AKRON — Cardington’s dream season ended Saturday morning.
Powerhouse Warren Champion, for the second straight season, defeated the Lady Pirates, this time by a 5-0 count at Firestone Stadium.
This is Champion’s third straight Division III softball championship.
A pitchers’ duel and great defense by the Lady Pirates kept the game scoreless through five innings.
Cassidy Shaffer accounted for all of the runs with two home runs, a 3-run blast in the sixth inning and a 2-run shot in the seventh.
Cardington advanced to the Division III state championship for the second straight year by defeating West Jefferson by a 5-2 margin in Thursday’s semifinal contest.
The Golden Flashes end the year at 30-0, while the Lady Pirates finish a great season at 25-5.