Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes. Boardman senior Jenna Madick scores the game-winning run for the Spartans during the bottom of the 4th innning Tuesday night. Boardman beat Poland, 1-0.

BOARDMAN — When a pair of skillful pitchers step into the circle against each other, two things are guaranteed, hits will be hard to come by, and a few miscues could be the difference between a win or a loss.

Boardman’s lone run wasn’t much, but it was all the Spartans needed to defend their home turf and fend off Poland in a 1-0 decision Thursday evening before making their getaway to Florida for a series of contests.

Senior Maddie Lester was stellar for the Spartans, fanning five Bulldog hitters and only allowing three hits in her complete game shutout.

“She was unreal today, Maddie started out a little tough this year, kinda working through some things mechanically, but today she put it all together against a really good team,” Boardman coach Fred Mootz said.

“Before the game I went to her, and said how are you feeling, she said I feel great coach, and we believe in her. She’s our senior, she’s our leader.

“She really worked ahead of batters which is key, ske kept the ball down. When you keep the ball down, a lot of good things happen.”

Poland ace Katie McDonald fanned six hitters while providing Boardman with a minimal number of chances on offense as she went toe-to-toe with Lester throughout a majority of the evening.

Heads up baserunning allowed Boardman (6-3) to finally push a run across during the bottom of the fourth when courtesy runner Jenna Madick scored on a pass ball, set up by a single from senior Nadia Rawhneh.

Lester did find herself in a bit of a jam during the top of the 7th, but a pair of defensive plays eliminated lead runners in back-to-back plays.

With two down, Poland (5-3) did have the tying run on third, with the go-ahead run on first, but Lester induced Poland junior Ella Gaffney into a grounder directly toward third-baseman Tori Strines who tossed the ball over to first baseman Cassidy Bryan for the final out.

Playing a clean game was the deciding factor for Boardman with 14 Poland outs coming from grounders.

“I feel like my movement was really there today, my speed was up a little bit and I feel like I definitely used that to my advantage,” Lester said about keeping Poland from stringing hits together. “It’s really about keeping myself mentally in the same mindset, still the same game, don’t let it get to you, just focus on the next batter. You can’t let things get to you, you can’t let the pressure get to you.

“Games like these definitely are the most exciting, and they’re the most fun to be a part of, especially to get the win at the end of the game.”

Boardman senior Jenna Olexa and sophomore Madison Wymer each tallied a pair of hits. For Poland, Abby Farber reached on a hard-hit double to center field, Sophia Dedo and McDonald each added a single.

Bulldogs coach Jim Serich knew that every play carried importance, more so in a pitcher’s duel.

“We just tell them, after the first time through, adjust the second time through, and try to find out where (Lester) is working you and swing to your strengths, but she kept us off balance,” Serich said before applauding his own pitcher. “Katie does that every time she’s in the circle, we know what we get out of Katie, she’ll hold most teams to three runs or less, and give us a chance every time.”

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