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Gabriel no-hits Fairless for state journey
By JON MOFFETT
AKRON
Sometimes it’s better to let a sleeping dog lie.
Unfortunately for the Fairless High softball team, an incidental plunking of Poland ace pitcher Erin Gabriel was all the provocation Poland needed in Saturday’s Division II regional final at Firestone Stadium.
The Bulldogs won 5-0 on another no-hit performance by Gabriel to advance to next week’s state tournament.
With Poland leading 1-0, Gabriel went up to bat in the bottom of the third inning and was hit on her right forearm. Many fans gasped as the right-handed pitcher tumbled to the dirt, clutching her arm.
“I was thinking ‘Oh [no], her wrist,’ ” Poland third baseman Jenna Modic said. “Her wrist has been bothering her all year.”
Gabriel, who has tendonitis in the wrist, seemed to get better after the beaning. She had six strikeouts and hit a batter prior to her at bat. But a more focused approach brought her 11 more strikeouts and a hit batter.
“The first thing [I thought after being hit] was please tell me I can still pitch,” Gabriel said. “That was the first thing that went through my head. I just wanted to get back out on the mound.”
Modic, who would’ve relieved Gabriel had she not been able to continue, said the rest of the team used the incident as extra incentive.
“She definitely has strong determination,” Modic said. “But we all do. We all come out here, and if something happens to one of our teammates, it just boosts all of us up.
“We’re family, and if someone hurts your family, you want to hurt them back,” Modic said.
Gabriel said the team is “all together” and a bunch of “sisters.”
When on the mound, Gabriel was a force. Excellent pitching and a solid defense have been the status quo for the Bulldogs (29-1) all season. And Gabriel has tossed three no-hitters and a perfect game in five postseason appearances.
Poland will play New Concored John Glenn High in the state semifinal Thursday at 12:30 p.m. Firestone Stadium will host the event.
Modic had two RBIs and scored a run on two hits. She also led the team in post-game cartwheels with one.
Bulldogs coach Reid Lamport said the state appearance is way past due.
“It’s been nine years; nine long years,” said Lamport of his other trip to state. “But it feels very good. These girls deserve it. Everyone one of them has worked very hard to get there, and we’re certainly excited.”
To celebrate the trip to the state tournament, the Bulldogs celebrated the only way they’ve known this year. Forget Disney World, they’re going to Wendy’s.
“We got to Wendy’s after every game where we have to travel,” Modic said. “It’ just been our place that we’ve gone all year; we haven’t gone anywhere else. When we were on spring break, for lunch every day we went to Wendy’s.”
There is a little bit of a mystery as to why the junior bacon cheeseburger and a Frosty is the meal of choice on game day. Lamport didn’t have an answer.
“It’s just tradition,” he said with a shrug.
Senior center fielder Jordan Palumbo, however, knew the secret.
“Wendy’s is our favorite place to eat, and I work there, so that’s why,” she said. “We’ll eat better food when we get back to Poland. But right now we’re hungry.”
While the Super Value Menu will cater to their cravings, the Bulldogs are still hungry for a state title.
Palumbo, one of five seniors, scored twice and said she was feeling a little something extra.
“It’s just a great feeling,” she said. “As a senior, I just want this so badly.”
The Bulldogs said they’ll spend the rest of the weekend soaking in the victory, but come Monday, it’s eyes on the prize.
“We won’t stay on this too long,” Gabriel said. “Coach will keep us down to Earth.”