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DiDomenico dominant in win
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Boardman's pitcher Alex DiDomenico (1) pitches to Madison player in 2nd inning at Field of Dreams, May 19, 2009
By John Kovach
Her 17 strikeouts helped Boardman blank Madison in a Division I district semifinal.
BOARDMAN — Alex DiDomenico is only a sophomore but already the Boardman High pitcher throws the ball as fast as some baseball pitchers.
She was throwing very fast early in Tuesday’s game against Madison in a Division I district semifinal at the Field of Dreams, and then really began whipping in her pitches toward the later innings to overwhelm the Blue Streaks’ batters.
“I felt strong. I was picking it up toward the end,” said DiDomenico, who fired a two-hitter with 17 strikeouts and also blasted a two-run homer over the fence in the sixth inning, to lead Boardman to a 4-0 victory and into today’s district final.
The Spartans (20-7) will square off with Ashtabula Lakeside today at 4:30 p.m. at the Field of Dreams in the district showdown.
Lakeside advanced with a 1-0 win over North Royalton Tuesday, also at the Field of Dreams, behind Christina Hutchison’s five-hitter and nine strikeouts.
DiDomenico and Hutchison are expected to return to the mound today to square off in the district showdown.
DiDomenico, a strong and athletic player, said she only has two main pitches — a fastball and riser — and she was throwing both very effectively.
“My main ball is my riser ball [and] my riser breaks up and in,” said DiDomenico, whose speed and breaking pitches had Madison players swinging at air and sometimes late to record her 17 strikeouts.
She had 18 strikeouts in a game last season. The 17 tied her season high.
“I have been pitching since I was eight years old,” she said. “I have had a lot of experience and instruction.”
Boardman coach Mike Trell said DiDomenico had everything going for her.
“Her fastball has been her best pitch all year. Her riser also is a key. She is able to keep the hitters off balance,” said Trell. “Her changeup was working for her. She got a couple of strikeouts on her changeup.”
Madison (18-7) coach Jim Pinelli said DiDomenico “did an outstanding job. [Our pitcher Brit Hinz] did a good job but didn’t get any support earlier.
“She was putting the ball over the plate, and one of them went over the fence [DiDomenico’s homer].”
Hinz finished with an eight-hitter with seven strikeouts.
Pinelli also noted that “17 strikeouts are way too many. We haven’t had too many offensive breakouts this year, but got 18 wins.”
Boardman also was helped by three Madison errors, two of which paved the way for two Spartan runs.
Brooke Meenachan and Shannon Morrow also were offensive standouts for Boardman. Meenachan had three singles and Morrow two, and both were involved in Boardman’s other two runs, one each coming in the fourth and sixth innings.
In the fourth, Meenachan opened the inning with a single, went to second on an error on the play, and scored on Morrow’s single and another error.
In the sixth with one out, Meenachan singled and went on second on an error on the play, stole third and scored on Morrow’s single to make it 2-0.
Then DiDomenico unloaded her long blast to clear Morrow off the bases and make it a three-run inning and 4-0 advantage.
“[DiDomenico] is a strong hitter. She has had three or four home runs this year,” said Trell.
Jules Brotzman broke up DiDomenico’s no-hit bid in the sixth inning with a single, and then Kate Thompson added a single in the seventh to account for Madison’s two hits.
Pinelli said his team has lacked sufficient offense this season.
“We have struggled offensively and] have to shorten up our bat and swing,” said Pinelli, who is optimistic about next year.
“The good thing is we have eight [players] coming back next year.”
kovach@vindy.com