BOARDMAN — Warren G. Harding enjoyed a run-filled fifth inning and held off a late rally to defeat Cardinal Mooney 15-10 on Friday at the Fields of Dreams in Boardman.
The Raiders scored nine runs in the top of the fifth and nearly run-ruled the Cardinals before shutting down a three-run seventh to exit Boardman with a victory.
“Complete team effort. Everybody played well. Hit the ball really well. Starting to come around,” Harding head coach Rick Riley said.
After the game’s leadoff batter reached base on an infield error, Harding took advantage and scored three runs in the top of the first inning.
An errant throw from the outfield allowed two Raiders to score, and another error two batters later scored Harding’s third run of the opening inning.
Mooney responded with a pair of runs of its own; starting pitcher Julianna Ramos drove in both on a single to right field.
The Cardinals took the lead the following inning after Grace Rinaldi drove in Angela Bettura with a double to left field, and then Rinaldi scored on an error.
After a scoreless third inning, Harding recaptured the lead in the fourth.
Ky’Ziya Minor’s RBI single tied the game at four runs apiece before Tyra Myrick raced home following a passed ball.
Fortunately for the Cardinals, they limited Harding to just two runs. The Raiders grounded out and left the bases loaded to end the half-inning.
Mooney was not as fortunate in the fifth inning, as Harding poured in runs to threaten triggering the mercy rule.
Bri’Asia Freeman got things started with an RBI double and was quickly followed by three consecutive at-bats in which runs were scored.
Harding utilized well-placed bunts amid the string of runs, with Mooney’s defense almost helpless while watching the Raiders run up the score.
“The girls put the balls exactly where they wanted to,” Riley said. “I mean, it was the whole team. Every bunt was right where it was supposed to be. And then the girls that are supposed to hit rockets, hit rockets.”
In total, Harding added nine runs, taking a 10-run lead in the process. Mooney narrowly avoided being run-ruled in the bottom of the fifth following a Hannah LaPlante single to right field.
Harding again improved its advantage to 10 runs in the sixth inning, and Mooney similarly scored to avoid a premature ending to Friday’s game. The Cardinals’ Giada DeSantis and Delanie Olesh scored to cut the deficit to eight heading into the final frame.
Mooney, much to the delight of head coach Rich Stickel, did not give up despite the unlikeliness of a comeback. The Cardinals scored three runs, including the final on an Olesh double to right, to pull within five runs.
That is as close as Mooney could get, however, as Ramos grounded out to Harding third baseman Freeman for the final out.
“We had one bad inning, and it’s hard to come back from that one inning,” Stickel said. “But like I told them out there, the fight was there, they never gave up and I was proud of the way they came back.”
Both teams are in the final stages of the regular season and know their first postseason opponent.
Mooney will play at Liberty in its sectional final on Wednesday.
“It’s the end of the year, and they are starting to come along,” Stickel said. “They’re a young team. We got three freshmen: catcher, freshman third baseman, freshman shortstop. So we’re young. We’re learning as we go, but they’re getting better. They’re starting to know the game better.”
Similarly, Harding has a relatively young roster heading into its first-round matchup, a district semifinal game vs. Brecksville-Broadview Heights on May 19.
“Having all these freshmen and sophomores, they’re gaining experience,” Riley said. “I think we’re at nine or 10 wins now, so they’re coming around. Still a lot of sloppy stuff to fix, but I think they’ll be ready when playoff time rolls around.”
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