Retirement on hold for Girard’s Paolone
Indians’ season extended with win over Mooney
By Tom Williams
BOARDMAN
Thanks to Karlee Byrne’s two-hitter and Melanie Bakes’ two RBI hits, Girard High softball coach Renny Paolone’s retirement has been delayed by at least five days.
“It’s awesome playing for him,” Bakes said. “It’s been a lot of fun this year and we want to go as far as we can.”
Wednesday in the Division III sectional final at the Fields of Dreams, the fifth-seeded Indians (13-10) defeated third-seeded Cardinal Mooney, 5-1. Girard advances to the Springfield District for a semifinal game against South Range on Monday.
The Cardinals’ season ends at 16-7.
“We were a little [nervous],” said Byrne after striking out 12 batters and hitting one. “The final out was such a good moment.”
The game was tight until the sixth inning. With the scored tied at 1, Byrne ignited a three-run rally with a single and then took second base on a wild pitch.
Bakes doubled to score Byrne.
“It felt good coming off the bat,” Bakes said. “I watched it go all the way to the right-field fence.”
Mooney pitcher Sydney Shugart hit Mackenzie Olesky and Gabby Cario’s infield hit loaded the bases, setting up Jessica Dohy’s two-run single for a 4-1 lead.
Byrne hit a solo homer in the seventh inning.
Paolone said the Indians’ All-American Conference White Division schedule prepared them well. Girard split with league-winner Champion and Newton Falls, the Springfield district’s top seed.
“We played good teams in our league,” Paolone said. “Our tier is tough — we were 7-5.
“We’ve always said we want to play a good schedule,” Paolone said. “Our volleyball team does it, our basketball team does it. It just pays in the long run.”
The Indians took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Rosemarie Maderitz singled, stole second and took third on a wild pitch. With two outs, Bakes’ hard smash glanced off the glove and then elbow of third baseman Sydney Kocher.
“I really didn’t see what happened,” Bakes said. “It was a line drive and I just started running.”
Kocher suffered two fractures so Kelly Williams moved from the outfield to third base. She’s one of six freshmen and sophomores Mooney coach Mark Rinehart started.
“We’re a little shorthanded,” Rinehart said, citing the loss of two pitchers to injuries over the past two weeks. “They outplayed us in the last two innings, but I’m so proud of [my team].”
The Cardinals tied the game in the fourth innng when Damani Santiago (Kocher’s replacement) was hit by a pitch and scored on Adrianna Popovich’s sacrifice fly. “I’ve had deep runs in the tournament, but I think I’m more proud of this team,” Rinehart said. “We played a really good game against a strong Girard team. Their record is meaningless.”