Ursuline, Struthers post softball shutouts

Cori Pavlicko pitched a six-hitter in Lowellville’s 6-5 win over Sebring.

NEWTON FALLS — Casey Lower pitched a one-hitter with seven strikeouts and one walk and Nikka Bonamase slugged a grand slam in the sixth inning, to lead the Ursuline High softball team to a 9-0 victory over Newton Falls Tuesday in the season opener for both teams.

Lower retired the first 17 batters of the game before her no-hit bid was broken up by Jessica Connell’s single in the seventh inning with no outs.

Ursuline’s offense also was able to benefit from 10 walks.

Struthers 5, Liberty 0

STRUTHERS — Ellen Becker tossed a two-hitter and struck out seven to lead the Wildcats.

Halie Michin Skook and Sam Ditmin each had two hits, while Ditmin also drove in two runs for Struthers.

Lowellville 6, Sebring 5

SEBRING — Cori Pavlicko pitched a six-hitter with nine strikeouts and two walks and also hit two singles, to lead Lowellville (1-1).

The Rockets scored two runs on walks in the fourth inning for the winning margin in the Inter Tri-County League Tier 2 game.

Chantel Fox had a double and two singles and Emily Dickens two doubles to lead Sebring (1-1).

The Trojans opened with five runs in the first inning before Lowellville scored four in the second to cut the lead to one.

In a game played Monday Sebring defeated the Rockets 3-2 scoring the winning run in the seventh inning. The Rocked committed 10 errors in the contest. Brooke Pallozzi and Kayla Maszczak each had two singles for the Rockets. Dani Seidel had a single and an RBI for Sebring.

North Canton Hoover 6, Howland 1

HOWLAND — North Canton Hoover scored three times in the first inning to defeat Howland.

Jessica Simpson allowed just two hits and struck out 11 in getting the victory. Megan Lilley and Erin Riccardi had two hits each for the winners.

Howland’s two singles were by Abby Nicholas and Katie Peoples.

Minerva 3, West Branch 2

MINERVA — Amanda Green singled home the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to lead Minerva past West Branch.

Katie Sellaroli had two of West Branch’s five hits, while Caitlin Russell, Abby Wallbrown and Laura Schaeffer added the others.

Erin Hill and Kim Caruso combined to limit Minerva to four hits, but the two walked nine batters.

Steubenville 12, Beaver Local 10

LISBON — Steubenville scored 10 times in the third inning and then held off Beaver Local.

Tiara Snyder had a home run and a triple for the Big Red. Beaver Local tied the game 10-10 with a six-run fourth inning. Sammi Cianni had three hits, while Lori Deem, Katie Smith and Brittany Barrett all added two hits for Beaver Local.

Baseball

NEW MIDDLETOWN — Todd Kibby pitched a one-hitter with 12 strikeouts and four walks while catcher Ronnie Bovo slugged a solo homer and run-scoring single, to lead Springfield to a 2-0 win over Mineral Ridge in the season-opening game for both teams.

Kibby’s no-hit bid was broken up by Dom Armeni with a one-out single in the seventh in the ITCL Tier One game.