Sunday, July 27, 2008
“We are disappointed because we let a game get away that we should have won.”
Joe Gabriele
Ohio Magic coach
The team of 16-year-olds from Prague was behind, 2-0, after three innings.
BOARDMAN — A four-run sixth inning was the difference Saturday as the Czech Republic team posted a 5-2 victory over Boardman Ohio Magic.
The Czechs and Magic 16-year-old teams were playing an opening-round game in the PONY National Championship at the Fields of Dreams.
The contest, scheduled for seven innings, was stopped at the end of the sixth, because of a 75 minute time limit.
The team from Prague, which was behind 2-0 at the end of the third inning, scored a run in the fourth as Ludmila singled, stole second and third and raced home on a groundout.
Katerina Podzimkova, technical manager of Czech Republic, said, “I am pleased the way are girls responded, they did a good job coming back. We made a few mistakes but that’s OK.”
“We’ve been playing softball for the past three months, said Podzimkova. “The girls get along well together.”
She said that they have been playing softball since they were 10 years old.
She said that Czech Republic reached the nationals three years ago, playing in a field of 120 teams to finish 32nd.
Ohio Magic took its lead in the bottom of the third inning after Shayla DeCapito reached first base on a bunt single, then stole second.
Julie Olbrych singled and DeCapito advanced to third.
DeCapito was out on a fielder’s choice. Olbrych and Brooke Meenachan scored when Alex DiDomenico doubled.
Three Ohio Magic errors, a wild pitch and singles by Natalie Korcova Broukalova produced the four runs for Czech Republic in the sixth inning. Broukalova finished with three singles and Korcova hit two.
“We are disappointed because we let a game get away that we should have won,” said Ohio Magic (22-11) coach Joe Gabriele. “Those three errors really hurt us.”
DiDomenico, the losing pitcher scattered six hits, with eight strikeouts.
A traveling team, Boardman Ohio Magic has been together for the past five years.
Gabriele said that that Czech Republic team was coming to his house for a cookout after the game.
Ohio Magic plays today at 9:40 a.m. and 2:40 p.m. Gabriele says the team will bounce back and hopefully play for a high bracket positions.
There are four teams in each of the 16 pools and they all play three games and then move into brackets for three more games, with the winner of each bracket moving on to single elimination competition, with the championship contest Thursday.