43
Poland 11-12 softball rolls to district title
BOARDMAN
The Poland 11-12 year-old softball team capped off a near-perfect district tournament run with an offensive fireworks show that would’ve rivaled any found last weekend.
Thanks to a seven-run sixth inning and a complete game shutout from pitcher Brooke Bobbey, Poland advanced to the state tournament with a 9-0 win over Boardman on Monday night at Fields of Dreams.
“It was so cool and so much fun to be out there with my teammates,” Bobbey said. “It just means all of our hard work paid off.”
Bobbey was flawless in the circle, striking out seven batters over six innings, and allowing just four hits. She needed just 60 pitches to finish off Boardman, which would’ve needed to beat Poland twice to win the district tournament.
“I trust my teammates and know that I have a good defense, so I was just throwing it,” Bobbey said. “Scoring a lot of runs helped too.”
The defense behind Bobbey didn’t commit an error throughout the district tournament and was sharp again Monday night.
“Brooke pitched great for us,” Poland manager Kim Grisdale said. “She does a great job of keeping her composure. She keeps working and she doesn’t let her dad [assistant coach Matt Bobbey] get in her head.”
Bobbey didn’t allow a hit in the first three innings, but Poland was only leading 1-0. Carolyn Boccieri reached on a fielder’s choice in the top of the fifth and eventually came around to score on a passed ball to add to the lead.
That was all Bobbey needed, but Poland sent 11 batters to the plate in the sixth inning. It got eight of its 13 hits in the inning and scored seven runs, which were aided by four Boardman fielding errors.
Cammie Lattanzio and Jackie Grisdale both went 3-for-4 at the plate and scored a run in the big sixth inning.
“These girls are ready to hit at all times and we really expect good at-bats from the top all the way to the bottom of the order,” Grisdale said. “They’ve all really done a great job of not being afraid of the moment and wanting to get that big hit.”
Rachel Wolfe delivered a two-RBI single in the sixth and after two throwing errors, she had an inside-the-park home run. From there, the celebration began inside the Poland dugout.
“We were chanting and hugging and everyone was so loud,” Bobbey said. “It was awesome.”
For most of the girls on the Poland team, this was their second district title. They won the 10-and-under crown in 2013 and finished as the state runner-up that year.
They hope to bring home the state title this year.
“It’s so exciting,” Grisdale said. “Especially for all 12 of them. They do such a good job of all being a team. They all want to be the one who helps win the game, but they’re also so happy for each other.
“It’s really neat to watch.”
The state tournament begins Saturday in McDermott.