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Top tune in batter’s box
Canfield’s Rothbauer lets it go on Senior Night
By Steve WILAJ
CANFIELD
To be fair, the entire Canfield High softball team enjoys the movie “Frozen” — so much so that the Cardinals sing the 2013 Disney film’s songs on the bus rides to and from games.
But Kara Rothbauer takes it a step further.
While she certainly belts out the movie’s hit song “Let It Go” on the bus, the Canfield senior right fielder does her best Idina Menzel impression in the batters box as well.
“I get very, very nervous, so most of the time I sing ‘Let It Go,’” Rothbauer said. “That’s something that just clears my mind.”
The trick did wonders on Wednesday as Rothbauer led the way to a 9-5 victory against Champion with two hits and four RBIs, including a three-run homer in the sixth inning.
The contest also marked the Cardinals Senior Night, which celebrated eight Canfield seniors who all started.
“It’s all about making memories for us and, for me, that’s an incredible memory,” Rothbauer said. “The pitch was an outside pitch and that’s my power alley. This year I’ve really tried to hit the ball to the opposite field and it has seemed to work pretty well.
“And I couldn’t ask for any other teammates.”
The Cardinals (11-3) jumped ahead, 2-0, after three innings. They then led 5-2 following a three-run fourth that was keyed by Rachel Tinkey’s two-RBI single.
However, Champion (11-4) scored two in the top of the fifth on a Canfield error and Kiersten Jones’ RBI single. The Golden Flashes then tied it in the top of the sixth on Brittany Allen’s two-out RBI single.
“We knew they were gonna come in and give us a good game,” Canfield coach Ray Melewski said. “We made a few mistakes, but we stayed in it. We didn’t lose composure. We kept battling back and then Kara came up and hit the big home run.”
After a leadoff double by Marina Sturgeon to start the bottom of the sixth, sophomore Ally Sammarco scored her with a double to break the tie. A couple of batters later, Rothbauer then sang her tune and scorched her three-run homer over the right-field fence.
“That was just good power,” Champion coach Cheryl Weaver said.
The big hit came off Flashes sophomore starting pitcher McKenzie Zigmont. She allowed eight earned runs on eight hits in six innings.
“I’m proud of McKenzie and I’m proud of all the girls because they fought hard,” said Weaver, who won her 300th career game on Sunday against Beaumont. “When you play a team like Canfield and give them a battle to seventh, it’s good. You want the girls to see what it’s like to be on a team like that and see how they carry themselves and play.”
Allen led Champion with three hits.
Meanwhile, Allison Fabry picked up the win for Canfield as she went all seven innings and allowed four earned runs on 10 hits, three walks and four strikeouts. Tinkey also finished with three hits for the Cardinals.
“Today was about those eight [senior] girls that have put their time and effort into trying to win,” Melewski said. “So it’s nice to honor them.”