Tourney fever set for area fields

Photo

Gabriel

Staff report

In June 2011, the Mahoning Valley was well represented on the state diamonds.

Poland and Champion won state championships at Akron’s Firestone Stadium while the Springfield High baseball team finished state runner-up. Also, the Columbiana softball team was a state semifinalist,

Today (weather-permitting), the journey to emulate those accomplishments begins with the opening of the high school baseball and softball tournaments.

The Poland softball team is looking to return to its third straight Division II state title game.

Last June, Poland defeated Keystone LaGrange, 4-0, in the championship as Erin Gabriel tossed a one-hitter.

Coach Reid Lamport’s Bulldogs are propelled by seniors Gabriel (University of Tennessee) and Jenna Modic (Miami University).

Poland has the top seed in the Alliance district. The other seeds are Canfield, Lakeview and West Branch.

Also focused on defending a title is Champion, which pounded Baltimore Liberty Union 11-2 to win the Div. III championship and cap a 27-0 season.

Most of the starters are back for Cheryl Weaver’s Golden Flashes. Leading the way are undefeated senior pitcher Lindsay Swipas and slugger Haley McAllister.

In Div. IV, Columbiana is coming off its first state trip where the Clippers lost to Convoy Crestview, 6-2, in the semifinals.

Jerry Beltempo, who led Austintown Fitch to the Div. I state title game in 1993, has taken over for Bonnie Wilkinson as Clippers head coach. With Western Reserve and Jackson-Milton in the Lisbon district, the Clippers won’t have an easy road to the regional.

In baseball, Springfield has been to state twice in the past three seasons and is the team to watch in Div. IV. Last year at Huntington Park in Columbus, the Tigers lost to Minister, 6-0, in the title contest.

Among the Valley’s other strong teams hoping to play into June are Boardman (Div. I), Canfield (Div. II) and Ursuline (Div. III).