Perry advances to Division I state softball tournament

Sophomore Shelbi Tilton hit a three-run double in the bottom of the seventh inning to lead Perry to a 3-2 win over Boardman in a Division I regional final Saturday afternoon at the University of Akron.

Perry (25-3) advances to play Holland Springfield in a state semifinal game on Thursday at 3 p.m. at Firestone Stadium. Holland Springfield defeated defending Division I state champion Elyria 2-1 Saturday afternoon in the Clyde regional final.

The Panthers made the state tournament in 2003 and 1988.

Tilton's bases clearing hit with one out landed in left-center field and scored sophomore Abbey Filliez, sophomore Morgan McLaughlin and senior Anna Fach.

Perry junior right-hander Casi Rohr pitched a complete game and earned the win. Rohr (22-2) allowed eight hits, struck out six and walked two.

Junior right-hander Alex DiDomenico pitched a complete game for Boardman (21-7). DiDomenico limited the Panthers to just four hits, one through six innings. She struck out nine, walked four and hit one batter.

Filliez started Perry's rally with a leadoff single in the seventh. McLaughlin reached base on a botched pop up in the infield and Fach singled to load the bases.

Senior Sarah Samblanet had Perry's first hit, a single to center in the fifth inning.

The Spartans scored both of their runs in the sixth inning. Junior Missy DeMarinis doubled and then scored on an RBI double by Marra Cercone. An error by the Panthers allowed Cercone to score.

This is the second consecutive game Tilton has guided the Panthers to a victory with a walk-off hit. Tilton delivered an RBI double to left in the bottom of the seventh that scored McLaughlin in Perry's 4-3 win over Ellet in a regional semifinal on Wednesday at UA.

Boardman junior Brooke Meenachan hit three singles.

The Division I state championship game is June 5 at 1 p.m. at Firestone Stadium.