The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Elyria advances to regional title game
Junior clouts home run, drives in 5 against Parma in regional semifinal
CLYDE» With a team full of sensational freshmen, it was a junior who stole the show.
Junior April Howser’s fiveRBI performance propelled Elyria past Parma, 6-2, in a Division I regional semifinal at Joe Wilson Field on May 24.
“Going into the batter’s box I knew I had to do my job for my team. No matter what it is, sac fly, hit, I just have to do my job,” Howser said.
She did her job and then some as she came away with timely at-bats, connecting on a triple, a two-run home run and a pair of sacrifice flies. The big plays seemed to keep the Pioneers (19-4) offense one step ahead of the Redmen (19-4).
“She was definitely Mrs. Clutch today,” Pioneers coach Ken Fenik said. “I couldn’t be happier. There is nobody that works harder than her.”
Perhaps what was most impressive about Howser’s career day was that she did it against two-time first team All-Ohio pitcher Andrea Scali. The vaunted Parma senior, a Kent State commit, ran into trouble, as she, like many this season, succumbed to Elyria’s powerful bats.
“Elyria, they really had a game plan for Scali today and
they just put it into fruition. They just did a really good job,” Redmen coach Darrin Laughlin said.
Scali finished with seven strikeouts and one walk, while allowing six runs, and nine hits.
The Pioneers bats wasted no time getting going, as freshman Riley Zana reached on a walk, followed by Howser’s RBI triple, helping Elyria jump out to a 1-0 lead.
The lead was shortlived as Pioneers freshman pitcher Isabella St. Peter allowed two straight walks. Parma’s Riley Jackson made sure to make her pay with an RBI double, evening the game at 1-1.
While St. Peter, a 14-year old, did allow five walks and found herself in multiple jams, she countered with a playoff career-high eight strikeouts.
Fenik believes St. Peter has come a long way already, and her control will only get better as she matures.
“Understand, she is still only 14 years old. What she has done the last two district games and this game … learning to trust her defense is one of the biggest things I have had to work through with her. She has put in the work and I’m very proud of her for only being a ninth-grader,” Fenik said.
After allowing the RBI, St. Peter notched an impressive strikeout to end the first inning.
Parma battled windy conditions and an error on defense in the second inning as the Pioneers looked to capitalize with runners on second and third. Dierra Hammons took off for home after an infield hit but was thrown out at the plate, keeping the score even.
The error in the inning was part of three on the day for the Redmen.
Elyria put runners on second and third once again. Howser came through with a sacrifice fly, giving the Pioneers the 2-1 lead.
Her teammate, Madison Cruzado, had a hunch that Howser was going to have a special game.
“We knew it. As a team we were like April is going to break out,” Cruzado said.
Cruzado finished 2-for-4, with a single and double in her return to regionals.
Howser’s timely hitting came through again in the fifth as she notched another sacrifice fly, increasing the Pioneer lead, 3-1.
Parma, making their first regional appearance after three straight district final runner-ups, battled back behind a roaring student section who made the trip from the Cleveland suburb. Julia Cepis responed with a home run over the centerfield fence.
St. Peter got out of a jam, despite the Redmen having the bases loaded with three consecutive walks. It was another maturation moment for the young pitcher, who admitted she doesn’t get too nervous, thanks in large part to her travel ball experiences.
“(Travel ball) helps. Sometimes when we’re in the championship I might get a little nervous, but then I just shake it down and keep going,” St. Peter said.
Junior Keerah Williams added an RBI single, extending the Pioneers lead to 4-2.
In the seventh, with her family having a front row view of the game, Howser added the cherry on top of her memorable trip to regionals, as she crushed a two-run homer over the left centerfield fence, giving the Pioneers a 6-2 lead.
Facing one of the best pitchers in the state, Howser felt her confidence growing throughout the game.
“Once I hit the first ball, I said, ‘I think this is going to be a good game for me,’ ” Howser said.
Laughlin admitted he hadn’t faced an offense quite like Elyria’s.
“(Elyria) is a tough program. Ken runs a tight ship and he always does a really good job with his girls. They had a game plan coming in and they executed it to the fullest. Just a tough game,” Laughlin said.
Hard-fought games like these are what coach Fenik believes builds champions and he wants his players to remember just who they are out there fighting for.
“I mentioned to the girls, I told them, you know, you won’t remember a lot of the people you had in your history class, but you’ll never forget your teammates. This is a great bunch. I’m very proud of all of them and how they have matured this year,” Fenik said.
Elyria will play Toledo Whitmer in the regional final at Clyde High School at noon on May 27.