The Steel Valley All Stars, a Junior League softball team composed of Canfield and Poland

players, advanced to the penultimate day of the Central Region tournament.

Steel Valley All Stars split

its games Friday in Pendelton, Indiana, as the representatives from Ohio, losing to Illinois 8-0 in the first game of the day, before responding hours later with a 10-3 victory vs. Missouri.

On Thursday, Ohio crushed Iowa in each team’s first game, 16-2, after an eight-run first inning.

Milana Mollenkopf and Harper Darney each had three hits, while Gia Vrona hit a home run. Emma Boccieri joined Mollenkopf in driving in three runs, and Sydney McDonald picked up the win and struck out five in two innings of work.

With the win Friday vs. Missouri, Ohio has secured a spot in at least one game today. The Steel Valley All Stars will play Indiana at 1:30 p.m., and if

they win, will play at 4 p.m. against either Michigan or Illinois, who face each other in the morning’s semifinal.

Whichever two teams advance from today’s action will meet in the Central Region championship game at 2 p.m. with a Junior League Softball World Series spot on the line.

The Steel Valley All Stars reached the Junior League Softball World Series championship game a year ago but lost 5-3 to European champion Czech Republic.