43
Hartz burns Flashes
Photo
Ursuline's Anna Donko (20) and Miranda Carkido (15) at the Friday game in Lisbon against Champion, May 22, 2009.
Photo
Ursuline Kasey Foley (18) slides into 3rd base to be safe when Champion Megan Frantz (30) can't get her out in the 2nd inning at Friday's game in Lisbon, May 22, 2009.
Photo
Ursuline's Casey Lower (22) pitches to Champion at Friday's game in Lisbon, May 22, 2009.
DISTRICT COMPETITION
Ursuline’s speedster scores winning run
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
LISBON — Anything but shy and retiring, Ursuline High softball senior Rebecca “Red” Hartz knows how to back up her words.
With the Irish and Champion tied going to the bottom of the eighth inning, Hartz made pitcher Casey Lower a promise.
“Red made a deal with me, actually,” Lower said. “She said she would score if I gave her three more outs.”
Lower complied. Despite a strong threat by the Golden Flashes, Lower kept them from scoring, sending the game to the ninth.
“I knew I had to live up to that because she has worked very hard this year,” Hartz said.
Hartz bunted Lindsey Swipas’ first pitch sharply to shortstop Tawny Rogers. Her speed inspired a wild throw. On the next pitch, Kelli Kolenich laid down a sacrifice bunt to third baseman Megan Frantz. Hartz noticed third base uncovered and raced to the bag.
“As I was approaching second, I could see nobody there and my coach [Michael Kernan] waving me through,” Hartz said.
On the next pitch, Lower bunted to first baseman Morgan White who threw to Ashley Rable covering first. When the ball left White’s hand, Hartz broke for home, beating the relay to catcher Katie Saluga for the go-ahead run.
Lower retired the final three Champion batters to seal Ursuline’s 3-2 victory in Friday’s Division III district final at the Dickey Complex and give Ursuline its fourth consecutive regional berth.
“It was an incredible feeling,” Hartz said. “We’ve been in these tight games all year so to finally [pull through] and get the win meant a lot.”
Kernan said Hartz’s speed “has won us a lot of games this year. I’m very happy for her to make a big play in a game of this caliber.
“We had a great game that could have gone either way,” Kernan said. “We were having troubles with [Swipas]. She seemed to get a little stronger and a little more confident. I think that’s where we were fortunate where we had that little ball and our speed going. That ended up winning it for us.”
Champion coach Cheryl Weaver wasn’t surprised that their third tournament game with Ursuline since 2006 was tight.
“It’s always a one-run, [or] two-run ball game,” said Weaver who guided Champion to state appearances in 2004 and 2006. “It came down to what you know you can’t do when it gets to this point in the game because it’s going to burn you big time.”
The Irish (24-5) jumped ahead 2-0 in the second inning after Hartz reached on an error. Kolenich tripled her home then scored when Lower sacrificed and inspired another error.
The Flashes (19-6) responded immediately in their second at-bat. After Rogers singled, Haley McAllister reached base on an error by Lower. After Rable sacrificed, Taylor Petersal’s clutch two-out single scored Rogers. A wild throw home allowed McAllister to tie the game.
From there, the pitchers took over. Swipas, who tossed a three-hitter, gave up no base hits after the second inning. She struck out nine, walked one and hit one batter.
“The girls fought,” Weaver said. “Lindsey did such a wonderful job. We knew that they small-ball it. They push it hard and you’ve got to make the plays because they are fast.”
Lower scattered six hits, striking out 11 and walking none.
“She’s a battler,” Kernan said.
The Flashes’ best chance late came in the eighth inning when White led off with a single and took second on Saluga’s sacrifice. Lower retired Rogers on a foul pop then struck out McAllister to set up Hartz’s heroics.
Ursuline will play Wellington on May 28 at 5 p.m. at Massillon’s Genshaft Park. Wellington defeated Columbia, 1-0, to advance.
“This feels really good, but we definitely want to go further this year,” Lower said, reflecting on last year’s regional semifinal loss.
Weaver reflected on the four-year careers of Rable and Saluga.
“When they were freshmen, we were at state,” said Weaver, referring to her state runner-up team. “And there’s a good chance that we don’t go there without them. Katie was the starting catcher and Ashley was out in center field for us.
“It’s probably been one of the best four-year stretches that I’ve had with them. We are going to miss them dearly.”
williams@vindy.co