LaBrae ousts rival Champion

Staff report

JEFFERSON

Emily Dugan pitched a two-hit shutout, striking out 12, and Kasey Rininger doubled and drove in three runs as LaBrae beat rival Champion, 4-0, in a Division III district final.

Both teams play in the All-American Conference’s Blue Division.

Dugan added a double to help her cause in the Vikings’ victory at the Jefferson Area Girls Softball Complex.

Lauren Rutherford and Danielle Miracle also had two hits.

“I thought the team played excellent,” said LaBrae head coach Demetra Noble. “We committed no errors and they just did their jobs.”

Noble was very excited about Dugan’s performance.

“I thought she was tremendous,” Noble said. “She had way more strikeouts than last night and she excuted well.”

LaBrae (17-5, 7-2) will meet Akron Manchester in a regional semifinal at 5 p.m. Wednesday in Massillon. The Vikings also still have three regular-season games remaining.

As for Champion, who falls to 16-6-1 and 6-4 in the All-American Conference Blue Division, Golden Flashes head coach Cheryl Weaver was disappointed in the loss.

“I think that because of the position we were in being in the final, I noticed we were not ready to play,” she said. “Usually the girls are loose, joking around before the game. Tonight, I noticed we were much quieter than normal. I think they were a little intimidated.”

Haylee Gardiner pitched four innings for Champion.

“She gave us the best she could for four innings,” Weaver said. “In the fifth, they scored three runs and I needed to change things up.”

Having played Champion twice during the regular season, Noble said her players knew what to expect.

“We knew that she likes to pitch outside and she did just that,” Noble said. “We just waited until she threw what we needed.”

Weaver credited Dugan.

“She did a fine job,” said Weaver. “She only gave up two hits.”

Even with the loss, Champion’s season is not over. The Golden Flashes still have to make up two regular-season games against Campbell.

Weaver feels this season will go a long way toward building for the future for a team dominated by freshmen.

“You want the girls to believe they can win,” she said. “I think they learned how they need to carry themselves.”