Herald staff reports

SOFTBALL

OHSAA Division III Lakeview Sectional

ä Ursuline 4, Brookfield 1 — At Millcreek Park in Youngstown, the season came to a close for Brookfield (5-15) as Casey Lower fired a complete-game 2-hitter (both singles) for the Lady Irish (15-6) to go along with 18 strikeouts.

Brookfield’s Corin Miller also shined on the mound as she struck out 6, walked 1 and only allowed 6 hits.

Brookfield plated its lone run in the 7th when Kodi Brenner singled, stole second and scored on a single by Stephanie Van Meter.

For Ursuline, Nikka Bonamase tripled, Miranda Carkido had 2 doubles and an RBI and Casey Foley ripped a 2-bagger.

“Ursuline is a really good team,” said Brookfield coach Dan Paris. “The girls had a lot of fun this year and things are looking up for us. It was another year of having a young team. We won one TAC (Trumbull Athletic Conference) game this year and we didn’t have any wins last year. We have a bunch of juniors and freshmen coming back next season. Emily Robinson is a fine freshman pitcher who won a game this year and she’ll be back.”

ä Sharon 3, Mercer 2 — At Wengler Field, the host Lady Tigers triumphed for the 2nd time in as many days as Julie Norris notched a complete-game, 8-strikeout pitching performance in which she scattered a half-dozen hits. She did not issue a walk.

Also for Sharon (7-6 in its D-10 region, 10-8 overall) Sam Vallely’s 2-run double highlighted a 3-run 4th frame, then the Lady M’ mustered a 2-run 6th stanza.

Losing hurler Cassie Lipinski fanned 5 in 6 stanzas and allowed only a handful of hits. Brandie Hillmar had a pair of hits for Mercer.

BASEBALL

ä Mercer 12, Sharpsville 9 (5 inn.) — At Mercer’s Veterans Field at Brandy Springs Park, the host Mustangs (3-14) dealt the Devils a difficult hand for the upcoming the District 10 playoffs by scoring 12 unanswered runs.

Sharpsville grabbed an early 9-0 lead thanks to 4 Mercer miscues in the 1st inning, but Mercer’s Ian Dunn quickly quieted the Devils’ bats, limiting them to just 1 hit over the final 5 innings.