North Canton Hoover 1-0 Div. I winner over Elyria

Triad fell behind in the fourth inning and lost its Div. IV battle to Danville.

AKRON (AP) — Erin Riccardi singled in McKenna Russ with the winning run with two outs in the 10th inning to give North Canton Hoover a 1-0 victory over Elyria in the Division I state championship game at Firestone Stadium Saturday night.

The two two-out singles — Russ stole second before racing home with the only run — made a winner of Jessica Simpson, who threw 10 innings of two-hit, shutout ball. She struck out six and walked one.

Riccardi and Russ had each struck out in their first three trips to the plate before saving their best for last.

It was another heartbreaking ending for Elyria (28-2), ranked No. 1 in the state coaches poll. The Pioneers lost in the title game for the third year in a row — including two years ago to Hoover. They were also No. 1 when they lost to Hudson 3-0 in the 2007 title game.

Hebron Lakewood 5, Wellington 3

Lindsay Barrett hit a three-run homer and Emily Voehringer added a two-run double in a five-run third inning rally that powered Hebron Lakewood in the Div. III championship game.

Alissa Birkhimer pitched a complete-game six-hitter, striking out eight and walking two while running her record to 30-2.

Danville 4, N. Lewisburg Triad 2

Baihley Presley homered and gave up one earned run while pitching a complete game to lead Danville in the Div. IV state championship game.

Presley’s fourth inning home run gave Danville (22-6) the lead for good.

The Blue Devils scored two more runs in the sixth after Hannah Matheny reached on an error and Presley singled. Molly Pugh drove in Matheny on a fielder’s choice, and Kelsey Durbin followed that with a one-out grounder to the pitcher that scored Presley.

Down to their last out in the seventh, Britney Graves singled and Morgan Perry doubled for Triad (21-10). With Amber Herron batting, Graves scored and Perry advanced to third on a passed ball.

But Presley then got Herron to ground out to first to seal the win.