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Jefferson ends Canfield’s season in D-II regional semifinal
By Greg Gulas
AKRON
The Canfield softball team will look back at Thursday’s Division II regional semifinal contest as one of missed opportunities.
The Cardinals will be able to derive some satisfaction from knowing that they, too, limited high-scoring Jefferson’s scoring opportunities.
Alyssa Irons threw a two-hitter and struck out nine and added two doubles, scored twice and drove in a run to lead the Falcons to a 3-2 victory over Canfield at Firestone Stadium.
It was the second time this season that the Falcons defeated the Cardinals, having won a 1-0 decision back on May 8.
The Cardinals finished 23-8. Jefferson (25-3) advances to a regional final against Cleveland Heights Beaumont at noon Saturday. Beaumont beat Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, 5-4.
“We fought right to the end and did the same thing against Poland in the district finals,” Canfield coach Ray Melewski said. “It felt like deja vu all over so it was disappointing that it didn’t happen again.
“We had our opportunities and I thought that once we got to our second and third time around in the batting order, we would put the ball in play. Credit Irons because she has a wicked changeup. We knew that we could compete and play with them and in the seventh inning, the pressure was on both her and our batters. This is high school sports and that’s what it’s all about. That’s the reason you compete and play the game.”
The Cardinals struck first in the third inning when Maura Kennedy registered her team’s first hit with one out, went to second on a groundout, advanced to third on an error and then scored on a wild pitch.
Irons led off the fourth with a double and raced home on Emily Smock’s single to tie the game at 1.
When MacKenzie Wilber — who followed Irons with a single of her own — scored on a fielder’s choice, the Falcons led, 2-1.
Irons again led off the fifth with a double and Wilber followed with her third single of the game to make it 3-1.
Canfield had just two hits through the first six innings — Kennedy’s single and a double by Rachel Tinkey. But the Cardinals had runners in scoring position and one that advanced to third base in four of those innings.
Canfield made it interesting in the seventh when Irons began to have control problems.
Jill Baker was hit by a pitch, Marina Sturgeon walked and then Ally Sammarco was hit by to load the bases. Kennedy was then hit by a pitch, Irons’ third in the inning, and Baker to cut the lead to 3-2.
Irons, however, settled down and got the final two outs on a popup and strikeout.
“I knew that I just had to buckle down for the team. I had to make it happen because I didn’t want to be the one to let this opportunity slip away,” Irons said. “We’ve come so far and so desperately wanted this game. We were here last year but lost in the semifinals, so having been here before helped us incredibly. We were comfortable with the environment.”
Tinkey and starting pitcher Allison Fabry are two of eight seniors Melewski will need to replace next season.
“We had a successful season and I couldn’t be more proud of this team. These are my sisters — my family,” Tinkey said. “This group never gave up. While we fell a little short, I wouldn’t change a thing from the past four years.”
Added Fabry: “Honestly, this is the greatest team I have ever been a part of. I have a lot of great memories and am just so happy to have been a part of this experience.”
The Falcons will be going after the program’s first ever regional title, advancing to the title game for the first time since 1992 when head coach Amy Durkovic was a member of that squad.
“All season long this team never gave up. They gave it their all from first pitch to final out,” Durkovic said. “Credit Alyssa because she got it done in the seventh inning when it needed to get done. She is the toughest player that I have ever coached.”