Champion’s fourth state title is picture perfect

June 5, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

AKRON

Here’s another description for Champion — perfect.

Saturday’s 11-2 victory over Liberty Union in the Division III softball tournament earned the Flashes (27-0) their fourth state crown in school history.

Thanks to a 10-run outburst in the fifth inning at Firestone Stadium, Champion ran the 2011 table to finish as the only unbeaten team in Ohio.

“Ecstatic” is how Champion coach Cheryl Weaver described her feelings when pitcher Lindsay Swipas (18-0) caught pinch-hitter Grace Schaffner looking at strike three to end the game.

“I just felt so happy for the girls,” she said. “In the back of my mind, I had been thinking that the third time might be the charm.”

In 12 seasons, Weaver has led three teams to state, finishing state runner-up in 2006.

“We did it for her,” said senior shortstop Tawny Rogers, whose three triples drove in four runs. “To be so close to many times, I’m sure she’s extremely, extremely excited.”

Junior second baseman Haley McAllister, who contributed four hits and three runs, chimed in that she saw her coach “bleeding purple [tears]. I’m not joking.”

Swipas (18-0) tossed a six-hitter, striking out 10 and walking none.

“In the first inning, I was struggling to get first-pitch strikes,” the junior said. “I had to throw a lot of fastballs and they were hitting [them].

“It was a little rocky but as I settled in, everything started working,” Swipas said.

For four innings, Lions pitcher Sarah Klopfer (27-2) mostly kept the Flashes off the bases. McAllister singled to start the game and scored on Rogers’ first triple for Champion’s early lead.

The Lions (27-3) responded with two runs in their first at-bat with Megan Val Almsick and Samantha Mowery getting RBIs.

Swipas said trailing didn’t bother her.

“I had confidence in our offense that we would break open,” Swipas said. “We started off [connecting off Klopfer] and usually when we start off well, I feel good the whole game.”

Everything came together perfectly for the Flashes in the fifth inning as they sent 14 batters to the plate and forced Klopfer to throw 50 pitches to get three outs.

With one out, McAllister singled and scored on Swipas’ hit to deep left-center field. Rogers connected for the first of her two triples in the inning to put the Flashes back in front.

They were far from through. After Rogers beat third baseman Kyanne Wiley’s throw to the plate, Lions second baseman Samantha Mowery dropped a throw from shortstop Taylor Dickson to allow Sierra Blackson to take second.

After Mackenzie Kiser drew an 11-pitch walk to load the bases, Brooke Culler and Taylor Petersal hit RBI singles. Then Emilee Hohvary cleared the bases with a three-run double.

Capping the inning was an infield hit by McAllister and a two-run triple by Rogers.

“I felt really good, I was pumped the entire time,” said Rogers. “As soon as we got runners, it made me more anxious to hit.”

Rogers, Petersal, left fielder Taryn Hanna and Angell Hohvart were the seniors closing their varsity careers with a title.

“Not too many people [go out with a win] and we did it,” said Petersal, Swipas’ catcher. “It feels great.”