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Flashes fight weather in shutout of Ursuline
Gallery
By Greg Gulas
CHAMPION
Opponents have had a tough time this season trying to figure out the juggernaut they call Champion Golden Flashes softball.
Add Mother Nature now to that ever-expanding list.
McKenzie Zigmont tossed a five-hitter, Allison Smith hit her 10th home run and freshman Hannah Gresch added three hits to pace Champion to an 8-0 win over Ursuline on Thursday at the Champion Athletic Club.
Photo Gallery: Champion vs Ursuline Softball
Zigmont led the state’s Division III second-ranked team by striking out five, also forcing the Fighting Irish (9-7) into 13 ground ball and just three fly outs for her 10th consecutive victory of the campaign.
The Flashes battled the weather as mich as the Irish.
Having the game interrupted and pushed back four separate times due to thunder didn’t seem to affect the Champion mound ace.
“My curve was working really well and I actually felt like I came back stronger after the delays,” Zigmont said. “We’re getting ready for the tournament, slowly but surely and while we’re playing really well right now, there’s always room for improvement. Our defensive effort was great today, plus we’re hitting the ball really well right now.”
A run-scoring single by Zigmont staked Champion to the early 2-0 lead in the first inning, stretching the margin to 3-0 in the third frame when Megan Turner scored on a wild pitch by Ursuline twirler Emma Ericson.
Smith’s round-tripper, and run-scoring singles by both Gresch and Carli Swipas extended the Champion (19-0) lead to 6-0 after four innings.
“I couldn’t tell if it was as curve or fast ball, but I love high pitches and it was coming in right where I like them so I swung at it,” Smith added. “I wasn’t trying to hit it over the fence, just trying to hit a line drive in order to get a baserunner and score a few more runs. McKenzie did a great job on the hill today and our line-up is scary. We can hit one through nine and our subs can hit, too. I wouldn’t want to pitch to this team right now because they all have power in order to hit it over the fence.”
In addition to three hits by Bresch, who was pressed into a late starting assignment at the hot corner, the freshman added two runs batted in.
“Most of the pitches that I saw were inside,” Gresch stated. “Those are the kind of pitches that I work on because I feel like I can improve in that area when I am at the plate.”
Champion head coach Cheryl Weaver, who has guided the Golden Flashes to state titles in 2011, 2012 and most recently in 2015, said Zigmont seemed to get stronger as the game progressed.
“McKenzie came out with a fire from the opening pitch and even after the weather delays,” Weaver noted. “Hannah filled in admirably at third base and everyone just did an excellent overall job today.”
Of the Fighting Irish’s seven losses this season, two have been by one run and three others have come in extra innings.
“Champion is a great hitting team and with the caliber of pitching that they have, it’s tough when you have to play catch-up,” Ursuline head coach Mike Kernan said. “We put the ball in play and put some pressure on them, but failed to get the timely hit. You make a few plays and get few hits and things might be a little different, but this is a team and game that I am glad we were able to play.
“We now see what we have to do and a game like this will only help us with tournament play approaching.”