Big first inning critical as South Range tops Champion

May 26, 2016 at 12:10a.m.

S. Range pounces on Champion; Yanek’s 3-hitter earns title date

MASSILLON

In their wildest dreams, South Range softball players could not envision scoring five runs in their first at-bat against the defending state champions.

In the worst nightmares, Champion softball players couldn’t foresee facing their biggest tournament deficit in years before coming to bat.

In Wednesday’s Division III regional semifinal game, the Raiders (28-3) pounced quickly on the Golden Flashes (26-4) in a 6-1 victory that sends South Range to its second regional title game in seven seasons.

“We were expecting a 1-0 [game],” said Raiders senior Morgan Czopur, who was playing in her fifth varsity regional (softball and basketball). “Coming out [with] a 5-0 lead, that was crazy.”

After Caragyn Yanek drew a one-out walk, Codi Taylor and Madison Weavers singled to load the bases. Hanna Dennison singled to center field to score Yanek and Taylor raced home after a bobble.

With two outs, Felicia Gaeta doubled to left field to bring in two more runs, then scored when Champion catcher Molly Williams’ pick-off throw to third base went wide.

Gaeta said when she connected she didn’t realize how well she had struck the ball.

“I had no idea,” the Raiders center fielder said. “I was so excited because I didn’t think we’d be up that much.”

Neither did the Flashes.

“That first inning, that did us,” said Champion head coach Cheryl Weaver whose teams have won three of the past five state crowns. “All year, we haven’t had an inning like that.”

Champion pitcher McKenzie Zigmont needed 37 pitches to escape the four-hit, two-error inning. In the final six innings, Zigmont retired the side five times. In the fourth inning, Morgan Smith doubled and scored on Hope Thomas’ two-out RBI single for a 6-0 lead.

“They hit the ball [well] that first inning,” Weaver said. “They are a good team, I think they are going to do well. Maybe this is South Range’s year.”

Staked to a five-run advantage, Yanek excelled in the first three innings. After Williams drew a lead-off walk in the first inning, Yanek retired the next nine batters.

“I felt no pressure,” Yanek said. “[My teammates] played great. I couldn’t have hoped for anything better.

“This just feels amazing.”

Yanek tossed a three-hitter, striking out two and walking one.

“She mixed up speeds and locations very well today,” South Range head coach Jeff DeRose said. “She kept them off-balance.

“That first inning was huge,” DeRose said. “It’s hard to come back from 5-0.”

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Megan Turner broke up Yanek’s no-hit bid with a one-out double to left-center field and scored after Zigmont singled. Abby White followed with another single.

Yanek retired the next 11 batters to earn the Raiders a regional championship game against today’s winner between Columbia Station Columbia and West Salem Northwestern.

The game is scheduled for Saturday at noon, but might be moved to Friday because of Saturday’s forecast.