Reserve’s Srock does a lot in win

Jackson-Milton led until the fourth inning.

By JIM FLICK

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

CORTLAND — Led by sophomore pitcher Elizabeth Srock, Western Reserve High defeated Jackson-Milton, 7-5 Thursday to capture the Division IV district softball championship at Lakeview High Thursday.

The victory earned Western Reserve (19-9) a berth in the regional semifinals next Wednesday at Kent State against Strasburg.

Jackson-Milton (17-9) led until the bottom of the fourth inning, even though the Bluejays collected only two hits in the game. Western Reserve aided its rival by committing three errors.

“It’s terrific we won,” Western Reserve coach Joe Serensky said, “but I was disappointed in our defense. We must improve our defense for regionals.”

Pitcher’s recap

Srock’s play was a key to the Blue Devils’ win. She pitched a complete game, striking out 12. She also had had three hits, including two doubles, knocking in a run and scoring two more.

Srock played well even though she recently received treatment for tendinitis.

“This was a big day for her,” Serensky said. “She battled through. She showed us what courage looks like.

“Once she settles into a groove, she’s fine,” he added. “But today it took her about three innings to settle down.”

McKenzie Mowery, Western Reserve’s senior shortstop, went 2-for-4, including a double, and knocked in two runs. Third baseman Ellie Sanders, a junior, went for 2-for-3 with a triple, and senior first baseman Erika Goddard knocked in two runs with a single.

Jackson-Milton scored three runs in the second inning to take a 4-3 lead and pitcher Krista Kiraly kept the Bluejays in control until the bottom of the fourth, when Western Reserve’s Mowery doubled to left, driving home two runs.

Western Reserve’s lead grew to 6-4 in the fifth when Sanders tripled, then scored on a passed ball. The Devils scored again in the inning on a bases-loaded fielder’s choice to make it 7-4.

Lead cut

Carrie Fiol walked to lead off the top of the seventh for Jackson-Milton, and the senior third baseman came around to score on a sacrifice fly to cut the Bluejays’ deficit to 7-5. Kortney Gherardi reached base on an error and freshman catcher Cat Keck walked to give Jackson-Milton two runners on base with two outs, but Srock retired the last batter on an infield grounder.

“I had a group of kids who fought ’til the end,” said Jackson-Milton Coach Kelly Snowden. “They never thought they’d lose until the last out.”