POLAND MAKES RETURN TO DISTRICTS
POLAND OH – The Poland Seminary girls softball team improved to 13-8 on the season with a sectional semi-final victory over Canton South by a score of 13-3. Senior Cleveland State University commit Katie McDonald picked up her 13th victory in the circle striking out 11 Wildcat batters and scattering 6 hits.
Canton South jumped on the board in the first inning scoring a run after Hannah Valentine doubled and then scored off of Evelyn Lynn’s single. Poland got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the 2nd after Meridith Trevis doubled to left and scored after Kylee Hudran singled to right field. The two contenders exchanged two runs each in the 3rd inning to tie the score at 3 apiece with Poland shortstop Mary Brant homering to right field after the previous batter reached on an error.
A big inning for the Lady Bulldogs occurred in the bottom of the 4th after Elianna Thompson singled, stole second and then scored off of Leanna Boccieri’s double. Boccieri scored when Brant doubled to left. Brant scored after Leanne Williams drove her in with a single to centerfield making the score 6-3. From there the Lady Bulldogs didn’t look back, pounding 17 hits in the game and scored 2 in the fifth and 5 in the sixth frame to 10 run the Wildcats.
Mary Brant led the Bulldogs staying perfect at the plate with 5 hits, 3 doubles and a homerun for 8 rbi’s. Elianna Thompson and Leanne Williams collected 3 hits each while Trevis finished with 2 hits including a double.
Evelyn Lynn had 3 hits and Hannah Valentine had 2 hits including a double for the Wildcats. Valentine took the loss on the mound going 4 complete innings and scattering 10 hits.
Poland resumes play against Northeast 8 rival Girard on Friday, at 5pm at Poland Seminary High School and matches up for the sectional final against Brookfield next Tuesday, at 3:30pm at South Range High School.
*Contributed By John Boccieri
