ELYRIA — It would seem Elyria has a formidable Little League Junior All-Star softball team. It certainly has been the past two nights.
With an eight-run second inning, Elyria set the tone for a 17-0 pasting of Avon on Wednesday in a district tournament final at Vic Janowicz Memorial Park. Elyria defeated Avon 14-1 Tuesday in the opening round of the double-elimination tourney for players 13 and 14.
Manager Keith Buckley’s Elyrians advance to the Central Regional Tournament Aug. 2 at Firestone Stadium in Akron.
Up to 10 teams from throughout the Midwest are expected to be in the field.
Elyria’s 2006 Junior League district champs won the Central Regional tournament, also at Firestone Stadium. They went on to finish fifth in the world at the Junior League World Series in Kirkland, Wash.
For Elyria center fielder Cynthia Woodard, the trip to Akron will be a stroll down memory lane. As Elyria High’s starting center fielder, the freshman Woodard played in the Division I state championship game at Firestone on June 7.
It wasn’t the happiest of memories despite the fact Woodard made the defensive play of the game. It was a running, backhanded catch of a shot that seemed destined to clear the center-field fence. Despite it, the Pioneers lost their third straight state title game, 1-0, to North Canton Hoover.
“I’ll be a little nervous because there’s going to be a lot of stuff running through my mind,” Woodard said. “But we’re going to do fine.”
There were no unhappy memories Wednesday night. Woodard was a veritable one-woman offense, blistering Avon pitching for three doubles and a triple in four at-bats and scoring four times. She put up four RBIs.
Elyria third baseman Alanna Williams and right fielder-pitcher Taryn Harshberger both went 2-for-2 with an RBI. Harshberger scored three runs and Williams two. In all, Elyria pounded 15 hits and 10 different players had at least one. Shortstop Erin Pond, catcher Mel Woodard and Alexis Cross each delivered one of Elyria’s six doubles.
Starting and winning pitcher Darien Ward allowed just two infield singles, struck out four and walked none in three innings. Harshberger relieved with three K’s and no walks in two innings. No Avon runner advanced to second base. The game was called after 4½ innings under the mercy rule.
“I throw a dropball, fastball and changeup,” Ward said. “The change worked tonight, but it’s not my favorite. The fastball was working tonight.”
“We have a lot of strong pitching, we’re pretty deep in pitching,” Buckley said. “I think we have what it takes to (succeed). With Little League rules, you have to have more than one or two pitchers so we’re fortunate to have a lot of great pitching.”

Elyria wins 9-10 game

Elyria’s Little League All-Stars scored four runs in the fifth inning Wednesday, then held off an Avon rally in the sixth to win a first-round game in the softball district for players 9 and 10.The game was scoreless through four innings.
Elyria’s Trisha Koleski started the fifth-inning rally with a leadoff single. Madison Fullmore followed with a single to left, scoring Koleski, who had moved up on a passed ball. Fullmore took third as Courtney White walked and ran to second on the play. Fullmore then scored on a wild pitch with White advancing to third. With two out, the Avon outfield misplayed a ball hit by Katie Travers. White scored easily and Travers came around to score on another error on the same play. Elyria pitcher Anna Daley hurled a nine-strikeout three-hitter. It was the second district tourney victory for Elyria, which defeated Tallmadge on Monday in the double-elimination tournament. Tallmadge will host Avon on Friday. The winner gets another shot at Elyria at 6 p.m. on Monday at Vic Janowicz Park. Elyria can clinch the district title with a victory.

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