Southern adds another sectional title

Morning Journal/Ron Firth
Southern’s Jocy Richards slides into third base as East Canton shortstop Hannah Spencer takes the throw Wednesday. Southern’s Cheyenne Buzzard and Destiny Huffman (behind) score on the play.

EAST CANTON — The Southern Local softball team liked going to the district tournament for the first time last year so much the Indians were determined to go back.

The 11th-seeded Indians outlasted 10th-seeded East Canton, 6-5, in 12 innings to capture their second straight Division IV sectional title Wednesday.

It was Southern’s second win over the Hornets in less than a week. Southern also won 12-7 in seven innings Saturday.

Southern improves to 10-7 and will play sixth-seeded Southington in the Dalton district semifinal at 5 p.m. Monday. Southington beat Southern 10-0 in the district semifinals last year.

Southern pitcher Alexis Ensinger threw 176 pitches in the complete-game effort. She struck out 13 and walked none while allowing 12 hits and five earned runs.

Makenna Jones totaled three hits, two RBIs and two runs for the Indians.

The Indians scored three runs in the top of the 12th to take a 6-3 lead. Gianna Pecorelli singled to left to start the inning and Kennedy Lewis was then hit by a pitch. Jones followed with a two-run single. Cheyenne Buzzard then grounded into a fielder’s choice and Jones scored on a throwing error.

East Canton rallied in the bottom of the 12th as Sarah Helms singled and scored on Audrey Miller’s triple. Audrey Miller came home on a fielder’s choice by Jenna Miller to close the deficit to 6-5. Ensinger recorded her 13th strikeout to end the game.

The Indians jumped out to a 3-0 lead with three unearned runs in the second inning. A pair of East Canton two-out errors along with three walks and one hit by pitch led to the three runs.

East Canton tied the score in the bottom of the third with four singles, including three bloop singles over the right side of the infield. Hannah Spencer’s two-run single tied the score at 3-3.

Meira Rice took the loss as she had threw 153 pitches while striking out eight, walking five and hitting five batters. Three of the six runs she surrendered were earned.

Southern is scheduled to host Beaver Local in a regular-season game today.

S: 0-3-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-3–6- 7-6

E: 0-0-3-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-2–5-12-9

Badger 4,

East Palestine 1

UNITY — No. 15 seed Badger eliminated No. 14 seed East Palestine 4-1 in a Div. IV sectional final on Wednesday at Ace of Diamonds.

Badger (10-8) advances to meet No. 1 seed Mathews at 4 p.m. on Monday at Jackson-Milton in the district semifinal.

Poland 17, United 2

HANOVERTON — Lillian McDonald had a home run, double and four RBIs as No. 9 seed Poland pulled away from No. 6 seed United 17-2 in five innings on Wednesday in a Div. III sectional final at United Local High School.

Mary Brant added two singles, a double and three RBIs for Poland.

Olivia Horn got the win for Poland as she struck out five and walked two.

Mati Zines took the loss for the Eagles as she gave up 12 earned runs while walking two and striking out one.

Zines had a double at the plate and Samantha Lippiatt had a triple. Madelyn Lucas had a hit and two RBIs.

Poland advances to the district tournament where it will meet the winner of today’s Canton South at South Range game oat 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday at South Range High School. South Range is the No. 2 seed, while Canton South is the No. 12 seed.

United fell to 18-5.

P: 3-7-0-2-5–17-20-2

U: 0-0-0-0-2– 2- 4-5

New Philadelphia 20, East Liverpool 0

NEW PHILADELPHIA — East Liverpool was limted to two hits in a 20-0 five-inning loss to New Philadelphia in a Div. II sectional opener on Wednesday.

Jillian Howard struck out 12 Potters in gaining the victory in the circle.

Madison Wright had two hits including a home run with four RBIs for the winners.

Cate Davis and Kylee Quimby had hits for the Potters.

Tatum Fink was the losing pitcher as she struck out five and walked two while giving up 12 earned runs.

New Philadelphia (14-9) will be at No. 2 seed John Glenn on Friday.

EL: 0-0-0-0-0– 0- 2-5

NP: 8-5-3-4-x–20-15-0