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Cornelius, Roush lead Boardman past Howland
Boardman vs Howland
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Cornelius, Roush lead Boardman past Howland
By Tom Williams
BOARDMAN
Before Wednesday’s 8-2 victory over Howland, Boardman sophomore outfielder Vanessa Roush noticed mud in center field and made head coach Mike Trell an offer he couldn’t refuse.
“She said there’s a big mud puddle out in center,” Trell said. Roush wanted to know if she could earn a milkshake if she dove for a ball near the puddle and caught it.
Trell, figuring the odds of that happening were unlikely, said sure, but added, “if it makes sense for you to dive.”
With two outs in the top of the first inning and the Tigers’ ReAnn Litz at first, Marissa Miller hit a sinking liner to center field.
Roush ran hard to her left, stretched out her glove as she jumped and hauled in the ball while making a splash.
Dairy Queen!
“She’s got good speed,” Trell said.
Roush jumped up and smiled wearing a newly decorated uniform. Hot fudge, it wasn’t.
“It’s one of the best feelings you can ever have,” Roush said of the inning-ending catch.
At first, Roush wasn’t certain she could make the play.
“You just never know — I’m always nervous with [line drives],” Roush said. “[Then] I get a little confidence and I make the jump.”
Spartans senior pitcher Ashley Cornelius (3-1) said it was “amazing seeing her diving like that for a catch. She catches something that probably was going to be [an extra-base] hit. It’s so exciting to see.”
Roush ignited the Spartans’ three-run second inning with a lead-off single. After Ashley Saxton sacrifice bunted and reached on an error, Roush scored on Brooke Hoffman’s single and Saxton came home on another error. A third mistake brought Hoffman home for a 4-1 lead.
“You never know what’s going to to happen so you’ve got to make sure you play defense [well],” said Amanda Toth, Howland’s first-year head coach. “Boardman is a good team and they will take advantage of those situations.”
The Tigers (1-1, 1-1 All-American Conference Red Tier) were playing just their second game. Gabby Hartzell started on the mound, then gave way to Sara Price in the fourth inning.
Price, The Vindicator’s girls basketball player of the year with a scholarship to Ball State, struggled with her control. After Cornelius hit a one-out single, Lauren Pavlansky and Lauren Gabriele walked. All three scored on wild pitches for a 7-1 lead.
Hartzell returned to the mound, then gave way to Miller in the sixth inning.
Cornelius scattered eight hits in avenging Monday’s 7-6 loss to the Tigers.
“She showed good discipline today and it paid off for us,” Trell said.
Cornelius enjoyed the sunny, windy conditions.
“It was [nice] to finally be out there and not have to worry about the weather,” Cornelius said. “I think it helped a lot — [didn’t] have to worry about the rain.
“It was definitely great to have the run support,” said Cornelius, who had three of the Spartans’ eight hits.
Hoffman and Pavlansky scored twice for Boardman (3-1, 3-1).
Litz had two hits for the Tigers. Mackenzie Maze and Hartzell both singled and scored.
The Spartans hope to play today against Niles, but the forecast isn’t promising. They are looking forward to Saturday’s trip to Myrtle Beach, S.C., for spring break. Five games are on tap next week.
“It’s really exciting to have one last experience with my team at the beach,” Cornelius said.