Irish tough in 11-0 victory

By Ryan Jones

Ursuline softball coach Michael Kernan likes the way his team prepares.

BAZETTA — Ursuline High softball coach Michael Kernan finished his pregame speech by telling his team to take the field and to take care of business.

Kernan’s words were prophetic as his squad did just that. Juniors Anna Donko and Sarah Ingalls combined to drive in nine of Ursuline’s 11 runs and Casey Lower tossed a five-hit shutout, as the Irish defeated Steel Valley Conference rival Cardinal Mooney 11-0 on Wednesday at Candlelite Knolls.

Kernan said he wasn’t surprised by his team’s scoring outburst.

“The kids have been prepared to play in big games like this one,” he said. “We’ve seen good pitching for our first 10 games. We’ve been waiting to get in a zone at the plate and we broke out of our shell. Unfortunately for Mooney it happened today.”

Ursuline (9-2, 2-0 SVC) took a 6-0 lead after scoring five runs in the third inning. Ingalls, who went 2-for-3 with a run scored and four RBIs, scored Haley Sturtz and Rebecca Hartz when she singled up the middle to give Ursuline a 3-0 lead.

Donko, who had a game-high three hits and five RBIs, raked a double to right field that scored Kasey Foley and courtesy runner Erin Vukovich to push the lead to 5-0. Right fielder Miranda Carkido doubled home Donko to complete the inning.

Lower (9-2) was just as impressive as the Ursuline offense. The junior scattered five hits, struck out six and walked one in her complete game victory.

Kernan said Lower has started every game for the Irish and has been a model of consistency.

“She’s having a phenomenal year,” he said. “She hasn’t allowed many runs. This was one of her better wins against a good hitting team. She’s a great kid who is all about helping her team and our program; she knew what was at stake today.”

Mooney coach Mark Rinehart said the game became one of missed opportunities.

“We had a chance in the first inning to do some damage but we stranded the runners,” he said. “We had another chance in the fourth inning, and had a single that was going to score runs but the runners were stopped when we were called for interference.”

Mooney (7-3, 2-1 SVC) loaded the bases in the first and fourth innings, but came up empty.

“If we don’t play better fundamentally it’s going to be hard to win any of our big games the rest of the season,” Rinehart said. “No doubt the better team won today, and that’s probably the best Ursuline team I’ve seen.”

Kernan said his team is focused and is conscious of the goals they’ve set for the season. Last year the Irish captured a Division III district championship before losing to Akron Manchester 1-0 in regional play.

“First we’ve got to finish what we’ve started in the Steel Valley Conference,” he said. “This is one of the best teams I’ve had take the field in my eight years here. They prepare like no other team I’ve had and they go out and take care of business.”

Hartz led Ursuline with three runs, Foley has two hits and two runs and Donko smacked a solo home run to left center in the fifth inning.