Bloom-Carroll’s ace charged with shoplifting after semifinal win

June 6, 2015 at 12:07a.m.

This morning’s Division III state softball championship game was supposed to a glorious rematch featuring one of Ohio’s all-time top pitchers seeking redemption against the team that dealt her a title game loss three years ago.

Things changed dramatically Friday when The Lancaster Eagle-Gazette reported that Bloom-Carroll High School ace Taran Alvelo (25-2) was arrested Thursday night on charges of shoplifting about $125 worth of merchandise from a Kohl’s store in Lancaster.

Thursday morning, Alvelo tossed a one-hitter in Bloom-Carroll’s five-inning, 10-0 victory over Wheelersburg in the state semifinals at Akron’s Firestone Stadium. That victory gave her 108 for her four-year career, tying the state record set by Kenton Ridge’s Molly Binz in 2002.

“That’s a team [statistic],” said Alvelo, downplaying the record at the postgame press conference. “It’s not a one-person sport, it’s a team thing.”

Alvelo owns Ohio’s career strikeout record with 1,515.

“She’s the best pitcher in the country,” Bloom-Carroll head coach Choc Woods said.

Alvelo’s status for today’s 10 a.m. title game against Champion (29-4) in Akron is unknown. School officials on Friday were silent as to whether Alvelo is eligible for the final game of her four-year varsity career.

Through social media, Bloom-Carroll players said Alvelo was not on the team bus when it departed for Akron on Friday.

Champion head coach Cheryl Weaver expressed sympathy for Alvelo, who has a scholarship to the University of Washington.

“Personally, I wish we were playing her,” said Weaver whose Golden Flashes defeated the Bulldogs in 2012 for Champion’s second consecutive state crown. “If she has a problem, I hope she gets help. I hope she didn’t throw [her scholarship] away.”

Champion defeated Richwood North Union, 6-3, in Thursday’s other semifinal.

It’s Champion’s third state title game in five seasons and Bloom-Carroll’s fourth straight. The Bulldogs won the state crown in 2013 then finished state runner-up to Williamsport Westfall last year.

In Champion’s 2-0 victory over Bloom-Carroll in June 2012, Alvelo, a freshman, lost a duel with Lindsay Swipas, who ended her career with a second crown.

The Golden Flashes were practicing Friday morning when Champion athletic director Tim Cope told Weaver about the Alvelo arrest.

Weaver said her mission was to rermind her young team (the Flashes have just two seniors and two juniors) that the Bulldogs are loaded with hitters no matter who pitches.

“In the Wheelersburg game, almost all of them had hits,” Weaver said. “They have much higher batting averages than we do.”

If Alvelo does not play, Weaver said the Bulldogs will be powered with extra emotions.

“That could light a fire under them,” said Weaver, who added that she’s preparing as if Alvelo will play.

“It will be a battle,” Weaver said. “I believe [my players] have the hunger.”

The game will be the final one for seniors Haylee Gardiner (pitcher) and Brittany Allen (third base). Gardiner (17-2) was Champion’s designated player in 2012 and the only member of this year’s squad on that team.

“I remember [Alvelo] was quick, she had some speed and she had some movement,” Gardiner said. “I remember making some contact, that’s all that matters.”

Weaver said Alvelo throws a lot of riseballs.

“If we can stay off [those] and make her bring it into our zone, I’ll have faith in these girls to put the ball in play.”

Gardiner said she expects her teammates to be ready for whatever happens.

“We have something that a lot of other teams don’t have and it really sets us apart.”