Keystone star Kara Dill, the only Lorain County softball player ever to earn first-team All-Ohio honors four times, has been named a second-team All-American.

Dill, who shared the Lorain County Miss Softball award this spring, was chosen by ESPN RISE Magazine and EA Sports. Among many other accomplishments, Dill is the Wildcats’ career hits leader. Her selection is posted on the EA Sports Web site.

She is the second area star to be an All-American choice this week. Elyria’s Tess Sito, who hurled the Pioneers to the Division I state championship last month, was named to the ESPN RISE-EA Sports first team. Dill and Sito shared the Miss Softball award.

“We’re very happy for Kara,” said Keystone coach Jim Piazza. “She has worked very hard. She has helped to make us what we are as a team. Young players in the program look up to her. She has been one of our top senior leaders; she’s what senior leadership is all about.”

Dill was among the top hitters in the area this year with a .545 average on 55 hits in 101 at-bats. She belted 13 doubles, seven triples, three homers and stole 22 bases. She batted .547 for her career, which included 32 doubles, 23 triples, four homers and 89 stolen bases. She scored 154 runs.

Dill also had a notable pitching career. She posted an 18-4 four-year record with three saves. She fanned 227 in 149 2/3 innings and allowed just 15 earned runs. She gave up only 48 hits over four seasons.

She broke the school single-season hits record with 58 as a freshman on the Wildcats’ 2006 Division II state championship team. She finished her career with a school-record 218, shattering the record of 168 set by Jamie Cendrosky, who graduated in 1995. She leaves next month for the University of Kentucky, which has awarded her a softball scholarship.

“It says a lot about Kara and the program that she will play for an SEC school,” Piazza said. “That has to be the highest level any softball player from Lorain County has ever reached. She has great potential.”

Dill and Sito were named to the Louisville Slugger-National Faspitch Coaches Association All-American team last season. Both are strong candidates to repeat on that team, which will be announced soon.

ESPN RISE is a nationally circulated magazine focused on high-school sports. EA Sports, Inc. makes sports-oriented video games.

OGSO district starts Sunday

The Ohio Girls Softball Organization’s colorful Lorain-Medina district tournament begins Sunday afternoon in Wellington.

Some 700 players on 57 teams will battle at Wellington Community Park through next Saturday for state tournament berths in four age groups. State quarter- and semifinal rounds will be held in Lordstown July 18-19. Championship games are scheduled for July 25 at Lordstown Village Park.

The Lorain-Medina district will send 10 teams to state, two each in Class A (10-and-under), Class B (12-under) and Class C (14-under), and four teams in Class D (18-under).

Teams in Classes A and B are scheduled to play Sunday at 12:30, 3, 5:30 and 8 p.m; on Tuesday at 6 and 8:30, with championship games scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday. Class C teams play Tuesday at 6 and 8:30, and Wednesday at 8:30, with title games scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday.

All Class D games will be played on July 11. Championship games are scheduled for 6 p.m. The Class D bracket drawing will be held in the Community Park pavilion at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Lorain County teams have won three of the four state championships the last three seasons.

For complete district and state bracket information, go to ogso.org and click on “Tournaments.” Lorain County teams won three of the four state championships last summer.

SunDogs endure

Elyria’s SunDogs came out of the losers bracket to win seven straight games and the 18-and-under championship in an ASA national qualifier in Massillon last weekend. SunDogs. They should call themselves “IronDogs” after winning six games on Sunday alone.

Elyria’s Tess Sito hurled a five-hit shutout, stuck out four and walked none in the championship game, a 2-0 victory over the Ohio Wolfpack Black. The ‘Dogs were forced to defeat the Wolfpack twice in a row. Their 4-3 victory in the first game forced the title game.

Sito, Amherst’s Aleecia Sunagel and Jen Bower of Elyria High and Mercyhurst each had two hits in the title game. Shortstop Devan Boggs (West Jefferson) and center fielder Alex Machun (Lebanon) made big catches, and Machun’s turned into a double play. For the weekend, Aleecia Sunagel batted .464, Sito .353, Erin Sunagel, formerly of Midview, .333, and Elyria’s Ashlee Stolarski .333.

In the circle, Sito was 5-1 with a save. In 40 innings, she struck out 51, allowed 23 hits, walked just seven and surrendered only one earned run for a 0.18 ERA. Gabby Gillilan (Columbus Bishop Ready) was 4-0 with a save, 15 strikeouts, a walk and a 0.88 ERA in 24 innings.

On their way to the title, the SunDogs defeated the Lady Hornets 9-0 and Rocky River Breakers 8-0, before being sent to the losers bracketby the Lady Lasers Blue, 1-0. They started their seven-game run to the finale with an 8-0 victory over Ohio Pride on Saturday night.

They came back Sunday to defeat Ohio Bandits 2-1, Ashland Blaze 5-4 after trailing 4-0, Ohio Classics 4-0, Lady Laser Blue, 8-0, to avenge their only loss of the tournament. The SunDogs (22-5) are back in Massillon this weekend for the “Best of the Best” tournament. They play at 10:45 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. today. Elimination play is Sunday.

Farm champs

For the second year in a row, a Grafton team has won OGSO’s Farm League championship.

Latest to do it is Grafton Pools, Ponds and Courts which On Wednesday night turned in a 13-11 victory over Keystone No. 2. Grafton Milano Monument won the title in 2008. The Farm League is for players 8-and-under.

Kierstyn Yates, Mackenzie Short, Allison Patterson, Sadie McCarrick and Molly Cottrill all had two hits for Grafton. Others on the roster are Taylor Abahazi, Morgan Moraco, Marcella McMahon, Loral Tackett, Riely Poelking, Lauren Mathes and Paige Moraco.

It is the second year the Grafton girls have played together. And there are only two 8-year-olds on the team. Everyone else is eligible to return next season for a shot at a second straight championship.

The champs’ head coach is Jen Short, a former North Ridgeville High center fielder who graduated in 1993. Her assistants are Roc Moraco, Kevin Yates and Dave Cottrill.

Spirit teams strong

Two North Coast Spirit teams made strong showings over the weekend in the annual Uncle Stan’s NSA qualifier at Ohio Sports Park in North Ridgeville.

The Spirit’s 18-and-under team finished third and its 10-and-under team fourth in their respective age groups. The Elyria-Howser team was runner-up in the 14-and-under competition and the Tidalwaves from LaGrange placed third in 16-and-under.

The tournament was sponsored by the North Coast Spirit organization. The Spirit is hosting its annual North Coast Nailbiter, also at Ohio Sports Park, July 10-12. A record 68 teams have registered for the three-day event, which represents a last chance for teams to qualify for the NSA World Series.

Contact Bob Daniels at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.

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