AUSTINTOWN KEEPS ROLLING TO A DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP

BOARDMAN, OH — The Austintown 10U All Stars put the finishing touches on a dominant district run with a statement win Monday night, blanking Canfield 14-0 at the Field of Dreams. The title-clincher came on the back of Lily Mattern, who spun a no-hitter and punched out 10 across four shutout frames.

Mattern was locked in from pitch one, walking just one and slamming the door every time Canfield looked to get anything going. Lights-out stuff when it mattered most.

At the plate, Austintown wasted no time lighting up the scoreboard. Aarleah McGuire started the fire in the first with a knock to center, followed by a Khloe Grimm infield single. Carly Fodor smoked a double to deep center, and Nadia Price tacked on a shot to left to cap a first-inning surge.

They didn’t let up. In the second, a McGuire fielder’s choice, another Fodor double, and a Price RBI single stretched the lead even more.

Then came the third — a five-run avalanche. Brielle Hamley got it rolling with an RBI single, McGuire cleared the bases with a 3-run double, and Grimm kept the party going with another RBI knock.

Canfield’s Brooklyn Eubanks battled but couldn’t slow the Austintown offense, surrendering 12 hits and 14 runs (12 earned) in three innings of work while striking out five.

McGuire owned the middle of the order, going 2-for-3 with four RBIs and handling nine defensive chances without a blemish. Price, Fodor, Grimm, and McGuire each logged two hits, while Price swiped a pair of bags for good measure.

Error-free in the field, lights out in the circle, and clutch at the plate — Austintown checked every box on their way to the district crown.

AUSTINTOWN DOMINATES THEIR WAY TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP

BOARDMAN OH-  It didn’t take long for Austintown’s 10U All-Stars to make their mark on the scoreboard — they unloaded a 13-run haymaker in the top of the first and never looked back, rolling past Canfield 17-1 Wednesday at the Field of Dreams to punch their ticket to the district title game.

Austintown brought the bats early and often. Lily Mattern ripped a two-run double, Camille Williams and Alex Malby each knocked in a pair with RBI singles, and Khloe Grimm chipped in with a walk and an RBI knock later in the inning. Add in a handful of walks and passed balls, and Canfield was buried before they ever got a chance to settle in.

The onslaught didn’t stop there — Austintown tacked on three more in the second behind base hits from Williams and Nadia Price, and another Canfield miscue that plated a run. A passed ball in the third added one more for good measure.

In the circle, Bella McKenzie and Lexi Cossack tag-teamed the pitching duties for Austintown, combining for two clean innings and giving up just one hit between them.

Offensively, Austintown stacked up 11 hits. Williams led the charge, going 2-for-2 with a team-high two RBIs. Eiland and Aarleah McGuire also had two hits apiece, while the lineup showed patience too — drawing eight walks as a squad.

Canfield got singles from Juliana Walters and Sawyer Trout, and Alana Franceschelli drove in their lone run of the game.

Austintown now sits one win away from a district crown, while Canfield drops to the elimination bracket. They’ll get another shot at redemption when they take on the winner of Boardman and Canfield (Grover) for a chance to meet Austintown again in the finals.

CANFIELD STORMS BACK ON POLAND

By Eric Hughes 

BOARDMAN OH- Canfield defeated Poland 12-11 on Tuesday night, coming back from a seven-run deficit to advance in the 10U softball district tournament.

Katarina Falasca hit an RBI single in the top of the first inning to help give Poland an early 3-0 lead. Rilyn Baun responded with an RBI triple in the bottom of the first inning to cut the deficit to 3-2.

Poland had an explosive six-run inning in the top of the third, thanks to RBIs from Gabi Vrona, Alexis Armbrecht, Avery Friedrich, and Kenzie Kivilighan, to take a 9-2 lead.

Canfield responded with six runs of their own in the bottom of the third inning, including an RBI triple by Julianna Walters to drive in two runs, to cut the deficit to 9-8.

Gabi Vrona hit another RBI single in the top of the fifth inning to help extend Poland’s lead to 11-8. Canfield scored a run in the bottom of the fifth inning to cut the deficit to 11-9 and help set the stage for the final inning.

Savannah Hardman hit an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning to make it a one-run ballgame, followed by a walk-off RBI base hit by Makenna Gilmartin to drive in the tying and winning runs and help Canfield complete the comeback.

