Getting a swing at title

Ingalls and Lower lead Ursuline.

By TOM WILLIAMS

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

AKRON — Three innings into the Ursuline High softball team’s first state appearance, the biggest problem the Irish faced was overcoming frustration from self-inflicted mistakes.

Then in their fourth at-bat, the Irish bats roared to life against Sandy Valley ace Allysa Lancaster (20-6) who had allowed just one run in the Cardinals’ six tournament games.

Sparked by the first of Sarah Ingalls’ three hits, the Irish turned five singles and a sacrifice fly into four runs to seize control of Friday’s Division III state semifinal game at Firestone Stadium

An inning later, Ingalls’ three-run homer over the left-field fence capped Ursuline’s 7-1 victory that sent the Irish (27-6) into today’s state final against defending state champion Lakewood (29-4) from Hebron. The game will be played at 4 p.m. at Firestone.

“It’s really exciting,” junior pitcher Casey Lower (26-6) said. “I don’t know what to say — it’s indescribable.”

Lower tossed a four-hitter, striking out eight batters and walking one. Alyse Bowling’s solo homer in the seventh produced the Cardinals’ run.

“She was on target today,” said Ingalls, her catcher.

Asked what she felt when the final out was recorded, Lower said, “almost shock and awe that we made it. When you actually do it, it’s amazing.”

Ursuline coach Mike Kernan said Lower’s presence helped keep the team cool despite two early defensive errors.

“Knowing Casey was on the mound and that she was in control, I think that kept some pressure off of us, that’s for sure,” Kernan said.

Irish mistakes helped keep the game scoreless until the fourth inning.

Ursuline’s second-inning threat ended when baserunner Miranda Carkido ran into Cardinals shortstop Shaynna Johnson and was out for interference.

One at-bat later, Cardinals center fielder Megan Hunter made a diving catch on a ball hit by Kasey Foley then threw out Rebecca Hartz scrambling to get back to first base.

“We’ve played this type of game before and we knew that it was going to happen, we just didn’t know where,” Hartz said of the rough start. “We knew we had to keep gunning for them and we’d be OK.”

Sandy Valley coach Jill Williams said, “The longer is stayed 0-0, we knew we had a shot at it, Our defense has been tough all year long.

“I thought on paper we matched up pretty well,” Williams said. “Today, we did not hit the ball well. Their pitcher did a nice job and of course they did hit well.”

Lower said she wasn’t fazed by how Sandy Valley was dodging threats.

“My team has always come through for me,” the junior ace said. “I know I can count on them so I wasn’t worried. I just did my best to hold the other team.”

The game changed dramatically in the fourth inning when Ingalls and Anna Donko led off with singles. After Carkido bunted into a fielder’s choice, Krista Byers’ infield hit loaded the bases.

Lower singled to center for score Donko and Kelli Kolenich drove in two more runs with a base hit. Malikka Caige’s sacrifice fly brought home Lower for a 4-0 lead.

“Hitting is contagious,” Ingalls said. “Once one person hits, the hopes of the next hitter rises.”

After Hartz and Foley led off the fifth inning with singles, Ingalls put the game out of reach with a three-run homer over the left-field fence.

“I give credit to our [players] who were resilient of their own circumstances,” Kernan said. “The way we started out, the only thing I knew is that we shot ourselves in the foot so many times that we ran out of bullets. So I knew that wasn’t going to happen again.

“The kids hung in there, kept their composure, never lost sight of what they needed to do.”

Hartz said playing her final varsity game for a state crown is perfect.

“I couldn’t ask for a better way to end it,” Hartz said. “This is the best possible outcome.”

Kernan said the Irish are “up for the challenge. We know Lakewood is a great team with a great pitcher [Alissa Birkhimer]. They are well-coached.

“We know we are going to have to have our perfect game,” Kernan said.

And we’re going to have to play a little better than today if we’re going to win a game against a team like that.”

williams@vindy.com