first," she said. "I really wasn't looking for anything special. I was just trying to keep my head on the ball because I've been having trouble doing that lately.
"The pitch was right down the middle and I just took a good cut at it," Johnson said.
Canfield coach Ronie Haurin gave credit to the Bulldogs.
"They came through when they needed to and we couldn't. Give them the credit they deserve," Haurin said.
"We just didn't hit the ball today the way we have been, but then we haven't seen pitching like we saw today," she added.
"We still have another game with Poland, so we have another chance."
mollica@vindy.com