POLAND JUMPS AHEAD IN FIRST DAY OF DISTRICTS

BOARDMAN OH-  Poland’s 10U squad put on a show Monday night, dropping South Range 14-4 in five innings to keep their district title hopes alive and well.

Preslie Tamburro was the engine that made it all go. The right-hander went the distance in the circle, striking out nine over five frames while giving up just four runs on six hits. But she didn’t stop there—Tamburro was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, ripping two triples and knocking in a run.

The bats were hot all around for Poland. Gabi Vrona sparked a big inning with an inside-the-park homer in the fourth. Katarina Falasca and Avery Friedrich both had monster nights—each finishing with two hits, two RBIs, and two runs scored.

For South Range, Ellie Arundel drove in two with a clutch base knock, and Adrianna Bowers reached twice, scoring once.

Poland now moves on to face Canfield (Carbon) Tuesday at 6:00. South Range heads to the loser’s bracket and will play again Wednesday against the loser of the Boardman vs. Austintown matchup.

CANFIELD TURNS AROUND AND WINS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

BOARDMAN OH- Canfield bounced back and took down Wheelersburg 5-1 on Monday in the winner-take-all championship game of the 10U state tournament.

An early error got Canfield on the board in the first inning.

Reese Grimes singled for Wheelersburg, tying the game at one in the bottom of the first.

The game stayed tight until the fifth inning when Lilly Barber singled, driving in two runs. McKayla Lang then tripled, pushing the lead to 5-1.

Barber was a force on the mound, allowing just four hits and one run over six innings, striking out nine and walking three. Brynn Williams took the loss for Wheelersburg, pitching one and one-third innings, giving up one run on two hits, striking out two, and walking one. Grimes started for Wheelersburg, giving up one hit and four runs (three earned) over four and two-thirds innings, with eight strikeouts and six walks.

Lang drove in two runs, going 1-for-2. Emmie Edenfield, Barber, and Lang each had a hit. Lucy Crowgey led with two walks. Canfield showed patience at the plate, drawing seven walks. They were solid in the field, committing no errors, with Lang handling nine plays.

For Wheelersburg, Grimes went 1-for-2 and drove in a run, while Shalyn Hall led with two hits in two at-bats.

With this win, Canfield clinches the 10U state championship.

WHEELERSBURG FORCES A WINNER TAKE ALL FINAL

BOARDMAN OH- Canfield couldn’t bounce back after a rough start, losing 2-0 to Wheelersburg on Monday in the 10U state championship round. Wheelersburg grabbed the lead in the first inning when Brynn Williams singled, driving in two runs.

Gabby Stack was solid for Canfield, striking out 11, giving up five hits and two runs over six innings, with only one walk.

Reese Grimes was lights out for Wheelersburg, throwing a no-hitter. She struck out eight and walked one over six innings, sealing the win.

Canfield’s defense was flawless, with McKayla Lang leading with 13 chances in the field.

Williams was the star for Wheelersburg, going 2-for-2 and driving in both runs.

With this win, Wheelersburg forces a decisive game against Canfield to crown the state champion.

WHEELERSBURG EARNS THEIR SPOT IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP

BOARDMAN OH- Wheelersburg exploded for nine runs in the fourth inning, cruising to a 12-0 win over Olentangy on Sunday and advancing to the 10U state championship.

The fourth-inning rally featured Reese Stang doubling in two runs, Ava Kate Chamberlain singling in another, Madelyn Bailey doubling in two more, Harper Burgess singling in two, Brynnli Greenhill tripling in one, and Audrey Styles singling in another.

Wheelersburg got on the board early in the second inning with Elle Glockner’s RBI double.

They added to the lead in the third when Greenhill singled and then stole home.

Reese Grimes was dominant on the mound, pitching four hitless, scoreless innings, striking out nine, and walking two.

Wheelersburg racked up 11 hits, with leadoff hitter Greenhill going 2-for-3. They also stole nine bases and were flawless in the field, with Emmalynn Chidsee handling nine chances.

Next up, Wheelersburg faces Canfield in the state championship on Monday. They’ll need to win both games of a doubleheader to take the title.

