Staff photo / Joel Whetzel Boardman pitcher Tori Strines throws a pitch during the first inning of the Spartans’ 2-1 loss to Walsh Jesuit in the Division 1 Massillon District championship game Thursday.

MASSILLON — It’s been a postseason of close calls for Boardman.

The 14-seed Spartans opened their playoff run with a 3-0 victory over 16-seed Uniontown Lake, and followed by upsetting 3-seed New Philadelphia 3-0 in the Division I Massillon District semifinals.

On Thursday, the magic ran out, as the Spartans fell to 5-seed Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit, 2-1, in the title game.

“I’m proud,” said Boardman coach Fred Mootz. “Nobody expected us to be here. We came in as a 14-seed, and nobody gave us credit and nobody thought we’d be in the last game out of them. I got everything I could (from the team).”

The Spartans (12-15) were never out of the mix, trailing 2-0 after two innings before cutting that deficit to 2-1 in the third on a sacrifice fly from Tori Strines.

For the rest of the day, however, missed opportunities proved to be Boardman’s undoing. The Spartans stranded five baserunners in a game that gave few opportunities to either team. In all, Boardman registered three hits — one each from Dana Haus, Cassidy Bryan and Sofia Hoffman — and drew two walks against Walsh Jesuit standout Natalie Susa.

The ace went the distance for the Warriors (17-3) and struck out 12 Spartans.

Boardman threatened in both the fifth and seventh innings, however. In the fifth, the Spartans put two on with just one out before Susa struck out the next two batters to stymie the rally. In the seventh, Maddie Dravecky drew a leadoff walk and then Josie Porter came in to pinch run for her. Porter advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, but was caught stealing at third on a close play after the ball initially had gotten away from Walsh Jesuit’s catcher. Susa then earned a groundout to end the game.

“Unfortunately, we went up against a great pitcher,” Mootz said. “Susa has phenomenal stuff. … We had runners in scoring position many times, and then we were unable to deliver, unfortunately.”

For her part, Strines kept Boardman in the game with her pitching. The freshman threw six innings and gave up two runs on six hits and two walks. She fanned four in the game.

Walsh Jesuit struck in the first inning on an RBI single from MaKayla McGee, and then in the second inning tacked on its other run on an RBI single from Sienna Tepley.

Strines had been impressive all postseason. She shut out Lake in a complete game, and then held New Philadelphia to three runs in eight innings of work in the semifinals.

“She pitched an unbelievable game, and she’s kept us in every game the last two weeks,” Mootz said of Strines. “She’s as tough as nails. No matter what I do, she goes out there and she keeps the games competitive.”

The Spartans now will graduate 10 seniors from this year’s team: Porter, Jenna Madick, Nadia Rowhneh, Bryan, Haus, Madison Lester, Bella Eliser, Jenna Olexa, Samantha Hoffman and Sofia Hoffman.

“They’re amazing,” Mootz said of his departing core. “It’s going to be tough. They were a good group, so I’m going to miss every one of them. They’re amazing kids, they come from amazing families, and I’m going to miss them dearly.”