Former teammates face off in playoffs

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Sis Woods

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Barb Balestrino

By TOM WILLIAMS

williams@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

For more than 20 years, Sis Woods and Barb Balestrino

were slow-pitch softball teammates.

Sometimes, their softball paths journey to separate dugouts. Such will be the case on Tuesday when Ursuline (23-2) faces West Branch (24-3) in the Division II district semifinals at Youngstown State University.

“We’ve been teammates for a long time,” said Balestrino, an Ursuline assistant coach for 19 seasons. “I root for her every game, except against us.

“I know how she coaches because I know how she played,” Balestrino said. “She knows how I played.”

Woods, the Warriors’ softball head coach for 33 seasons, said they remain friends even though their playing days together are over.

“I still play some,” said Woods, who guided the Warriors to the state tournament last spring, finishing state runner-up. “We’re friends — she’s a much better hitter.”

Unlike some opposing coaches who don’t mess with pleasantries, Balestrino said, “We’ll hug at the beginning of the game and when it’s over, we’ll congratulate whoever wins it.

In their slow-pitch days, Woods pitched and Balestrino played first base.

“We were probably the two most intense people on the team,” Balestrino said. “Her teams are always well-coached and she knows we, too, are disciplined.

“We’re just going to battle.”

Undefeated Poland (23-0) will play Cardinal Mooney (20-4) in the other semifinal.

“I don’t remember four 20-win teams in one bracket battling it out,” Ursuline head coach Michael Kernan said. “We’ve had a lot of good quality teams in a bracket, but four 20-win teams?”

Poland’s Ashley Wire is the lone senior pitcher who will to start. Cardinal Mooney freshman Alaina Francis pitched in the Cardinals’ sectional final 9-2 win over Hubbard. Ursuline sophomore Emily Holland will oppose West Branch freshman Jordan Anderson.

In recent years, the Div. II district tournament was held at Alliance High School.

The Irish play their home games at YSU, which has a turf outfield.

“We’ve never played at YSU,” Woods said.

Tuesday’s winners will play Thursday for a regional berth.

District week kicks off on Monday. Boardman and Austintown Fitch will travel to Solon for the Div. I district. Boardman will face top-seeded Hudson while Fitch takes on second-seeded Solon.

Jefferson is hosting the area’s other Div. II tournament. Lakeview will play Jefferson on Tuesday.

In Div. III, South Range (18-9) has the top seed in the district on the Raiders’ field. They’ll play Springfield on Tuesday. The other semifinal has Crestview playing Waterloo.

Two-time defending state champion Champion has the top seed at the Leavittsburg district. The Golden Flashes will play today’s Conneaut/Wickliffe winner on Tuesday. LaBrae, the host team, will play Newton Falls in the other semifinal.

Lisbon has the top seed for Monday’s Div. IV district at Jackson-Milton. The Blue Devils will play East Canton in one semifinal and McDonald will face East Palestine in the other.

Candlelite Knolls in Bazetta Township north of Warren is the other are Div. IV tournament site. Monday, Bristol will play Badger and Mathews will take on Brookfield.