Poland softball captures regional

July 29, 2016 at 12:09a.m.

By Charles grove & steve wilaj

Poland’s Junior League softball team is headed to the World Series after a come-from-behind 4-3 win over Michigan to win a regional title on Thursday in South Holland, Ill.

Boardman’s 9-10 baseball squad kept its season alive with a comeback of its own, defeating Ironton 10-8 in the state tournament in Dover.

Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth, Poland came up with two runs, their first since the first inning, to take the lead it held for the win.

“Hits were hard to come by,” Poland head coach Matt Bobbey said. “We got back up to the top of the order and we were able to drive the runners home. I really had to rely on the girls to come through and they did.”

Brooke Bobbey pitched all seven innings for Poland, allowing seven hits and one earned run. Brooke also struck out seven Michigan hitters compared to just one walk.

Camryn Lattanzio and Lauren Sienkiewicz each went 2 for 3 with two runs scored. Sienkiewicz had an RBI while Ally Nottoli had drove in two runs.

“We’ve had good history with our program and this is a continuation of that strong program year after year,” Matt Bobbey said. “This is a special program for the girls to be a part of.”

The World Series begins Sunday in Kirkland, Wash.

Boardman’s comeback started in the fourth inning when it trailed 8-1 in an elimination game. Boardman came through with six runs in the inning and followed that up with three more in the fifth to move onto another elimination game today against Loveland.

“It’s a little concerning when you’re down that much because you don’t want the season to end like that but these kids held their heads high and battled through,” Boardman head coach Rob Hyde said. “This group has been together for years and they’ve been there before. I think them knowing each other really helped them out today.”

Caleb Satterfield had a double and three RBIs for Boardman while Gavin Hyde, Charlie Young, Matt Kay and Zach Ganser all had two hits.

With a win over Cincinnati-area Loveland today, Boardman would advance to Saturday’s championship game. Boardman would then need to win twice to take home a state title.

POLAND vs. EAST HOLMES

Continuing a game that was postponed on Wednesday due to darkness, Poland completed its comeback and defeated East Holmes, 16-15, in eight innings in a Little League Junior League State Tournament baseball contest at Fields of Dreams.

The game picked up in the seventh inning.

With the victory, Poland advances to the championship game at noon on Saturday. The Bulldogs will face a team from the losers bracket and has to win just one game to be crowned champions, while the opposing team will have to defeat Poland twice.

Poland entered the sixth and final inning on Wednesday facing a 15-10 deficit. It then scored five runs to tie the contest, and the game was suspended because of darkness. Zachary Yaskulka tied it with a bases-loaded double.