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Canfield’s Fitzgerald, Castronova combine for no-hitter vs. Kingsville
By Tom Williams
BOARDMAN
One of the hardest decision a manager faces is whether it’s OK to lift your starting pitcher during a no-hitter.
When it’s your daughter on the mound, the choice doesn’t get any easier.
But Marty Fitzgerald didn’t hesitate to replace his daughter Lauren with Emma Castronova in the fifth inning of Saturday’s 8-0 victory over Kingsville in the Little League Softball 9-10 state tournament game at Fields of Dreams.
“ A goal of mine before the game started was to get both girls in there pitching,” Fitzgerald said. “We had a pretty big lead and I know [Lauren] was in a groove, but Emma hadn’t pitched for a few games and I wanted to get her some innings.”
After jumping on Kingsville for three runs in the first inning, Canfield scored three more in the fourth inning and two in the fifth.
Lauren Fitzgerald had allowed only two baserunners (one on an error, one of a hit-batsman) and struck out 11.
Castronova struck out the side in the fifth inning and recorded two more in the sixth to complete the no-hitter.
“She did an outstanding job,” Fitzgerald said of his reliever. “I wasn’t really thinking about the no-hitter — it was more about what’s better for the team.
“Moving forward, it’s always good to have two arms that are loose, that are ready to go anytime.”
Today at 4 p.m., Canfield will play Tallmadge for the right to advance the state championship game on Tuesday.
In Saturday’s other game, Tallmadge defeated Coal Grove, 10-8.
“I was ecstatic,” Lauren Fitzgerald said after Castronova’s fifth strikeout ended the game.
“We’re undefeated so far and it was just a great feeling.”
Castronova said she didn’t know Canfield had recorded the no-hitter until the coaches mentioned it in the dugout after the game.
“I had no idea [so] I felt really proud of our team,” Castronova said.
“I’m glad to be here — representing Canfield is a big deal.”
Fitzgerald said she knew the no-hitter was in progress and had no problem with moving to third base.
“I was excited, I was glad for her,” she said. “Sometimes, it gets tiring pitching every game.”
Castronova’s one-out single ignited Canfield’s offense in their first at-bat. After Fitzgerald was hit by Kingsville pitcher Sarah Drake, Bridget Kelly doubled then scored on Erin Chaplow’s groundout for a three-run lead.
“That’s our identity,” Marty Fitzgerald said.
“We come out aggressively early. They were ready to go.”
In the fourth inning, Parker Wilkins singled and scored on Fitzgerald’s two-out double.
After Kelly was hit by a pitch, she and Fitzgerald scored on Kylie Ciccolelli’s single and an outfield error.
Alaina Havrilla and Wilkins singled and scored in the fifth inning when Fitzgerald contributed another two-out RBI double.
“They’re an absolute blast,” said Marty Fitzgerald of working with this team that was combined from four Canfield teams. “After the game, we talked about how every girl contributed.
“These girls, they keep practice fun, they joke a lot, but not at the expense of having a good practice,” he said.
“They always keep the coaches laughing, [but] they respect what we’re all there for.”
Age 11 STATE TOURNAMENT
Today at 2 p.m., Boardman will play Tallmadge in the 11-year-old state tournament at the Fields of Dreams. Tallmadge defeated Oak Hill, 10-7, in Saturday’s tournament opener.