Road Runner Elite start 2019 season with a bang
Pictured in front from left are: Madison Johnson (John Glenn), Abby Bumbico (Martins Ferry); Taylor Gallentine (St. Clairsville/Muskingum), Riley Conkle (Coshocton/West Liberty), Claire Warschauer (River View/Muskingum); and in row two are – Coach Rick Sherman, Kieran Johnson (Wheeling Park), Janessa Dawson (Tri-Valley/Grove City), Kearstin Dumolt (Tri-Valley/Muskingum), Maiah Bell (Philo); Jenna Jaskowiak (St. Clairsville), and Coach Jim DiCarlo. Missing is Megan Kelley (Indian Creek/Lourdes). Contributed | Beacon
COLUMBUS – The Road Runner Elite 18U travel softball team started the 2019 season with a bang, going undefeated in claiming the championship of the Capital City Showdown at Berliner Park in Columbus this past weekend. The team scored 89 runs while giving up only 13 in the 8 games, while seven different players hit a total of 11 homeruns.
On Friday, the team defeated the Canadian Brampton Blazers 4-2 in the first pool game. Kieran Johnson (Wheeling Park) had two singles and two RBIs, Claire Warschauer (River View/Muskingum) two singles and an RBI and Abby Bumbico (Martins Ferry) a double to lead the offense. Janessa Dawson (Tri-Valley/Grove City, PA) earned the victory on the mound.
The Elite faced the Ohio Rebels in the second pool game early Saturday morning and came away with an easy 21-0 victory in three innings. Jenna Jaskowiak (St. Clairsville) allowed no hits to gain the win. Megan Kelley (Indian Creek/Lourdes) rapped a grand slam, Bumbico had a two-run homer and Dawson ripped a solo shot to lead the offensive barrage. Kearstin (Utie) Dumolt (Tri-Valley/Muskingum) picked up four RBI on two singles. In the third pool game, Bumbico allowed only four scattered singles to get the complete game 6-0 shutout against the Ohio Thunder. Taylor Gallentine (St. Clairsville/Muskingum) scored two runs on two singles and stole two bases to lead the offense. Dawson rapped a triple. In the fourth pool game against the Bo Jackson Blast, Dawson got the 12-0 shutout win, allowing only two singles. Jaskowiak pitched an inning to earn a save. Maiah Bell (Philo) ripped two doubles and a homerun to pick up three RBI’s. Jaskowiak smacked a three run homerun and a single, Kieran Johnson had a double and single with two RBI and Warschauer rapped a double. The team faced the Miami County Blaze in the fifth pool game on Saturday night and came away with the 10-4 victory. Madison Johnson (John Glenn) went three for three at the plate, scoring twice and posting three RBIs. Warschauer and Dawson each smacked a homerun. Dawson allowed no runs in five and two thirds innings to get the win on the mound.
On Sunday, the Elite faced a second Canadian team, the Tavistock Athletics in their sixth pool game. Bumbico allowed only four scattered singles and no earned runs to get the 15-4 win on the mound. Riley Conkle (Coshocton/West Liberty) rapped a two run homerun and a sacrifice fly to get three RBI. Warschauer had a single and her second homerun of the tournament with two RBI. Gallentine had three singles and three RBI and Kieran Johnson had two singles and an RBI. In the final pool game, the team annihilated The PA Rage 17-0 to assure a spot in the championship game. Jaskowiak allowed only one single in the third inning mercy rule contest to pick up the victory. Warschauer and Dawson each ripped their third homeruns of the weekend to lead the offense. Madison and Kieran Johnson each had two singles and two RBI. Bell had a single and a double. Conkle had a double and Gallentine and Bumbico had two singles each.
The Runners faced an undefeated Team Ohio White in the championship game Sunday evening. With Dawson on the mound, the team spotted their opponent three unearned runs in the first inning which held through four innings. In the bottom of the fifth, Bell got the offense moving for the Elite with a double and scored on a Jaskowiak single to cut the deficit to two runs. Kieran and Madison Johnson followed with singles to load the bases with two outs. That set up the heroics of Utie Dumolt who had been hit in the elbow with a pitch in her previous at bat. She ripped a shot off the fence in center field which cleared the bases and gave the Elite the 4-3 lead. Dawson continued to shut down Team White until the seventh inning where they managed to load the bases with only one out. The next batter grounded to Kieran Johnson at third who fired the ball home for the force out and Dumolt shot the ball to first just in time to complete the heart stopping double play and secure the championship for the Elite. The team will next play in the Toledo Tune-Up.
Category: High School, Sports
