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Poland girls ready for regional
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Jenna Schettler of the Poland Junior League softball team works on bunting during a recent practice. Poland will represent Ohio in a regional tournament.
By Tom Williams
POLAND
With an appearance at last August’s Little League World Series and a high school state championship in June, Poland softball is on a roll.
This weekend, 11 girls from Poland are hoping to extend their community’s hot streak when Poland’s 13-14-year-old softball team represents Ohio in the Junior League Regional Tournament that will be played at Akron’s Firestone Stadium.
“We’re all blessed to be in Poland,” catcher Jenna Schletter said. “I just feel that throughout softball and in high school, our team is always going to be good.”
Schletter and eight others from last year’s Little League World Series team are on Coach Zel Bush’s squad that won last week’s state tournament in Portsmouth.
“It’s another big opportunity that we might not get again,” said pitcher Aleah Hughes, the ace of Poland’s team that went to Portland, Ore., for the Little League World Series. “It’s still as exciting as last year.”
Eight states will be represented at the Junior League regional which has nine teams. Michigan, Kentucky and Missouri will be in Poland’s half of the regional bracket.
Elyria, the host team, is the second Ohio team that will compete. Also in Elyria’s bracket are Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa.
Poland’s other World Series veterans are shortstop Kathryn Wilson, third baseman/pitcher Arlia Duarte, outfielder Abby Masluk, outfielder/pitcher Ally Deemer, outfielder/pitcher Claire Testa, outfielder Kara Kalouris and infielder/catcher Madison Rowe.
Poland’s 14-year-olds are pitcher/first baseman Chloe Bush and infielder Brielle Nocera.
“This means a lot because [Brielle and I] didn’t get the opportunity,” said Bush, Poland’s cleanup hitter. “This is a good group of girls so this is going to be fun.”
Zel Bush said the team doesn’t rely on anyone to be the best.
“The greatest part of this team is how well they play together,” Bush said. “They support each other, it’s a pretty cohesive group.”
Saturday at 3 p.m., Poland will begin the tournament against Michigan. Their other pool games are against Kentucky on Sunday at 10 a,m. and Missouri on Monday at 8 p.m.
Bush says the top two teams in each bracket will advance to Tuesday’s semifinals, with the top seeds playing the second seed from the other division.
The winners will meet next Wednesday, with the champion earning a trip to Kirkland, Wash., for the Junior League World Series that begins on Aug. 14.
Junior League requires pitchers to rest one day if any throw more than four innings on one day. Bush has five players he can send to the mound.
Bush, who has been coaching softball since daughter Chloe was 9, said the team began planning last October. Assisting him are Duane Hughes and Donny Schletter.
“It’s fun,” Bush said. “It’s great to work with them, gratifying.
“But it’s not just me — there’s 15-20 parents who help make this happen.”
Poland played 12 regular-season games against South Range, Columbiana, Crestview and Springfield. The girls also played in six travel ball tournaments.
“The travel team [Poland Pride] feeds our program,” Bush said.
A big difference for this year’s Poland team is they will be sleeping in their own beds during the regional tournament. Last year, the Poland team took a 16-hour bus ride to Missouri to play in the regional, won the week-long tournament then rode back to Ohio prepare for the flight to Oregon.
Hughes said the memory of last year’s team lives on.
“People will come up and say they saw us playing on TV,” Hughes said. “It’s nice.”
Hughes was referring to coverage on ESPN2 of the semifinal game against Georgia.
“I’ve watched it a couple of times,” Hughes said of the 1-0 loss that sent Poland to the consolation round. Schletter said, “It was such a good experience because we all got so close. This year, we all want to go back. I think we have a really good chance.”