RAIDERS RIDE INTO DISTRICT FINALS

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STRUTHERS, OH- This was a matchup that was a long time coming.  These two teams faced off a week ago at the same location in Cene Park, and in a battle of who could show less about their roster, the Raiders proved victorious 3-1.  On Monday night with season’s on the line- South Range put their top arm on the bump, and everything came up aces for the Raiders.

South Range sophomore, Jake Gehring (NE8 Player of the Year) gave up a single run on seven hits and walked one while fanning 11 Irish during the teams 7-1 victory over Ursuline.

PHOTO CREDIT: GARY LEININGER

Leading the way on offense for the Raiders was sophomore All-NE8 second teamer, Brandon Mikos who punched in 3 RBI on the night on two hits.  Also contributing were Jared Bajerski with 2 RBI, and Ben Rivera and Gehring who produced a run apiece.

Joel Kreuzwieser took the loss for Ursuline. He surrendered two runs on four hits over three innings, striking out two.

PHOTO CREDIT: GARY LEININGER

Jeremy Kreuzwieser led Ursuline with two hits in four at-bats. Ursuline was sure-handed in the field and didn’t commit a single error. Jake Freisen had the most chances in the field with five.

The Raiders will now face Canton Central Catholic on Wednesday in the D3 District Finals, which will perhaps be the biggest game in the state of Ohio.  YSN will have you covered with tape-delayed coverage of the game from Cene Park.

 

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CASTRO AND YASKULKA LEAD THE WAY, POLAND FIGHTS THEIR WAY INTO DISTRICT FINAL

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STRUTHERS, OH- Poland stole the lead late and defeated McKinley 8-7 on Monday. The game was tied at seven with the Bulldogs batting in the bottom of the sixth when Zachary Yaskulka hit a solo homer.

Poland built a six-run lead in the second inning and then held off McKinley’s charge. Niles scored six runs in the failed comeback that was keyed by a single by Kenny Flanigan in the sixth.

Alex Barth was credited with the victory for Poland. He surrendered one run on three hits over two innings, striking out one and walking zero.  Braden Olson started the game for Poland Seminary Bulldogs Varsity. He allowed six hits and six runs over five innings, striking out four

Brandon Hayes took the loss for Niles McKinley. He allowed seven hits and two runs over five innings, striking out three.  Dylan Weida started the game for McKinley. He lasted one inning, allowing seven hits and six runs.

Poland tallied 14 hits on the day. Jeremy Castro, Barth, Olson, and Yaskulka all had multiple hits for the Bulldogs. Castro led Poland with four hits in four at-bats.

Joe Corson went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead McKinley in hits. McKinley didn’t commit a single error in the field. Joe Gallo had the most chances in the field with six.

The Bulldogs will now face-off with Canfield in another battle of 224, and this time with a trip to Regionals on the line.  Action will be held Wednesday at 7pm from Cene Park.  YSN will have that game on tape delay.

 

 

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ALL-NE8 BASEBALL TEAMS ANNOUNCED

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VIENNA, OH- The NE8 Conference Baseball teams were announced on Sunday.  Congratulations to all these gentlemen for their hard work and dedication to their teams, coaches, school, community, and family.

Player of the Year: Jake Gehring- South Range

1ST TEAM:

Pitcher: Jake Gehring- South Range

Austin Vogt- Lakeview

Catcher: Nick Guarnieri- Niles

1B: Lukas Mosora- Hubbard

2B: Braden Olson- Poland

SS: Braeden O’Shaughnessy- Poland

3B: Evan Jarvis- Hubbard

OF: Andrew Vance- Jefferson

Jamie Thomson- Hubbard

Alex Barth- Poland

DH: Joe Gallo- Niles

 

2ND TEAM:

Pitcher: Nick DeMonica- Lakeview

Corbin Foy- Niles

Catcher: Jared Bajerski- South Range

1B: Brendon Kilpatrick- Lakeview

2B: Zack Leonard- Niles

SS: Trey Pancake- South Range

3B: Brandon Mikos- South Range

OF: Seve Cantini- Jefferson

Rob Tomko- Struthers

David Mays- Niles

DH: Nick DeGregory- Girard

HUBBARD EMBRACES UNDERDOG, STUNS POLAND

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POLAND, OH- Hubbard won an epic slugfest over Poland, 11-10, as the seventh-seeded Eagles upset the No. 2 Bulldogs in Division II Sectional bracket final.

Hubbard led 4-0 before the Bulldogs rallied for a 5-4 lead in the third inning. The Eagles quickly responded with a five-run fourth, highlighted by Jimmy Palumbo’s three-run homer (one of three home runs in the game), to take 9-5 lead.

It didn’t last long. Poland scored four times in the bottom of the fourth, thanks in part to a three-run shot by Jeremy Castro, to knot the game at 9. Hubbard took the lead for good in the fifth, scoring a run on a Lukas Mosora single. The Eagles added to the lead with a homer by Evan Jarvis in the sixth, and the insurance run proved big when Poland pulled within 11-10.

