SB D1 FINAL: #1 North Canton Hoover wins sixth title in sixth trip

From ohsaa.org

Semifinal Game 1: North Canton Hoover 5, Medina 2
Semifinal Game 2: Lebanon 3, Elyria 1
Championship Game: North Canton Hoover 2, Lebanon 0

AKRON – Top-ranked North Canton Hoover scored a run in the first and another in the fourth as sophomore Tara Thacker threw a four-hit shutout to lead the Vikings to a 2-0 win over second-ranked Lebanon June 2 in the OHSAA Division I softball state championship at Firestone Stadium.

Remarkably, the state championship for Hoover (30-3) is the school’s sixth in six trips to the state tournament. The Vikings also won titles in 2011, 2008, 2006, 1999, and 1998. Lebanon (31-1) was in the state tournament for the first time.

Thacker struck out three and walked just one to improve to 16-1 on the season.

Senior Erika Warren drove in Hoover’s first run with a single in the first inning, while sophomore Kelly Dillow’s RBI single in the fourth scored senior Sarah Nist, who had doubled.

Lebanon freshman pitcher Tara Trainer went the distance for the Warriors, striking out six and walking three while allowing just five hits.