Staff photo / Neel Madhavan. Canfield receives the district championship trophy after stifling Marlington for a 6-2 victory Thursday at Hubbard.

HUBBARD — Way back at the very start of the season, Canfield dropped its season opener to Austintown Fitch.

Coming off a state championship game appearance, Cardinals head coach Michael Kernan was remorseful about not having his team ready for the Falcons. But Canfield has come a long way since then.

In the 24 games since then, the Cardinals have proven their mettle against a daunting schedule, which continued Thursday with a 6-2 victory over No. 3 seed Marlington to capture the program’s third straight Division II district championship.

“Our expectations were high from the start,” Kernan said. “Playing Fitch the first game — we weren’t as prepared as we should have been, but they got ready the rest of the year. All our games got us ready. We played against one heck of a schedule. So from opening day till now, our team’s matured physically, mentally and they’ve done a great job to get this third district title.”

After the despair of losing in the state championship game last season, Canfield’s goal this year has always been to get back to that point.

Now, the Cardinals are another step closer to that feat.

“I was trying to explain to them how hard it is just to get to regionals,” Kernan said. “(They) just did it for the third time in a row. That’s not an easy feat. I’d like to see them appreciate their experience and what they’re in the middle of, and I think they do. So they’re deserving of it, and I’m happy for them.”

Canfield jumped on the Dukes right from the start. Jenna Triveri opened things up with a lead-off triple in the bottom of the first inning, and it was off to the races for the Cardinals.

Malena Toth, Sydney Lutz and Faith Morell soon followed by rattling off three straight RBIs for Canfield, and in the blink of an eye, the Cardinals had a three-run lead.

“It was definitely really important,” Toth said of Canfield’s fast start. “We really wanted to jump on them early to give us a confidence boost and just really help us out. The rest became a lot easier.”

Toth was her usual self in the circle, finishing with 13 strikeouts in a three-hit effort that at one point included a run of seven straight during the first three innings.

“I was just pitching to their hitters based on where they’re standing in the box, and just knowing what they can and can’t hit,” Toth said, who has been a part of each of Canfield’s three straight title teams. “It’s definitely been a lot of fun. It’s really exciting, especially to win three times. A lot of people expect us to win, but each time we play, it’s (a tough opponent), so we just have to be prepared for them.”

Canfield added two runs in the bottom of the third inning that were spurred by hits from Toth and Lutz. But the Cardinals blinked in the top of the sixth inning.

With two outs, a full count and two runners in scoring position, Marlington’s Justine Doringo belted a high ball deep to centerfield that a diving Triveri was unable to track down. The hit scored two runs for the Dukes.

“I think I’ve said this all year, but we’ve just gotta get sharper, maybe a little tougher and a little more killer instinct for seven innings,” Kernan said. “I think I’ve used this word more this year than I have all year, but sometimes we get up 3-0, 5-0 and we go into coast mode, versus let’s put this thing away. But right now, the team continues to get better. They’ve grown together this season. They know what their goals are, and they’re coming ready to play each day.”

Toth soon shut things down with a strikeout in the next at bat, and despite allowing a walk, shut Marlington down in the seventh inning, as well — once again ending the inning with a strikeout.

“I don’t let it bother me,” Toth said. “I just know to focus on the next batter and just get the next out.”

Triveri, Lutz, Morell and Sami Economous led the Cardinals at bat with two hits each, as the team finished with 10 total hits.

With the win, the Cardinals advance to next week’s regional semifinal against Aurora on Wednesday, May 22 at 2 p.m. at Macedonia. The Greenmen beat Mogadore Field 11-1 on Thursday to win the Jefferson district title.

Have an interesting story? Contact Neel Madhavan by email at nmadhavan@tribtoday.com Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @NeelMadhavan.