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Unbeaten Poland softball team outlasts Ursuline
Unbeaten Poland softball team outlasts Ursuline
By Dan Hiner
Youngstown
Destiny Goodnight came three inches shy of sending the Ursuline softball team to regionals. Instead, the ball was ruled foul, and Poland beat the Irish 7-6 in a Division II district title Thursday at YSU Softball Complex.
Goodnight had runners on first and third when she sent a two-out line drive down the third-base line in the top of the seventh inning. The runners all advanced, but the umpires met to discuss the call.
After the umpires ruled the ball foul, Poland pitcher Ashley Wire got Goodnight to fly out to center field to end the game.
“They say baseball, softball is a game of inches,” Poland head coach Jim Serich said.
Wire admitted she was frustrated that the call took a while, but knew she could work out of the jam.
“I still had faith in our team, so I knew no matter what happened we were gonna be fine,” Wire said.
Wire allowed six runs on 11 hits and five walks. She struck out five in a complete game, throwing 168 pitches.
“[Wire] gutted it out and [Ursuline’s] a great hitting team,” Serich said. “For her to hold them like she did, that just goes to show you all the work she put in in the winter and all the work she’s put in in the spring.”
Camryn Lattanzio was 2 for 3 with a double and four RBIs for the Bulldogs (26-0).
Gia Caldrone went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a run scored for Ursuline (25-3).
Emily Holland started the game for the Irish, but was pulled with no outs and the bases loaded in the second inning. Emma Ericson entered in relief before Holland returned to the circle in the fourth.
Holland allowed three runs — two earned — on three hits and two walks, striking out one in 31/3 innings. Ericson allowed four runs on three hits and four walks in the loss. Ericson struck out one in 22/3 innings.
Maris Barbato hit a lead-off home run, Goodnight hit a triple, Gia Caldrone followed with a double and Julia Nutter drove in Caldrone on a single. But Ursuline’s 3-0 lead didn’t last long.
Brooke Bobbey drew a bases-loaded walk in the second to get the Bulldogs on the board. Camryn Lattanzio later hit a two-out, three-run double into left-center field to give Poland the lead.
“As a team, we just like to stay energetic,” Lattanzio said. “When you’re happy and into the game, you’re gonna get hits. When one hit goes, they’re contagious.”
Lattanzio drove in a run on a bases-loaded popout in the fourth. The play was originally ruled a hit after the ball fell out of the glove of Holland, who was playing first base. The call was changed to an out via infield fly rule. Lauren Sienkiewicz later hit a two-run double to left field for a 7-3 lead.
The Irish scored three runs in the sixth on a single by Barbato and doubles by Goodnight and Caldrone.
“[Poland] made it happen when they put runners on. We didn’t execute when we put runners on,” Ursuline head coach Michael Kernan said. “We just made a couple errors, walked a couple batters and they got some clutch hitting.”
The Bulldogs will play Mogadore Field at 5 p.m. Wednesday in a regional final at Akron Firestone Stadium.
Field beat Tallmadge 2-0 to win the Canton district Wednesday.
“Two years ago, we were .500. Last year we won 17 or 18 games,” Serich said. “It’s just been a steady progression of getting better, putting in the work and doing what you’re supposed to do.”