Byers’ homers help Mahoning All-Stars earn a split in Sferra Classic

June 7, 2017 at 12:10a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

West Branch catcher Bailey Byers wasn’t planning to play both games of Tuesday’s 14th annual Bill Sferra Softball Classic that had some fans at Youngstown State’s Softball Complex watching in shorts and others huddled under blankets.

But when the Mahoning squad was short a catcher for round two, the Warriors backstop agreed to go back behind the plate. Her teammates are glad she did.

“She’s really an amazing player,” Cardinal Mooney shortstop Bridget Sweeney said after Mahoning defeated Trumbull 9-4 to earn a split. Byers homered twice.

“It was fun,” said Byers, who last month broke the Ohio record for homers in a season — 18 — set by Taylor Kirian of New Riegel in 2013. Byers finished with 21, a number that number was later surpassed by Williamsburg’s Carly Wagers with 24.

The Classic featured two eight-inning games honoring Mahoning Valley seniors.

In the second game, Trumbull scored twice in the seventh inning to tie Mahoning 4-4. Mathews’ Noelle Migliozzi doubled to lead off the frame. Her high school teammate Maitlyn Simon and Newton Falls’ Hallie Stamm then hit RBI singles.

In the eighth inning, talk in the press box centered on the format for extra innings. Canfield’s Ally Sammarco ended the discussion as she singled and then scored on a triple by West Branch’s Maddie Pidgeon.

An error put Fitch’s McKenzie Luknis on base before Sweeney’s RBI double. Byers ended the scoring with a two-run shot to right-center field.

Trumbull won the first game, 5-3. The contest began as a pitching duel between travel ball teammates McKenzie Zigmont (Champion) and Caragyn Yanek (South Range).

Zigmont was pitching three days after her Golden Flashes won the Division III state title with a 5-1 victory over Wheelersburg. Yanek’s Raiders lost in the district semifinals to Mooney, but she hasn’t been idle.

“I threw a little bit over the weekend in Columbus,” said Yanek, who will pitch for the University of Findlay next season. “This was a lot of fun and I’m glad I got to play against my girl Kenzie. She’s a beast and I love playing with her.”

Trumbull’s victory had a Champion flavor to it. Molly Williams, the catcher for the Golden Flashes’ title runs in 2015 and last weekend, opened the game with a triple off Yanek. Howland’s Leah Pollifrone singled her home then scored on Zigmont’s single for a 2-0 lead.

Williams caught four innings then played shortstop, snagging a grounder and throwing a batter out.

“It was a ton of fun out there,” said Williams, whose next assignment will be to enlist in the U.S. Navy. “I was happy I got a ball out there.”

In the second inning, Champion’s Alexandra Steigerwald hit a two-out double and scored on a hit by Girard’s Jessica Dohy. Steigerwald also beat out a bunt for another hit. During the season, she often did not bat while playing center field.

“Oh my gosh, it was awesome,” Steigerwald said of batting. “I was really excited I had this chance.”

In the sixth inning, Pollifrone hit a RBI double then scored on another Zigmont hit. It’s possible the Tiger will play soccer and softball at Lake Erie College.

“Soccer will be my main sport,” said Pollifrone, who plans to major in biology to one day become a physician’s assistant. “Just to get back out on the field, it was a lot of fun.”

For Mahoning, South Range’s Morgan Smith, Sweeney and Byers had the RBIs. Sweeney’s came on a double and Byers’ a triple.