HUBBARD — Marlington High School senior Audrey Miller was hoping for one-more at-bat against Canfield ace Malena Toth.
The Dukes' shortstop had two of her team's three hits and had walked in another at-bat in Thursday's Division II district softball final at Hubbard High School.
But Miller watched from the on-deck circle with pinch-runner Rosslyn McCarty at first base as Toth recorded her 13th strikeout to end Canfield's 6-2 victory.
"I was ready, I mean I always want one more at-bat," Miller said, laughing. "It would have [been a fun challenge] but it didn't happen.
"It's nobody's fault — we played our hearts out. She's very competitive, a great pitcher," Miller said of Toth. " I felt like I was a little more prepared this time, had more of a plan."
The game was a rematch of last year's regional final, won by Canfield 2-1. The Cardinals finished as state runners-up, losing to Tallmadge in the championship game.
The Cardinals (22-3) returned seven starters from the 2023 team while the Dukes (21-6-1) replaced five seniors.
Marlington coach Joe Tagliarini was pleased with how his young lineup did against the pitcher who received the most all-state votes in 2023.
"I liked the fight that we showed today," he said. "We're young, I like where the program is.
"We wanted to be patient, [get her] pitch count up a little bit then attack later in the game," he said. "She's only given up 10 earned runs all year and we got two of them.
"We were hoping to keep it a two-run game going to the fourth and try to win the last couple of innings," he said. "That's usually when we play better."
Tagliarini said the Dukes will miss seniors Miller and left fielder Grace Nase.
"She's had such an amazing career here," Tagliarini said of Miller. "She's the school record holder for home runs, doubles, runs scored in a season.
"She's just had a special, special career, not just her play but her leadership."
Tagliarini said Nase caught for most of the season, then moved to outfield after Maria Wilder suffered a season-ending injury.
Miller will play for the University of Toledo next season where she will major in early education and minor in Spanish.
"We knew we lost a lot, but we also gained a lot," Miller said of the younger players who stepped up, including her sister Chelsea and pitcher Justine Doringo (both freshmen).
"Like Coach T always says: 'It doesn't matter who's not here, it matters who's here.' We showed up every game ready to play."
The Dukes went undefeated in Eastern Buckeye Conference play (10-0).
Canfield led 3-0 after one, with Toth delivering a sacrifice fly and Sydney Lutz and Faith Morrell contributing RBI hits.Two innings later, Toth ignited a two-run inning with a leadoff double.
"They made two really nice plays in the field," Tagliarini said.
In the fourth inning, Canfield left fielder Alexis Johnson ran down a deep fly ball off the bat of Maddie Bailey. Two at-bats later, Canfield shortstop Marina Koenig dove into left field to snag a pop-up by Delaney Martz.
The Dukes made it interesting in the sixth when Doringo smacked a two-out single off centerfielder Jenna Triveri's glove to score the Miller sisters.
"I knew she was going to try and jam me, try and keep it off the plate," Doringo said after fouling off three strike-two pitches. "I shortened up my swing and she gave me a pitch that was somewhat down the middle and I took it.
"It was a really good feeling to put those two runs up on the board."
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