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Poland 13-14 softball team in regional title game
Canfield baseball
still alive in Dover
By STEVE WILAJ
Two local youth teams live to play another day in tournament play.
In a junior league softball regional on Wednesday, Poland defeated Indiana, 16-4, in South Holland, Ill. The Bulldogs advance to the championship game today at 3 p.m. against Michigan, who they lost to in the first pool-play game earlier in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Boardman downed New Albany on Wednesday, 10-2, in the 9-10 baseball state tournament in Dover. The Spartans advance to play Ironton today at 6 p.m. in another elimination game.
“They’re bringing the best pitcher in the tournament to the table,” Poland softball coach Matt Bobbey said. “But we scored six runs off her in the first game even though we lost. But we haven’t thrown our ace against them, so we’ll see.”
Against Indiana, Poland was keyed by a seven-run second inning that turned a 4-4 tie into a lopsided contest. The Bulldogs then scored two runs in the third inning and three more in the fourth.
Brooke Bobbey paced Poland’s offense by going 4 for 4 with three runs-scored from the leadoff slot. Meanwhile, Camryn Lattanzio notched three hits and scored three runs and Ally Nittoli went 2 for 2 with four RBIs and three runs scored. Also, Jackie Grisdale and Lexi Diaz each had two hits apiece.
“We saw a real good pitcher, but our girls came to hit,” Bobbey said. “We hit top to bottom — had two huge innings. We were stringing four to five hits together in a row, so the runs came in bunches today.”
On the mound, Bobbey pitched all five innings. She allowed four runs on six hits.
Poland is 4-1 in the eight-team tournament so far.
“We’re hoping the bats stay hot,” Bobbey said.
Boardman’s 9-10 boys were hot at the plate as well, as they were keyed by a four-run fourth inning. Gavin Hyde, Charlie Young, Ryan Conti and Jack Erickson all had two hits, while 11 of Boardman’s 13 players recorded a hit on the day.
Hyde also pitched 42/3 innings, allowing two runs on just two hits.