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Poland falls to Tallmadge
Miokovic, Bush end careers in loss to Tallmadge
By Tom Williams
AKRON
Trailing by two runs late and with the bases loaded, Poland High softball coach Matt Campbell flashed the bunt sign to Phoebe Bush.
The Poland senior didn’t flinch. If anything, she had to resist smiling.
“I was excited,” the Bulldogs’ center fielder said. “I love bunting. I love drag bunting because I get an extra step so I’m faster.”
On the suicide squeeze, Bush laid down a beauty. Tallmadge first baseman Mackenzie Gershom picked up the ball and threw to catcher Tori Young, but it wasn’t in time to erase Taylor Miokovic racing home.
“She’s a good slider, I knew she’d go in there hard,” Bush said of Miokovic.
But the Bulldogs’ joy didn’t last long as Tallmadge (23-3) scored three times in the bottom of the fifth inning and went on to defeated Poland, 5-1, on Wednesday at Firestone Stadium in a Division II regional semifinal.
The Bulldogs (21-9) struggled to connect off Tallmadge pitcher Kirsten Lightel.
“She’s a phenomenal pitcher,” Campbell said. “When you’re looking inside, she’s throwing outside. When you’re looking low, she throws high.
“She kept us off balance all game.”
Lightel struck out 10 and walked one in tossing a two-hitter.
The Bulldogs had one baserunner in the first four innings. In the third inning, Bush bunted down the first-base line and Gershom’s throw to second baseman Lexi Philen covering was wild.
In the third inning, Tallmadge’s designated player Kali Stroud homered to break the scoreless tie. An inning later, Gershom singled and pinch-runner Alyssa Garbinsky took second on a passed ball. She scored on Brandy Wakefield’s two-out single for a 2-0 lead.
Miokovic, Poland’s four-year starter who won a state title in 2011, broke up Lightel’s no-hitter when she led off the fifth inning with a double that landed just short of the left-center field fence.
A wild pitch sent Miokovic to third base. After Chloe Bush drew a one-out walk, Campbell rolled the dice by having Kathryn Wilson bunt.
“We were just scratching to get that first run,” Campbell said. “We were obviously not hitting her very well so I thought it was time to play some small ball.”
Wilson’s bunt was fielded by Lightel who faked a throw and then twirled around to see if Miokovic bit. She didn’t.
Lightel struck out the next two batters to escape with a 2-1 lead.
“Unfortunately, we were only able to capitalize for one run,” Campbell said. “I thought the momentum was turning.”
Kristyn Svetlak relieved Miokovic (14-5) with two outs in the fifth inning.
Miokovic’s career ended with a 4-1 record in regional games at Firestone Stadium.
“When the game was over, I kind of took a last look up,” said Miokovic, who was Poland’s first baseman for three seasons before splitting the pitching this season with Svetlak and Ally Deemer. “We had a lot of support out here. It’s been crazy.”
Among those she saw in the stands were members of her summer travel team and Reid Lamport, Poland’s 23-year head coach who retired after Miokovic’s sophomore season.
“He’s always been a big, big part of my life,” said Miokovic, who has a scholarship to Eastern Illinois. “There were a lot of young Poland Pride girls up there, too.
“Knowing it was the last time, it was emotional.”
Next year, Bush will play softball for Ohio Wesleyan.
Bridget Bobby, Poland’s other senior, was a pinch hitter in the seventh inning.
Wilson’s seventh-inning single was Poland’s other hit.