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Poland softball dominates Tippecanoe
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Poland’s Erin Gabriel (22) not only pitched but helped to hit the Bulldogs to a 14-2 win over the Tippecanoe Red Devils in the Division II state softball semifinal game Thursday at Akron Firestone Stadium. Gabriel matched teammate Jenna Modic with two doubles and a homer, except Gabriel’s three-run shot in the second inning was part of a five RBIgame. Poland faces LaGrange Keystone on Saturday in the state title game.
DIVISION II SOFTBALL
POLAND 14
TIPPECANOE 2
NEXT: State final: Poland vs. LaGrange Keystone, Saturday, 1 p.m., Firestone Stadium, Akron.
By Tom Williams
AKRON
Minutes after clobbering Tippecanoe with 18 hits, the Poland softball team could finally talk about its main priority this season — returning to the Division II state championship game.
“I’ve definitely got goosebumps,” third baseman Jenna Modic said after Thursday’s 14-2, five-inning victory at Firestone Stadium. “This is what we’ve worked for all year.
“We had a 5:30 [a.m.] practice the first day we were allowed to practice and our motto is “First On, Last Off,” Modic said. “So we’re going to be last off but hopefully we’re going to come out with a state championship.”
Awaiting the Bulldogs (24-2) is their biggest test of the season — LaGrange Keystone (31-1), one of the two teams to defeat Poland this season. (The other was Columbus DeSales, which lost 5-3 to Keystone in Thursday’s other semifinal.)
Poland coach Reid Lamport said his team is ready for Saturday’s championship game.
“I’m mystified, I’m so excited,” said Lamport, who will be coaching in his third state title game in 11 seasons. “You get 18 hits in four at-bats in a state semifinal game ... our girls hit good pitches today.
“I’m just so excited, so proud of these guys that I can’t believe it.”
Modic’s three hits were two doubles and a solo homer for three RBIs. Pitcher Erin Gabriel matched her with two doubles and a homer, except her three-run shot in the second inning was part of a five RBI game.
“You load it up for these two, good things usually happen,” Lamport said.
Shortstop Kalie Benson’s three hits included two doubles for three RBIs. Chelsea McCree and Marissa Trevis also doubled.
The first six Bulldogs tagged Tippecanoe pitcher CC Alvarez with consecutive hits for five runs. Modic’s double scored Maura Bobby and Gabriel’s double scored Adriana Sikora and Modic for a 3-0 lead. After Taylor Miokovic singled, Benson’s double drove in two more runs.
The second inning was worse for the Red Devils (27-6). Bobby lined the ball off third baseman’s Alex Dawes glove and Sikora contributed her second infield bloop single. Following Modic’s RBI double, Gabriel homered for a 9-2 lead.
Trevis’ two-out, two-run double gave the Bulldogs a nine-run cushion after two innings.
“We definitely came out ready to play,” Modic said. “We had a lot of adrenaline going.”
Gabriel (15-1) tossed a two-hitter, but had some control issues in the second inning when three wild pitches helped the Red Devils score twice.
“I felt all right,” Gabriel said. “It wasn’t one of my bets performances, I’ve got to cut down on the walks but that’s why you get another chance on Saturday.”
Gabriel walked two batters and hit two others. Of the last eight batters she faced, only one reached base.
“How can you not be comfortable pitching with a 14-2 lead?” Gabriel said. “My offense really helped me out today, it was easy going out there pitching.”
The Bulldogs’ 2010 season ended with a 1-0 loss to Hebron Lakewood in the championship game.
The Bulldogs are familiar with Saturday’s opponent. In April, Keystone defeated Poland, 4-3, to give Gabriel her only loss of the season. Lamport pointd out that the four runs that Keystone scored were unearned.
Sikora, the senior right fielder, said closing her varsity career in the state title game “is so exciting you just can’t put it into words. I’m so lucky that I’ve gotten to come back all the way here for the second year in a row.”