A WALK OFF WAS IN THE CARDS

By Ty Bartell

STRUTHERS OH- Canfield and Hubbard faced off in a postseason showdown on Monday, with the Cardinals advancing to the district finals after a dramatic 8-7 walk-off victory in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Michael Patellis started on the mound for Canfield, while Tyler Wright took the rubber for Hubbard. The Eagles took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning with an RBI single by Gabe Rusnak, scoring Wright. Canfield quickly responded in the bottom of the inning when Taner Stricko got aboard with a hit and was later plated by a Zain Jadallah RBI single to tie the game at 1-1.

The Cardinals took their first lead in the bottom of the second. Stricko’s second hit of the day, an RBI single, scored Dylan Mancini, who had walked to lead off the inning. In the top of the third, uncharacteristic errors by Canfield allowed Hubbard to tie the game. Johnny Reyes hit a one-out double and scored on a misplayed ball at shortstop.

Stricko continued his clutch performance in the bottom of the fourth, delivering a two-out, two-run double to score Joey Gabriel and Enzo Cocca, giving Canfield a 4-2 lead. Hubbard narrowed the gap in the top of the fifth when Braydon Songer led off with a double and scored on a Canfield error at third, making it 4-3.

The Eagles tied the game again in the top of the sixth. A leadoff single by Matt Bobovnik and a hit-by-pitch to Kyle Burt set up first and second with no outs. Songer’s second hit of the game, a game-tying RBI single, scored Bobovnik to even the game at 4-4. Patellis regained the lead for

Canfield at 5-4 with a sacrifice fly, but Hubbard took a 6-5 lead in the top of the seventh on Geno Leshnak’s two-RBI single. In the bottom of the seventh, Canfield got the tying run aboard with a one-out single by Anthony Groner. Down to their final out and strike, Enzo Cocca delivered a game-tying RBI double to save Canfield’s season, knotting the game at 6-6 and sending it to extra innings.

In the top of the eighth, Hubbard pressured Canfield again. Back-to-back one-out singles by Wright and Reyes set the stage. Will Murphy, in relief, recorded an out before walking Rusnak to load the bases. A passed ball allowed Hubbard to take a 7-6 lead.
Patellis worked a leadoff walk in the bottom of the eighth, advancing to second on a wild pitch. Songer struck out a batter before walking David Murphy, with Patellis swiping third to set up runners at the corners. Songer struck out Mancini for the second out, but it would be an Anthony Groner fly ball that was misplayed to score the tying and winning runs, capping off an 8-7 win for Canfield.

The contest underscored the tenacity and grit of both squads, with Hubbard concluding their season at 17-12 after a heartbreaking defeat. Canfield (19-6) now shifts its attention to the Division II, Struthers District championship game against Ursuline (15-12) on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Cene Park. Ursuline won their earlier matchup with The Cards this season, 7-4.
Stay updated with Canfield baseball on their postseason run with live games, scores, stats, stories, and more on YSN.

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