’Dogs’ day: Poland rolls past Field 7-1 Right fielder Emma Brenoel played a big part in the Bulldogs’ victory.

By TOM WILLIAMS

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

AKRON — Playing a position that often gets less respect than Rodney Dangerfield, Poland High right fielder Emma Brenoel turned in a performance in Tuesday’s regional semifinal game that a shortstop could envy.

Against Field (23-3), the Poland junior made five putouts, including all three in the third inning.

At the plate batting in the sixth spot, Brenoel reached base three times and scored twice in Poland’s 7-1 triumph at Firestone Stadium, the Bulldogs’ first Division II regional victory in four years.

“That’s why she’s first-team [Metro Athletic Conference],” Poland coach Reid Lamport said. “When we see that ball hit to right field, we just breathe a sigh of relief because we know Emma is going to do whatever she as to to make that play. She’s a shortstop playing right field.”

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Saturday at noon, Poland (22-6), playing in its sixth regional in seven seasons, will play the winner of today’s Akron Hoban (19-1)-Perry (19-6) semifinal for a state berth.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Brenoel said. “I want to go to state. It feels good to come back here and show we can win.”

Poland’s last appearance at state was in 2001 when the Bulldogs lost the Div. II title game. The Bulldogs earned regional trips from 2002-05 before losing to Ashtabula Edgewood in the district final a year ago.

“It’s not an easy road to the regional and obviously a difficult road out,” Lamport said. “Liz [Maher] pitched a solid game and we had some timely hits.”

Maher (11-6) tossed a four-hitter and struck out four.

“Everything was working and I was real loose because of the hot weather,” Maher said. “We played our hearts out, knowing that every game might be our last.”

Good production

Lamport praised the lower part of his batting order — Brenoel, Amanda Gittings, Allyson Kennedy and Jenna Medina.

“We got great production out of the bottom four spots of our lineup in the district games and it carried through,” Lamport said. “Some of those girls have caught fire.”

The Bulldogs grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second inning after Jenna Susany and Brenoel singled. Gittings and Medina contributed RBI singles off Field freshman Tabitha Murray.

“It was right down the middle,” Gittings said of the pitch she hit into a grounder. “I was pretty sure the run would come in, but I wasn’t sure I’d get to first.”

With the Bulldogs ahead 2-1, Kennedy doubled and scored in the fourth inning. The Bulldogs batted around in the sixth inning to score four runs, with Medina and Allie Patton driving home two apiece.

“Putting that four-spot up in the sixth inning just took all the wind out of their sails,” Lamport said. “When you have to get six against a pitcher like Liz, that’s not an easy task.

“For our seniors, it was our third time on this field but it was the first for Field,” Lamport said. “So you could see where our experience paid off.”

Brenoel agreed with Lamport that the Bulldogs’ impressive schedule (Canfield twice, North Canton Hoover, Keystone LaGrange) is a reason they continue to play.

“The two teams that made us better the most are Canfield and Struthers,” said Brenoel, explaining that the Wildcats are a big rival. “We know all of them and they were good this year.”

Brenoel’s first putout of the third inning had Poland’s coaching staff concerned. Brenoel made a diving catch of a line drive by Lauren Feciuch and came up hopping in the infield.

“I tripped over [second baseman] Amanda [Gittings],” Brenoel said. “It hurt but we always do that — we’re very graceful, we go with the flow.”

She bounced back to catch fly balls hit by Arielle Kenyon and Murray to end the inning.

williams@vindy.com