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Poland romps in rematch with Tallmadge
By TOM WILLIAMS
AKRON
For three hundred and sixty one days, the Poland High softball team dealt with the bitter sting of a Division II regional final loss to Tallmadge in 2009.
Wednesday at Firestone Stadium, the Bulldogs (27-1) used their bats to pound out their pent-up frustrations, torching Tallmadge pitcher Brittany Lightel for 15 hits in a 12-2 Div. II regional semifinal victory that ended in five innings.
“This is definitely the biggest win of the year,” said sophomore third baseman Jenna Modic whose four hits included a solo homer in the fourth inning. She also scored four runs. “After last year’s heartbreaker in the regional final, everyone was just so motivated. Everyone took part.”
Sophomore pitcher Erin Gabriel was working on her second straight perfect game when Tallmadge’s Fernanda Frajia led off the fourth inning with a single. Brittany Lightel and Danielle Schaefer hit back-to-back doubles to reduce Poland’s lead to 7-2.
Those were the only hits Gabriel has allowed in four tournament games. She pitched out of the jam by striking out cleanup hitter Taylor Gershom and Brittany Buehler then retiring Kelly Connal on a comebacker to the mound.
“My teammates today had my back 100 percent,” said Gabriel (19-0) whose last loss was to Tallmadge. “I pitched not my best and .... they did amazing.
“They had my back 100 percent,” said Gabriel who struck out 11 and walked one. “They’ve had it all year but it really showed [today].”
Poland advanced to Saturday’s regional final against the winner of today’s Mentor Lake Catholic-Navarre Fairless game.
“What’s good is beating a solid program with tradition,” Bulldogs coach Reid Lamport said. “Any time we can make a statement like we did today and run-rule a pretty good team that’s only given up one run in their tournament run ... that’s pretty big.”
Gabriel, who has been receiving the lion’s share of credit for Poland’s success, was quick to praise others for limiting the Blue Devils’ opportunities.
“Adriana, over-the-back catch. I mean, c’mon — that was great,” said Gabriel of right fielder Adriana Sikora’s fifth-inning catch of a line drive by Frajia.
“Jenna went 4 for 4 at the plate,” Gabriel said. “Thank goodness for Nicole [White] getting those two runs in at the end because I definitely needed to get out of this game.”
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, White singled to scored Modic and Sikora for the 10-run margin.
“Everyone was just so ready for this game,” White said. “They all had that edge, that chip on their shoulder.”
Sikora also scored four runs and her two hits included a double. Jessica D’Apolito scored twice and hit a RBI double.
“It makes us feel so good especially because of the team we were playing,” D’Apolito said.
In last year’s game, the Blue Devils scored the only run on a walk, an error, a bunt single and bases-loaded walk. This time, four errors by the Blue Devils ignited the Bulldogs’ potent offense.