WHEELERSBURG AVOIDS ELIMINATION FOR ONE MORE DAY

BOARDNAN OH- Reese Grimes was dominant, striking out 16 batters and leading Wheelersburg past Tallmadge 8-2 on Saturday in a state tournament elimination game. Grimes allowed six hits and two runs over six innings with just one walk.

Brynnli Greenhill was a force at the plate, going 3-for-4 with singles in the first, second, and sixth innings.

Wheelersburg jumped ahead in the first inning. Emmalynn Chidsee singled to drive in a run, Grimes grounded out to score another, and Ava-Kate Chamberlain singled to bring in two more.

In the second inning, Greenhill singled and later stole home, adding to Wheelersburg’s lead.

Tallmadge’s Hollie Danforth struggled, giving up four hits and five runs over 1.2 innings, with one strikeout and four walks.

Wheelersburg racked up 13 hits, with Chamberlain going 3-for-3 and leading with two RBIs. Greenhill and Chamberlain each had three hits, while Chidsee and Reese Stang also had multiple hits. Audrey Styles drew two walks, contributing to the team’s total of seven. Wheelersburg ran wild on the bases, stealing 15 times. Defensively, they were solid, committing no errors, with Chidsee handling 16 chances.

For Tallmadge, Makenna Carlton drove in two runs, going 1-for-2. Ellenorah Serian led the team with a 2-for-2 performance. Defensively, Tallmadge was clean, with Carlton fielding 11 chances flawlessly.

Wheelersburg moves on to play Olentangy on Sunday at 10:00 am, staying alive in the tournament for now.

CANFIELD ROLLS ON TO MONDAY

BOARDMAN OH- Canfield rolled over Olentangy 10-0 on Saturday, earning a spot in the state championship on Monday.

They started strong in the first inning with Jessa Deley singling, McKayla Lang doubling, Lydia Handel grounding out, Hailey Reigrut singling, and Emmie Edenfield singling, each bringing in a run.

Canfield tacked on another run in the second thanks to an Olentangy error, pushing the score to 6-0.

The third inning saw more fireworks as Lang doubled in a run, Gabby Stack tripled, scoring two, and Marcella Minoti singled to bring another run home.

Deley earned the win, allowing just one hit and no runs over three innings, striking out seven and walking none. Stack started the game, pitching a hitless, scoreless inning with three strikeouts.

Canfield racked up 10 hits, with Deley and Lang leading the charge. Lang, hitting in the heart of the lineup, went 2-for-2 and drove in two runs. The defense was flawless, with Lang handling 10 chances cleanly.

Canfield now awaits the winner of Olentangy vs. Wheelersburg in Monday’s state championship. Canfield just needs one more win to clinch the title, while their opponent will have to beat them twice in a row.

TALLMADGE AVOIDS ELIMINATION

BOARDMAN OH- Tallmadge 10U came out swinging on Friday, crushing Hamilton 11-2 in a state tournament elimination game.

Tallmadge jumped ahead in the first inning with Lea Smith singling, Hollie Danforth walking, and Ella Benson hitting into a fielder’s choice, each bringing in a run.

The team added three more runs in the third, highlighted by Danforth’s triple on an 0-2 count, pushing the score to 6-1.

The fifth inning saw Tallmadge pile on five more runs. A wild pitch, a single by Lydia Sudzina, an inside-the-park home run by Makenna Carlton, and another single from Smith sealed the deal.

Teresa Coogan took the win for Tallmadge, allowing two hits and two runs over five innings with eight strikeouts and three walks. Brooklynn Myers took the loss for Hamilton, giving up 11 runs (nine earned) on eight hits over six innings, striking out five and walking seven. Sudzina pitched a flawless inning in relief, striking out three and giving up just one hit.

Tallmadge racked up eight hits, with Smith leading the way with two in two at-bats. Kendall Ringer drew two walks, contributing to the team’s seven for the game. Ringer and Carlton stole multiple bases, with the team swiping six total. They were solid in the field, committing no errors, and Carlton was a standout with 14 chances.

For Hamilton, Gia Harness, Ellee Robinson, and Myka Gray each had a hit, with Harness and Robinson driving in one run apiece.

Tallmadge moves on to face Wheelersburg on Saturday at noon in another elimination game, while Hamilton’s tournament run ends here.