By Roger Gordon

Correspondent

Aurora was seeded No. 1 in the state’s postseason tournament for a reason.

Aurora senior Sophie Petrash reacts after crossing home plate to score a run during the team’s district semifinal victory over Avon Lake.
Mike Cook/Special to Portage Sports

The Greenmen are good.

Aurora defeated Avon Lake (31 seed) 12-2 at home May 20 in a Division III district semifinal that was shortened to five innings due to the 10-run rule.

The Greenmen, who improved to 25-2 on the season, will take on third-seeded Canfield in a district championship game, weather permitting, on Thursday at 2 p.m. at North Royalton.

In the district semifinal, the home team spread the wealth well offensively.

Senior shortstop Rayna Unverferth had two hits, two RBI and three runs; senior second baseman Sophie Petrash had a triple, a single, three RBI and two runs; senior first baseman Julia Miller tripled, singled, knocked in two runs and scored once; and sophomore third baseman Lila Bultrowicz had two hits, drove in a run and scored once.

“One through nine everybody contributed and everybody hit the ball hard, everybody made things happen on the bases,” head coach Sam Petrash said. “It was a great team effort from an offensive standpoint.”

On the mound, senior Sophie Retton started and went the distance, giving up four hits while striking out five and walking none.

“Sophie,” said Petrash, “is able to read what the umpire is giving along with what the hitter is trying to do, and that makes her a good pitcher because she’s able to pitch to weaknesses. She’s a very smart pitcher. She can spin the ball, spot the ball and change speeds. That’s what makes her effective.”

Six days earlier, on May 14, Aurora won 16-0 at home over No. 44 Cleveland Max S. Hayes in a Division III sectional game that was called after 4 1/2 innings due to the 10-run rule.

Junior Lailah Bohanan paced the Greenmen on the mound and at the plate. She started and went the distance in tossing a shortened Perfect Game. She had 14 strikeouts.

“Lailah is a really good pitcher,” Petrash said.

Bohanan led her team’s 10-hit attack with two triples, a single and four RBI. She is batting over .700 on the season.

“Lailah is having a phenomenal year with the bat,” the coach said. “She’s also fast.”