Staff photo / Nathanael Hawthorne The Champion softball team hoists the district trophy after defeating Lakeview 2-0 Thursday night at LaBrae.

LEAVITTSBURG — All season, the Champion Golden Flashes’ offense has complimented the pitching efforts.

Thursday, however, Gabby Gradishar stepped up in a big way.

The sophomore hurler was an out from perfection when she gave up the lone Lakeview hit in Thursday night’s 2-0 win in the Division III Northeast 2 district title game.

Champion head coach Cheryl Weaver said Gradishar’s performance was exactly what she expected.

“She wanted this really bad,” Weaver said. “It’s too bad (Lakeview) got one hit, but, you know what, hats off to them. It was a great game.”

Things started out well for Champion. Morgan Davis reached on an error and came around to score on a single from Abigail Meadors. The next three innings, however, the Champion offense was cooled by Lakeview starter Ava Bacon. Weaver said Bacon’s performance was strong.

“I give all the credit to (Bacon). She kept us off balance for a bit, but then we were able to score,” Weaver said. “The two (runs) were enough, thank goodness.”

In the top of the fifth inning, the top of Champion’s order was due up. Gradishar singled and was moved to third on a bunt and a ground out to Bacon. Meadors, again, stepped up and delivered a single that scored Gradishar.

Champion finished the game with five hits.

Speaking on her performance Thursday, Gradishar said she was looking forward to a chance at a district title as well as some stiff competition from Lakeview.

“It was really tough competition from Lakeview. It was a great game,” she said.

In preparation for the game, coming off a 15-0 thrashing of Wickliffe, Gradishar said the team’s confidence and energy level was high.

“Our energy was up and practice (Wednesday) was fun knowing we had a great game ahead,” she said.

On the other side of the field, following the Ohio High School Athletic Association district trophy presentation, Lakeview head coach David Kelm spoke to the team and, with tears in his eyes, boasted how proud he was of the growth of the Lakeview program this season.

“I’m so proud. The group was absolutely phenomenal from the start,” Kelm said. “These kids played so hard and I think we showed up wanting to set a name for this program to stand us apart and I think we did it with this group.”

In the circle for Lakeview, Bacon pitched all six innings, striking out five along the way. Coming into the game, Kelm said the game plan was simple.

“The game plan was to score more runs than the other team in 21 outs. We did the 21 outs but couldn’t get the runs together,” Kelm said.

Lakeview’s skipper also spoke highly of Champion’s program, saying the team was tough.

“Phenomenal team year in and year out,” he said. “To be able to play a game against that program, that team, and take it to seven (innings) and be threatening that whole time, I loved it. It was a huge accomplishment for this team.”

As Champion advances, the team will play Keystone High School next Wednesday in the Region 9 semifinal game. Looking ahead to the game, Weaver said they’ll do their homework on Keystone.

“We’ll see what they do and what their pitcher is like. That’s about all we can do because now you typically play teams you don’t see. This is exciting,” she said.

Gradishar also said the team knows the preparation for the next game will be challenging.

“It’s going to be hard work and going at it in practice knowing we’re going to play tough competition. We have to get back into it,” she said.