ENCORE AS STATE CHAMPS

Staff report

Champion High senior Lindsay Swipas put an exclamation point on her prep softball career, coming within one inning of tossing a no-hitter in the Division III softball state championship game.

Swipas finished with a one-hit shutout as the Golden Flashes won their second straight state title 2-0 over Bloom-Carroll at Firestone Stadium in Akron on Saturday.

The championship was the fifth overall in the sport at Champion, which leads all area schools.

Mathews was making its first appearance in the state final, in Div. IV. The Mustangs, with just one senior on the team, fell short in their bid for a crown with a 6-2 loss to Convoy Crestview.

Several area track and field athletes also received medals Saturday.

They were led by Salem’s Anthony Shivers, who unleashed a discus throw of more than 190 feet on his first attempt to easily win the Division II boys state championship in the event.

In Div. II girls, Lauren Schattinger of Lakeview finished second in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes, concluding her high school career on a high note. Sage Spottleson of Poland was third in the 100 hurdles.

Among smaller schools, Wyatt Hartman of Maplewood finished second in the 1600-meter in Division III, and Badger’s Jennilyn Krumpe won the girls 400.