GRISDALE POWERS POLAND TO GAME 1 WIN OVER RAIDERS
CANFIELD OH- It doesn’t matter the sport, the female athletes between South Range and Poland have formed a huge rivalry inside the NE8, and Monday’s game on the softball diamond did not disappoint. In a back and forth game, Poland got the last laugh beating South Range on the road 8-7 to take a lead on the Raiders in the NE8.
Poland started in a hurry as Emily Denny worked a leadoff walk, and then Jackie Grisdale launched her first HR of the season to dead center to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead.
The Raiders got on the board in the third when Bree Kohler hit a sacrifice fly to cut the lead in half, and then Juli Stachowicz hammered a 2 RBI double to give the Raiders a 3-2 lead.
The lead didn’t last long, as the Bulldogs drew back to back walks to lead off the 4th, and Leanne Williams hit an RBI single to tie the game. Grisdale then struck again for a 2 RBI double to give Poland back the 5-3 lead.
South Range came right back in the bottom of the frame when Reagan Irons hit a 2 out 2 RBI single to tie the game up at 5. Just like innings before though, Poland came right back and scored on a Gia Schiavonne single, and then again on a Grisdale RBI groundout. In the top of the seventh while leading 7-5, Abby Farber hit a solo shot to push the Bulldogs lead to 8-5.
That run would prove paramount as the Raiders set up a rally in the bottom of the 7th. Irons led off the inning with a double, and then after being sacrificed over Kohler knocked her in with a RBI triple to right. Kohler then scored on a passes ball to make it 8-7. Poland was able to get the final out though to preserve the 8-7 win.
Grisdale led the offense with 5 RBI on the night, she had 4 on the season coming in to the day. Abby Farber went 2-4 with what ended up being the game winning run with her solo shot. Schiavonne got on base every time she went to the plate going 3-3 with a walk, a run scored, and a RBI.
Katie McDonald battled the whole game, but got the win in the circle. Her final line was 7.0 IP 9 H 5 ER 7 K 2 BB.
The Raiders offense was led by Irons who went 3-4 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Kohler went 2-3 with 2 RBI. Stachowicz also collected 2 RBI on the day going 2-4.
Kohler took the loss in the circle for the Raiders. Her final line was 7.0 IP 9 H 8 ER 5 BB 7 K.
The Raiders and Bulldogs are slated to matchup against tomorrow night at Poland.
