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Flashes’ Blackson has ‘Maz’ moments
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Champion catcher Sierra Blackson was running on pure adrenaline during the seventh inning of the Division III regional softball final against Black River last weekend. Blackson contributed a hit in the top half of the inning, then corralled the first out in the bottom with a diving effort against the backstop.
Flashes’ Blackson has ‘Maz’ moments
CHAMPION
Pittsburgh Pirates legend Bill Mazeroski is often asked to describe his walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series. The blast, still the first of its kind in Major League Baseball, traveled over Yogi Berra’s head, beyond Forbes Field’s left field wall and lifted the Pirates past the New York Yankees.
“Rounding the bases,” Mazeroski once told a crowd, “I never felt my feet touch the ground,”
It’s kind of how Champion catcher Sierra Blackson felt throughout the seventh inning of the Golden Flashes’ regional semifinal game against Black River.
The junior collected a single in the top half that landed in center field, and she still hustled down to first like it was a simple dribbler back to the pitcher, that scored Brooke Culler — the winning run.
“It had to be now or never,” Blackson said of her two-out rally.
But she wasn’t done there.
Blackson corralled the first out of the bottom of the seventh with a diving effort against the backstop.
“Pure adrenaline is what that was,” she said. “My adrenaline rush was pretty high after I got my hit. I just dove and caught the ball.”
After leaving her feet and landing face first, she came up grimacing and clenching her stomach. With just a glance towards pitcher Lindsay Swipas — Blackson was all smiles.
“Just a lot of dirt,” she said laughing. “I was spitting out dirt.”
She wouldn’t have it any other way.
“You got to get the job done,” Blackson said. “That’s a catcher’s job — you have to sacrifice your body.”
This year is her first as the full-time catcher, replacing Taylor Petersal from 2011’s state championship team. Periodically, Blackson would fill in for Petersal and she’s been the catcher on her summer travel team.
“It wasn’t really hard for her to step in,” Swipas said.
Last year, Blackson was the team’s designated player. Champion coach Cheryl Weaver believes that she’s really stepped up both sides of her game, this year.
“That’s why she’s in the No. 3 spot,” Weaver said. “She has done such a wonderful job for us. She came in behind the plate like she’s been here before.”
With one state championship already behind her, Blackson has been here before. That’s not to say she isn’t ready for another Mazeroski-moment in Akron.
“I’ve just wanted to bring an even bigger bat this year and I’m glad to keep this going,” she said.