Fans see the glass half full despite dismal days

The Irish will play West Salem Northwestern for a state berth on Saturday.

By Tom Williams

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

MASSILLON — During Thursday’s rain-interrupted Division III regional semifinal against the 2008 state runners-up, Ursuline High junior pitcher Casey Lower tossed a two-hitter, striking out seven batters in a 2-1 victory over Wellington.

Her coach, Michael Kernan, thinks Genshaft Park (site of Saturday’s regional against West Salem Northwestern) hasn’t seen Lower’s best.

“[Despite] throwing a two-hitter, she seemed out of her game today,” Kernan said. “She didn’t seem herself, whether it was the weather ... and that was a great ballclub.”

Kernan was referring to Lower’s four walks that included back-to-back passes to Wellington’s Callie McConnell and Jackie Bankston in the fourth inning.

Lower escaped that jam when Courtney Echstenkamper hit a sacrifice bunt and Shelby Monschein struck out.

“She got the job done out there on the mound against a very good softball team,” Kernan said.

Lower said the heavy rain that created a 90-minute delay seven pitches into the game wasn’t a factor.

“It’s spring in Ohio — it’s not really an unusual condition,” Lower said of the wet field. “We’ve played in it before and all ballplayers know how, know what to do. It really doesn’t change anything.

“The game is the game, whether it’s raining or sunny.”

The game was on hold during the Dukes’ first at-bat. Lower recorded two outs then threw two balls to Melissa Rennie when a deluge hit the field.

When the game resumed, Lower walked Rennie then struck out McConnell.

Both Ursuline (25-6) runs were scored in the bottom of the first inning. Kasey Foley’s opposite-field single was followed by Sarah Ingalls’ base hit.

A passed ball by Dukes (21-7) catcher Rennie put Foley on third and courtesy runner Erin Vukovich on second.

Another passed ball brought Foley home.

“Coach said, ‘Foley, if it’s a passed ball, get home,’ ” said the junior first baseman who was a little surprised. “I haven’t gone before so ...

“But as soon as I saw it get past, I was off,” Foley said.

A wild pitch by Dukes starter Cassie Gleisner brought Vukovich in for a 2-0 lead.

“We knew it was going to be battle,” Kernan said. “We had a couple of base hits early and maybe they weren’t loose, I’m not sure. A couple of passed balls got our runs in and that’s all Casey Lower needed today.”

The Dukes finally touched Lower for a run in the fifth inning following Meagan Auble’s lead-off double. Pinch-runner Maddison Pickworth came home on an Irish error that put Brooke Lewis at second base with one out.

“The worse the situation, the more focused you get, I think,” Lower said of her method of handling pressure, “and I know I can count on my team to make the plays behind me.”

After Gleisner walked, Lower faced Rennie and her .494 batting average. After she fouled off four strike two pitches, Rennie looked at strike three. McConnell flew out to center fielder Rebecca Hartz to end the inning.

“They seemed to get the momentum, they had a couple of plays go their way offensively,” Kernan said. “I definitely was getting a little nervous. I give the girls credit for fighting to stay in there and holding on for the W.”

In the Dukes’ final two at-bats, only one batter reached base on an error.

Saturday’s game means that seniors Hartz and Miranda Carkido will miss their commencement ceremony.

Asked if anyone felt bad about the seniors not being able to hear “Pomp and Circumstance,” Foley insisted no.

“Ruined? We didn’t ruin their graduation, we enhanced their graduation,” Foley said.

williams@vindy.com