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Columbiana steals first trip to state
By Pete Mollica
KENT
Columbiana High’s Dakota DeAmicis pays attention, whether it’s on the mound or on the basepaths.
The Clippers’ senior hurler alertly stole home with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning Saturday to score the winning run in the Clippers’ 6-5 victory over Mogadore in the Division IV regional final at Kent State University.
The victory sends the Clippers to their first state softball tournament,
Columbiana (15-9) trailed the Wildcats 5-4 going to the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out, Katie Libb singled to center field to start the rally.
DeAmicis hit a fly ball deep to left field that was misjudged, putting runners at first and second base.
Makenzie Logan pinch ran for Libb and junior Meredith Tirpak singled her home with DeAmicis reaching third base.
With Claire Brothers at the plate, DeAmicis watched from third. When the Wildcats’ catcher Presley Destro tossed the ball back to pitcher Kelsey Craig, DeAmicis broke for the plate and slid safely under the tag for the winning run.
“I was watching the last time I was on third base and I noticed that they weren’t paying much attention to me and I said next time I’m going to steal home,” DeAmicis said.
When asked if DeAmicis stole home on her own, Clippers head coach Bonnie Wilkinson said, “I’d like to plead the Fifth on that question, but actually she went on her own.”
But what if she had been tagged out?
“I didn’t think Coach would have been too upset and we had already tied up the game so the worst that could happen is that we would go another inning to win,” DeAmicis said.
DeAmicis picked up the mound win, allowing 10 hits while striking out eight. She did not allow a walk nd had some outstanding defense behind her as the Clippers turned three double plays.
Shortstop Haley Goist made an outstanding play in the top of the seventh that prevented the Wildcats from scoring another run.
“It was just a great team effort today,” Wilkinson said. “Our defense came up with three double plays which is outstanding and that play by Haley was a game saver.”
The contest went back and forth until the end.
“It was one of those game where the momentum just kept going back and forth,” Wilkinson said.
The Clippers started quickly with two runs and four hits in the first inning. Khylea Fullum and DeAmicis each had RBI singles after Goist, who had three hits on the day, opened with a double.
Mogadore tied the game in the fourth with three hits including a two-run double by Ashley Lange. Mogadore took the lead in the fifth on an RBI single by Rylee Popio.
Columbiana went back on top in the fifth with four hits. DeAmicis drove in one run and Jordan Stoddard the other.
The Wildcats tied the game in the sixth on a lead off double by Craig and an RBI single by Ashley Lange.
Columbiana missed a chance to regain the lead in the bottom of the sixth when Goist was thrown out at home plate trying to score on a single by Paige Macklin.
Mogadore opened the seventh with back-to-back doubles by Naomi Pollock and Popio to take the lead.
Eight of the Clippers’ nine starters hit safely as Columbiana totaled 12 hits. They were aided by four Mogadore errors.