by Michael Leonard

Sports Editor

Just when the Streetsboro softball team was starting to build a bit of momentum, Mother Nature comes along and throws them a curveball.

The Rockets started well last week, beating Windham 1-0 in nine innings at home May 5 and 11-1 at Windham May 6.

However, rain washed out Streetsboro's game with Akron Garfield May 8 and its league game at Rootstown May 12.

Whether the Garfield game will be made up remains in doubt, according to Streetsboro coach Tim Foster.

As a result, the Rockets' record stands at 9-9 overall and 6-4 in the Portage Trail Conference County Division.

Thanks to the weather and movement for the playoffs, Streetsboro schedule for the rest of the week is as follows:

The Rockets were set to open their Division II playoff run at Richfield Revere May 13, but results were not available at press time. If victorious, Streetsboro would play at the winner of the Walsh Jesuit-Akron Buchtel game May 14 at 4:30 p.m.

Streetsboro will then make up its game with Rootstown, hosting the Rovers May 15 at 4:30 p.m. and traveling to Rootstown May 16 at 4:30 p.m.

Foster admitted the schedule shifting put his team in a tough spot.

"I'm not looking forward to tonight's practice," Foster said May 12. "At this point of the season, you really don't want to be locked up in the gym. We have to go in, though, because we've got to maintain our focus because we've got sectionals. I think this group will be able to do it."

The game May 5 was a classic as senior pitcher Jessica Hess had what Foster called her best game as a Rocket.

Hess toss the second no-hitter of her career, this time going nine innings, while striking out 13 Bombers. However, Hess needed to be sharp as Windham's Kayle Tutor had her "A" game as well. Tutor allowed just two hits in her first six innings of work.

"Their pitcher was getting us to hit the ball right at them," Foster said. "We weren't striking out a lot."

Defense played a big part in the game as well as neither team committed an error.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Rockets broke the scoreless tie.

Catcher Desi Boardwine drilled a two-out double for the Rockets. After third baseman Amanda Prochazka singled to left, Hess had a chance to be the hero. She delivered with a run-scoring single to win the game.

Jaclynn Hess and Andrea Medina also singled for the Rockets.

The game May 6 was a much different affair.

Jessica Hess (8-8) was still on fire, as she tossed a four-hitter and drove in four runs at the plate with a triple and two singles.

Jacquelyn Hess had two triples, a double and a single and Amanda Prochazka had two singles, a doubles and drove in three runs for the Rockets.

"We just kept getting consistent hits," Foster said, as his team had 15 hits in the win. "There were no 1-2-3 innings for us in that game.

Streetsboro scored once in the first inning, four more in the third, twice in the fourth, once in the sixth and three times in the seventh. They finished with 17 hits and one error.

Windham, which scored its only run in the sixth, had four hits and three errors.

E-mail: mleonard@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3913