Valley girls are regional champs

Boardman won two games to win the Central States Regional Junior title.

AKRON — The Boardman 13-14-Year-Old Junior League softball team won twice Wednesday to win the Central States Regional Junior League Softball tournament.

By defeating Wisconsin and Indiana, Boardman advances to next week’s Junior League World Series in Kirkland, Wash.

In the semifinal game against Wisconsin, Boardman rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the seventh inning to win, 5-3. 

With one out and no one on in the seventh, Bethany Haddle single and Shayla DeCapita was safe on a fielder’s choice. 

One out later, Brooke Meenachan singled and Alex DiDomenico followed with a two-run single.

Boardman collected seven hits. Meenachan had two with two RBIs. Nicola Gabriele had a key hit and RBI.

DiDomenico, Meenachan win

DiDomenico went the distance to gain the win. She gave up four hits while striking out five.

In the final against Indiana, Meenachan went the distance and recorded the Central Regional’s first no-hit performance in a 6-1 Boardman victory. 

Meenachan struck out four batters in facing only four batters over the minimum.

Boardman scored three runs in the fourth and three more in the seventh.

DiDomenico had two hits and one RBI. Gabriele, Vanessa Becker, Missy DeMarinis and Erin Schafer had one hit and one RBI apiece.

Teams in the Boardman’s pool in the World Series include the Eastern U.S. Champion, Western U.S. Champion, the champions from Asia and the European Champions. 

The final game will be played on Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. and televised by ESPNU.

Boardman completed pool play on Tuesday with a 4-0 record.

Boardman beats Kentucky

Boardman (the Ohio champion) defeated Kentucky, 17-1, in a five-inning contest.

Boardman scored 11 runs on 10 hits in the second inning, then scored four more in the third.

DeMarinis doubled to knock in two runs. Haddle singled to drive in two runs while Meenachan had a single, double and two RBIs. 

DiDomenico singled and scored three runs.

Julie Sokol pitched four innings, striking out four while walking none to earn the win. Schafer pitched a scoreless fifth inning, striking out two batters