PERRY–Perry shut out visiting Jefferson, 4-0, in a Division IV district semifinal on Tuesday.
The Pirates plated a run in the first and added three more in the second. They held on behind an airtight defense and now will play for a district championship on Thursday.
“Anytime you can get ahead and get a lead, it puts less pressure on our pitcher and the defense,” said Perry head coach Michelle Carino. “We were able to relax and play very solid defense. I’m proud of how we pitched, played very good defense, and they jumped on the board early, so that was good.”
Rosalyn Tharp broke the ice in the bottom of the first with a seeing-eye RBI single through the left side, giving Perry a 1-0 lead after one.
Madelyn Rupert and Emma Brainard opened the bottom of the second frame with back-to-back singles, setting up Sophie Sivon’s RBI single for a 2-0 advantage.
Elise Strahan doubled the lead with a two-run double, driving in the final runs of the game.
Once the Pirates got the lead, they turned to the defense behind Sivon in the circle, who allowed just three hits.
“That’s a key for us. We have very good players at all the positions, and they stepped up,” Carino said. “They did a great job, everywhere. It was great to see.”
Tharp led the attack at the dish, going 2-for-3 with an RBI, while both Madeline Infalvi and Rupert went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Strahan finished 1-for-3 with two RBI, and Sivon finished 1-for-3 with an RBI as well.
Sivon earned the win in the circle to the tune of seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits with three strikeouts.
Jefferson finished off its season 14-14.
Alaina Barress, Rylee DeMattia, and Ada Sirrine each collected hits for the Falcons.
Olivia Lewis pitched six strong innings, allowing four runs on nine hits with one walk and two punchouts.
Perry took down Jefferson in the district semifinal, earning the win in the rubber match after splitting the season series in conference play, and will again see a Chagrin Valley Conference Lake Division opponent, Edgewood, in the district championship game.
The Pirates took down the Warriors 11-1 on April 14, then again 6-0 on April 30.
“We knew that both of these teams are well-coached, and we knew Jefferson was going to be a challenge for us. We got this one out of the way,” Carino said of facing two CVC opponents in the district tournament. “We know that Edgewood is well-coached and a very good team in our conference. It’s going to be another challenge for us, and we’re going to keep playing like we know how to play, and hopefully that’s enough to get the job done.”
The Pirates eye their first district championship since the 2019 season, when they upended the Falcons 11-8 on May 16 of that year, before falling to eventual regional runner-up Crestwood.
“It’s always great to get to districts and get a district championship,” Carino said. “That’s always fun to do, and it doesn’t happen often, so when you get the chance, you have to savor the moment. Our goal is to come out Thursday, win that game, and get the job done.”
Perry advanced to play Edgewood in a Division IV championship game on Thursday at Mentor High School. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
