Ursuline wins, 3-2, to earn state softball berth

A slow roller by Kelli Kolenich scored Krista Byers for the go-ahead run in the ninth.

By RYAN JONES

Vindicator correspondent

MASSILLON — The Ursuline High softball team advanced to the regional six times under coach Michael Kernan — twice making the regional finals — but failed to grab that elusive state tournament bid.

Not that any of those facts matter now.

With a 3-2, nine-inning triumph over West Salem Northwestern in a Division III regional final at Genshaft Park, Ursuline (26-6) clinched a spot in the state tournament for the first time in school history.

Seniors Rebecca Hartz and Miranda Carkido said they couldn’t think of a better graduation present than playing in a state semifinal game.

“Absolutely amazing,” Carkido said. “This is everything I wanted for graduation — and more.”

Hartz said a state tournament berth drove the team all season.

“This is the greatest feeling in the world,” she said. “This is exactly what we wanted. It looks like all of those early morning practices really paid off.”

With the score tied at 2 in the top of the ninth inning the Irish’s leadoff batter, Krista Byers, reached on an infield hit and advanced to second on Casey Lower’s sacrifice bunt.

Kelli Kolenich then slapped a slow roller Northwestern’s third basemen, Marisa George, who fielded the ball and fired to first, but Kolenich beat the throw by sliding head first into the bag.

Byers, who took off on contact, scored the go-ahead run from second as she beat the throw home.

“Give Kelli all the credit in the world; that play was all heart, ” he said. “Krista was coming hard the whole way from second base. She slowed down a bit at third base, but once she saw the dust and the first basemen a bit distracted she flew home.”

Northwestern (21-7) had the bottom of the ninth to answer, but Lower struck out two of the final three batters to secure the win.

The 5-foot-8 right-hander allowed four hits, walked three and struck out 15 to earn the 63rd victory of her career.

“This wasn’t just about my will to win,” Lower said. “It’s not just about winning. This team has become a family and we wanted to be together as a family for at least one more game.”

Ursuline held a 2-1 lead going into the bottom of the seventh, but Northwestern’s first two batters, Kristen Warner and Kara Koch, reached on fielding errors.

Lower struck out the next batter, but the following batter reached on an infield hit to load the bases and then Chelsie Swartzentruber earned a walk to force in a run.

“We had the game in our hands and then we had it taken from us,” Hernan said. “It was an emotional rollercoaster. The only thing I was confident about was that if anybody could get us out of that mess — it was Casey Lower.”In the top of the sixth Donko tripled and came home on Carkido’s RBI single as Ursuline took a 2-1 lead.