Staff photo / Brian Yauger Ursuline’s Erika Peart slides into third base to beat Champion pitcher Gabby Gradishar’s tag.

CHAMPION — Two of the area’s top programs met up Thursday with Champion welcoming Ursuline to town.

The young Golden Flashes squad took some punches, but delivered a few back of their own, knocking off the Fighting Irish, 6-2.

After establishing a 3-0 lead, Ursuline clawed its way back into the game with some well-placed balls in the third and fourth inning. With additional runners in scoring position for the Irish in each of those innings, Champion didn’t melt. The team stayed strong, and with the help of pitcher Gabby Gradishar, the Flashes escaped those innings with a single run surrendered in each.

“Gabby stayed strong and I think (the girls) see how some of the older girls carry themselves, and they hang in there tough, and that’s just great for the younger girls to see,” coach Cheryl Weaver said. “As long as they keep doing that and mentoring those young ladies, they’ll be all right.”

Gradishar racked up 14 strikeouts on the afternoon, and the sophomore is proving to be a flamethrower in the circle.

Champion pulled away in the bottom of the fifth, starting off with senior Morgan Davis blasting a deep triple that scored sophomore Addison Warzala and junior Bella Meyer. Davis was sent right home by Abigail Meadors to put the Flashes up 6-2, and Gradishar closed the game out in the circle.

Ursuline falls to 2-2 on the season. The Irish are battling some bumps and bruises along with the typical early-season growing pains. With that said, coach Kristina Dugan is excited at the flashes being shown by her squad.

“I think we’re battling a few injuries and definitely some girls stepping up into new roles,” Dugan said. “I think we’re working on some kinks, I don’t think people have seen our best yet, but at the same time, I am excited for the potential that I see.”

Not melting when Champion got that early lead is a positive sign.

“I don’t think we gave up,” Dugan said. “I think that we made some mistakes, but we were at least able to bounce back to not make it totally out of the realm that we couldn’t come back. I just would like to see us come back (next time), that’s all.”

Ursuline will be spending the following week down in Myrtle Beach which provides a ton of help for the Irish going forward. Namely, less interruptions due to the weather.

“I think not knowing your opponent will be good for tournament time,” Dugan said. “But I also think that the fact that we get to have reps and good weather, we don’t have to worry about cancellations or buses or this or that, I think that will be just good. It’s also going to be a good team-bonding experience. It’ll be good for us.”

The Flashes sit at 5-1 after the victory, with the only loss coming in a 2-0 defeat to a dangerous Canfield squad. Through six games, Champion has tallied 76 total runs while surrendering only five. They hope to keep this success rolling into the weekend as the Flashes will be partaking in a weekend showdown with two of the top programs in northeast Ohio.

On Saturday, Champion will take on Marlington and North Canton Hoover. Then next week is a big week in league play as the Flashes have home-and-homes with two of their biggest competitors in the league, Garfield and Brookfield. They’ll face Garfield on Monday and Tuesday, and Brookfield on Thursday and Friday.