LAGRANGE — Undaunted by a rough outing against Tallmadge in the first game Saturday, Keystone pitcher Lauren Wagner looked for redemption.
The Wildcat sophomore found it against Ashtabula Edgewood.
Wagner limited Edgewood to four hits and chalked up four strikeouts, leading Keystone to a 4-0 win in the second game of the inaugural Dick Smith Memorial Tournament at LaGrange Community Park. Wagner raised her record to 7-1 with the victory.
She lasted only 11/3 innings earlier in the day against Tallmadge in a 5-0 loss. A two-run home run with two out in the first inning by Blue Devil center fielder Kristen Philen, a Youngstown State recruit, got Wagner off to a bad start.
“My curveball wasn’t working the first game,” said Wagner. “Taylor (Kessinger, Keystone catcher) and I worked on fixing it between games. That was a key because the curveball is one of my better pitches.”
Finding her curveball again wasn’t the only key.
“I utilized all of my pitches today,” she said. “They were swinging at all of them.”
Kessinger’s two-run, two-out single to center in the bottom of the fourth inning broke open a one-run game. Seniors Clare Sullivan and Kate Yeo pulled off a double steal during Kessinger’s at-bat to set the stage.
“I’m kind of used to being in that position now,” said Kessinger, a sophomore. “I just concentrated and didn’t worry about striking out. I wanted to poke it somewhere where they couldn’t get it.”
Kessinger’s rap was instrumental in the early going, as Edgewood pitcher Brittney Mackey was tough. She amassed 11 strikeouts and didn’t give up a walk.
The loss was Edgewood’s first of the season after seven wins. Keystone improved to 9-1.
“It was a good test for us,” said Kessinger. “We didn’t get down on ourselves after losing to Tallmadge. We never give up. We want to be ready for the end of the year.”
Three Warrior errors resulted in two unearned runs for the Wildcats. Junior shortstop Kara Dill scored Keystone’s first run in the first inning. Dill came around to score from second base following a throwing error by shortstop Ashley Hummer on a groundball by Yeo.
“The key was their ability to score first. We gave them that first run,” said Edgewood coach Shelley Monas. “We had to make defensive adjustments today because of injuries (at shortstop and second base).”
Sullivan’s defense at second base was stellar for the Wildcats. She made five unassisted putouts and turned a double play.
“That’s a great sign of a good team,” said Keystone coach Jim Piazza. “As long as our defense is there, we have a shot. It was a good day for us.”
Keystone and Edgewood met in the 2006 Division II state semifinals. The Wildcats prevailed 5-0 against Warrior pitcher Megan Dragon. Dragon, a junior, didn’t face Keystone on Saturday, but was on the mound earlier when Edgewood beat Midview, 5-1.
“Our kids did a good job making adjustments,” said Piazza. “Sometimes, you’re just not going to be on. Lauren wasn’t on the first game, but she did a great job bouncing back.”
Junior pitcher Jen Cottrell of Tallmadge was on top of her game against Keystone. Cottrell faced 22 batters, one over the minimum. She limited Keystone to three hits, had three strikeouts and didn’t walk a batter.
Like Keystone, Tallmadge (8-1 overall) has had great success in the postseason. The Blue Devils have won eight state titles since the 1980s, most recently in 1998.
“We did everything we needed to do today,” said Tallmadge coach Ed Seeker. “Keystone is a good team with a great history, too. We just came out ready. It just all goes back to the girls and their preparation. We try to put ourselves in a position to make other teams make mistakes. If you pressure other teams, chances are something good is going to happen.”
Cottrell also got the win in the second game against Midview to improve to 7-1. She held the Middies hitless in three innings of work.
Midview (7-4 overall) struggled defensively in its first game of the day against Edgewood, losing 5-1. All five of the Warriors’ runs were unearned as the Middies committed four errors. Dragon struck out 11 and scattered six hits.
“We faced two very good teams today,” said Midview coach Mike Ives. “I thought we played hard and aggressive. I certainly can’t fault our effort.
“We couldn’t put any hits together in the first game. I have to tip my hat to the pitcher (Cottrell) in the second game. She was tough. She had some nice off-speed stuff. She kept us out in front. We committed a lot of popups because we weren’t getting full swings on it.”
Seniors Erin Sunagel and Courtney Burgess had doubles against Edgewood. Sunagel had the Middies’ only RBI.
Contact Paul Heyse at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.

Tallmadge    200    020    1    —    5    8    0
Keystone    000    000    0    —    0    3    2
PITCHING: (T) Jen Cottrell (W, 6-1) IP-7, R-0 H-3, K-3, B-0; (K) Lauren Wagner (L, 6-1) IP-1.3, R-2, H-3, B-2. Kara Dill IP-5.6, R-3, H-5, K-5, B-1.
HITTING: (T) Kristen Philen (HR, 2 RBIs), Lauren Grimes 2 (2B), Rachel Tomello 2, Katie Sweek, Nichole Schaffer, Danielle Schaffer. (K) Taylor Kessinger, Kate Yeo, Alexis Sanislow.
Edgewood    000    000    0    —    0    4    3
Keystone    100    210    0    —    4    5    0
PITCHING: (A) Brittney Mackey (L, 2-1) IP-6, R-4, ER-2, H-5, K-11, B-0. Wagner (W, 7-1) IP-7, R-0, H-4, K-4, B-0.
HITTING: (A) Mercillot 2, Martin, Childs. (K) Dill, Sullivan, Yeo, Kessinger (2 RBIs), Ridinger.
Edgewood    031    001    0    —    5    10    0
Midview    001    000    0    —    1    6    4
PITCHING: (A) Megan Dragon (W, 5-0). IP-7, R-0, H-6, K-11, B-0. (M) Brittany Stone (L, 3-2). IP-7, R-5, ER-0, K-7, B-2.
HITTING: (A) McMellen 2, Childs 2, Wilson (2B). (M) Erin Sunagel 2 (2B, RBI), Courtney Burgess (2B), Heather Miller.
Tallmadge    301    003    0    —    7    10    0
Midview    000    000    0    —    0    3    2
PITCHING: (T) Cottrell (W, 7-1), IP-3, H-0, R-0, K-2, B-0. Brittany Lightel IP-4, H-3, R-0, K-0, B-0. (M) Sydnet Mencke (L, 2-2), IP-5, H-5, R-4, ER-2, K-3, B-3. Danielle Herwig IP-2, H-3, R-3, ER-3, K-0, B-1.
HITTING: (T) Lauren Grimes 3 (2 RBIs), Colleen Kelly (2B), Cottrell (2B). (M) Brittany Stone, Mencke, Ashley Ellis 

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