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Few onlookers were sure how to interpret the final play of the game when Walsh Jesuit defeated Tallmadge 3-2 for the Akron Division II District softball title on Sunday at Firestone Stadium.

AKRON, Ohio – Two bunts that together rolled less than 10 feet ultimately decided the Akron Division II District softball championship on Sunday at Firestone Stadium.

It was euphoria for Walsh Jesuit (16-11) with a bizarre walk-off win and disappointment for Tallmadge (15-12).

The Warriors defeated the Blue Devils 3-2 and won their first district title since 2004.

“Rather than focusing on wins and losses, we’ve been getting ready for the tournament,” second-year Walsh coach Bill Davis said.

That 2004 team proceeded to win the state title.

With just one senior – Kaleigh Cupka -- on its 2011 roster, Walsh Jesuit might actually be ahead of schedule.

Like Al Pacino would have said, the inches, or in this case feet, the Warriors needed were everywhere around them and two well-placed bunts proved to be the difference.

“We talk all the time about the little things,” Davis said.

Locked in a 2-2 tie heading to the bottom of the seventh, Walsh second baseman Lauren Hurley led off with a bunt just in front of home plate. She beat Tallmadge catcher Brittany Buehler’s throw to first to get the winning rally started.

Catcher Lauren Ciancolo dropped a sacrifice bunt in the Bermuda Triangle between pitcher, catcher and third baseman, and then reached second base on a throwing error while Hurley advanced to third.

Cupka was intentionally walked by Tallmadge junior pitcher Paige Schertzinger.

With no outs and the bases loaded, junior shortstop Jackie Ammar, batting against a drawn-in infield, stepped to the plate and slapped a ground ball to Tallmadge shortstop Brittany Lightel.

Lightel had to throw home for the force and Buehler, acting like a first baseman, attempted to stretch and catch a low throw that was slightly off the mark.

Most fans and neither team were exactly sure what the home plate umpire was signaling when Hurley attempted to score from third.

There was a delayed reaction and finally clarification that she was indeed safe.

“He said she didn’t catch the ball,” Tallmadge coach Ed Seeker said. “That call didn’t lose the game. The umpiring could have been a little bit better. We can’t make the mistakes we made and expect to win. It’s hard to lose that way.”

After falling behind 1-0, Walsh took a 2-1 lead in the fourth on a two-run double to center by junior Maddie Sheppard.

Tallmadge equalized at 2-2 in the top of the sixth when Kelsey Blatt extended a 12-pitch at-bat and slapped an RBI single to right.

“I thought Rhino (junior Katarina Davis) did a nice job pitching ,” Davis said. “We beat a very good team. They’ve got an unbelievable tradition of winning.”

Katarina, sporting a record of 13-7, is the daughter of the coach and she picked up her nickname at age 2 when she ran into a wall in the dark.

“It stuck,” Davis said.

Similarly, this district championship is going to stick for Walsh Jesuit for some time. It was marked by solid pitching, excellent defense and timely hitting.

“Hopefully this win will put us back on the map a little bit,” Davis said.

That map might get bigger if the Warriors can win two more games and work their way back to Firestone Stadium for the state semifinals.