Hoover hands Cards a heartbreaker

Canfield came up one run short against one of Ohio's top teams.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
AKRON -- Against the team regarded by many as the best in Ohio, Canfield High's most accomplished team came up just one run short.
Debbie Warner's RBI single in the fourth inning was the difference in Saturday's dramatic pitcher's duel between North Canton Hoover sophomore Jessica Simpson and Canfield sophomore Lauren Sulick.
Warner's hit to center field scored McKenna Russ from second base in the Division I regional softball final.
The Vikings (26-2) made that run hold up to advance to their first state berth since 1999 with the 1-0 victory over the Cards at the University of Akron's Lee Jackson Field.
In the five innings she pitched, Sulick gave up four hits, walked one and struck out four Vikings. But she needed 93 pitches to get through five frames.
Teammate Tricia Bettura relieved her in the sixth inning, retiring the side.
The Vikings' Simpson allowed four hits over seven innings, striking out nine Cardinals and walking none.
"That's the best pitcher we've seen," first-year Canfield coach Ronie Haurin said. "She was faster than anybody.
"I thought we'd come in hitting a lot better," Haurin said. "Defensively, we were solid."
Opportunities
A brilliant play by first baseman Bryanne Halfhill in the Vikings' first at-bat kept the game scoreless. With one out, Hoover's Abbey Lindeman singled and Russ walked.
Sarah Gerber hit a hard smash to Halfhill, whose slide allowed her to tip the ball to second baseman Lauren McGivern. McGivern's toss back to Halfhill retired Gerber and Warner's groundout stranded two Vikings.
In the fourth inning, Russ led off with a bunt single and Gerber's sacrifice bunt moved her into scoring position to set up Warner.
"Were we surprised? No, we knew that they have some good athletes," said Hoover coach Jerry Goodpasture of the Cards. "We had a pretty good idea of what we were up against.
"We knew what both of their pitchers throw and the top of the batting order -- McGivern -- was strong. But knowing it [is one thing] and defensing it is another."
Scoring threats
The Cardinals had two scoring threats against the Vikings. Sulick led off the second inning with a double over right fielder Lindeman's head.
After Simpson struck out Bettura, courtesy runner Dana Elias reached third base on Brittany Danilov's groundout. Simpson escaped the jam by striking out Halfhill.
In the seventh inning, Bettura hit a one-out single. During Danilov's groundout, the Cards gambled by sending courtesy runner Elias to third. Ali Lindeman's relay to Erin Riccardi ended the game.
Two Canfield senior starters are entering their final week: McGivern and outfielder Ashley Bleggi.
"I feel bad that we're losing some good seniors, but we have a promising future," Haurin said.
Like Sulick, starters Bettura, Halfhill, Brittany Danilov, Courtney Rothbauer, Melissa West and Rachel Melewski are sophomores.
"They, too, have a lot of sophomores, and I'd say there is a good chance they'll be here next year," Goodpasture said.
Despite the loss, the Cardinals aren't finished as they have three regular-season games to play, including Tuesday's game against Poland at Canfield that most likely will determine the Metro Athletic Conference championship.
The Bulldogs and Cardinals each have one league loss. Poland has a 19-year streak of winning or sharing a league crown.
williams@vindy.com