Bettura pitches Cards to chance for crown

The sophomore fired a four-hitter as Canfield beat Poland, 5-2.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CANFIELD -- Sophomore pitcher Tricia Bettura of Canfield High had the weather on her side Tuesday against Poland.
Bettura, a southpaw who loves pitching in the heat, capitalized on the 90-degree temperatures by throwing a four-hitter with five strikeouts and no walks as the Cardinals subdued the Bulldogs, 5-2, in a Metro Athletic Conference softball showdown between the two league powers.
Lauren Sulick rapped a pair of singles and drove in three runs to lead Canfield, which squared its MAC series with Poland at 1-1.
Poland, which beat Canfield in their first season meeting, 1-0, fell to 12-2 in the MAC and has completed league play.
Canfield improved to 11-1 with league games remaining against Salem today at home and at Campbell on Thursday.
A win over Salem would enable the Cardinals (24-4) to clinch a tie for the league title. Another win over Campbell would bring the crown outright and would snap Poland's (21-5) 19-year streak of winning outright or tying for first place.
Bettura is sharp again
Bettura, who entered the game with a streak of two no-hitters, retired 14 of the first 15 batters she faced and had a no-hitter going after four innings and a 5-0 lead.
Canfield scored one run in the first and fourth innings and three runs in the second.
But with two outs in the fifth, Jenna Medina beat out a bunt for Poland's first hit to spoil Bettura's no-hit bid and open the gate to Poland's two runs.
Bettura, who faced Poland for the first time, managed to throw the ball hard the entire game, but also had a great defense behind her to help when Poland began to rally.
"It was really hot. I was putting wet towels on my neck to stay cool," said Bettura (11-2). But, "I like to play in the heat. It's so much better than the cold.
"In the cold, you have to stay warm, but the warm just feels good. I threw a lot of drops and my fast ball worked pretty good."
Bettura bested Liz Maher (10-3), who gave up 11 hits and struck out four before being relieved by Medina in the fourth inning.
It was Maher who pitched the 1-0 win over Canfield in their first meeting.
Bettura keeps getting better
Canfield coach Ronie Haurin said Bettura has continued to develop throughout the season.
"Her speed has improved and she is more consistent," Haurin said. "She puts pressure on the batters. She puts the ball where she wants it."
Plus, "She is a southpaw [which] is a different look for teams," Haurin said. "You don't see too many lefty pitchers."
Haurin said her team was "hitting right from the start."
Sulick rapped a run-scoring single in the first inning while Ashley Bleggi had a two-run single while Sulick a sacrifice fly in the second inning to give Canfield a 4-0 lead.
Sulick added a run-scoring single in the fourth inning.
Jena Ervin slammed a double and single and Lauren McGivern two singles to also spark Canfield.
Poland rally squelched
Poland got both of its runs with two outs in the fifth inning on Amanda Reardon's single and an error, before Bettura put down the uprising.
Assistant coach Al Cozart of Poland, speaking for coach Reid Lamport, said Canfield's offense and defense were the differences in the game.
"They hit real well and had a good defense today. But we were hitting the ball right at everyone," said Cozart, adding, "Maher was throwing the ball well down the plate but they were hitting."
Cozart lauded Canfield.
"They are coached real well," he said. "They got two real good pitchers [Bettura and Sulick, both 11-2]."
kovach@vindy.com