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Champion shuts out Regina for Div. III championship
By Jim flick
JEFFERSON
Champion smacked two home runs and shut out South Euclid Regina, 4-0, on Wednesday to capture a Division III district softball championship.
Champion (26-1) coach Cheryl Weaver said she felt confident from the moment her players got off the bus at JAGS Field.
“For a team to hit two home runs in a district game, that’s wonderful,” Weaver added.
Weaver’s confidence in her team rose significantly in the bottom of the first.
After lead-off hitter Lindsey Swipas walked and Hayley McAllister reached base on an error, cleanup hitter Tawny Rogers gave Champion a 3-0 lead when she smacked a homer to left center.
It was her third homer in two district games.
Leading off the third inning, Hayley McAllister hit the Flashes’ second home run of the games.
Besides scoring runs, Champion’s strong pitching and defense were keys to the victory.
Morgan White (11-0) pitched a complete game to remain undefeated.
She struck out 10 and repeatedly pitched out of jams.
In the top of the fourth, Regina batters singled and walked. But the threat ended when Swipas caught a high fly to left.
Regina placed two runners on base with no outs in the fifth. After a sacrifice bunt, White struck out a hitter. The threat ended when first baseman Alison Sorber fielded a grounder and recorded the out unassisted.
“We dug ourselves a hole,” said John Schweickert, the Royals’ coach. “We gave ourselves some chances to dig out of that hole. But we just couldn’t get a hit.”
One reason Regina batters couldn’t collect a hit was Rogers, Champion’s shortstop. Rogers made an outstanding defensive play in the top of the seventh that helped put a damper on Regina’s last hope. A ground ball smashed up the middle seemed bound for center field, but Rogers darted to her left, snagged the ball the threw to first base for the out.
White said the early lead allowed her to “just do what I had to do.”