Lukas Mosora earned the victory when he pitched the final 3 2/3 innings to earn the win, inducing a groundout from Poland’s Braeden O’Shaughnessy with a man on first to end the game.

Alex Barth was credited the loss, allowing five hits and two runs over three and two-thirds innings, striking out three.

Hubbard (17-12) advances to the district semifinal for the first time since 2010, with the Eagles playing Niles at 5 p.m. Monday at Cene Park.

 

*Contributions from Hubbard Hardball/Facebook

 

NILES SCORES EARLY, BLANKS QUAKERS TO ADVANCE

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NILES, OH-  Score early on offense, limit opportunities on defense, and throw strikes.  It’s that easy, right?  On Wednesday, Niles McKinley stuck to that blueprint and advanced past the red-hot Quakers who rattled off 6 straight victories prior to the Sectional Finals.  Salem fell behind early and couldn’t come back in a 4-0 loss to McKinley on Wednesday. McKinley scored on a single by Gallo, a single by Mays, and a fielder’s choice by Sudzina in the first inning.

In the first inning, McKinley got their offense started when Gallo singled on the first pitch of the at-bat, scoring one run.

A single by Blaize Exline in the second inning was a positive for Salem, and one of only two hits for the Quakers on the evening.  Both belonged to Exline.

Weida led the McKinley to victory on the pitcher’s mound. He surrendered zero runs on two hits over seven innings, striking out four.

Adam Wilson took the loss for Salem. He allowed ten hits and four runs over six innings, striking out three and walking one.

Exline went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Salem in hits.

McKinley racked up ten hits on the day. Gallo, Sudzina, and Leonard all managed multiple hits for McKinley.

 

The Quaker Baseball Staff had this to say after the game via Twitter:

 

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RAIDERS PICKUP WHERE THEY LEFT OFF, SEND EP PACKING

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CANFIELD, OH- When the South Range walked off the field at Huntington Park in Columbus last year with the D3 Championship last year, they felt they were the only ones that believed they could do “the impossible” and win a state title.  They were the underdogs and used that to rally their team and battle their way to the schools first ever organized team state championship.

This year is a bit different.

Five runs in the first inning led the Raiders past East Palestine 9-1 on Wednesday. Jared Bajerski, Ben Rivera, and Brandon Mikos each had RBIs in the big inning.

South Range got on the board in the first inning when Jared Bajerski doubled on a 3-2 count, scoring one run.

Jake Gehring was credited with the victory for the Raiders. He surrendered zero runs on two hits over five innings, striking out nine. Sam Brooks and Trey Pancake entered the game out of the bullpen and helped to close out the game in relief.

Dalton Vance took the loss for East Palestine. He surrendered nine runs on ten hits over three innings, striking out two and walking zero.

The Raiders scattered ten hits in the game. Brandon Mikos and Trey Pancake all managed multiple hits for Raiders. Trey Pancake and Brandon Mikos all had two hits to lead the team.

Sean Helpy led East Palestine with two hits in three at-bats.

 

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SALEM CONTINUES TO SIZZLE, EJECT STRUTHERS

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SALEM, OH- The Salem baseball team won their sectional semi-final game against Struthers in Salem on Tuesday to get their 10th home victory of the season and 6th in a row overall.

The Quakers have had to come from behind to win the last 4 during this streak. Tuesday night was no exception. Sophomore starter Lane Rhodes gave up a run in the first and 3 more in the second to stake the Wildcats to an early 4-0 lead.

Freshman Blaize Exline would get the Quakers on the board in the bottom of the second when he reached on an error by the shortstop that scored junior Joey Watson from 3rd.

After both teams traded zeros in the third inning, the Quakers would score three in the bottom of the fourth to tie it up on the strength of a 2 out 2 run single by sophomore second basemen Nick Coletta and a wild pitch that would eventually bring Coletta in to score.

Struthers would quickly regain the lead in the top of the 5th when Tomko led off the inning with a single, stole second base and then scored from second on an infield hit.

But the Quakers had another comeback left in them and in the bottom of the 5th inning would strike for 4 runs that would eventually win them the game. An error, bunt base hit, walk and a hit batter would tie the score for Salem and then after senior Adam Wilson went down swinging for the first out of the inning, freshman Blaize Exline riffled a single back up the middle to score two and snatch a 7-5 lead for the Quakers. Salem would add the final run of the inning on a bases-loaded walk to senior Turner Johnson.

Lane Rhodes did the rest as he went the distance for the Quakers allowing 3 earned runs off of 8 hits while striking out 11 Wildcat batters.

The victorious Quakers advance to take on Niles tomorrow in Niles with the first pitch set for 5 o’clock.

 

*Contributed by Mike DeBarr

RESERVE RETIRED BY VANCE, EP MOVES ON TO MEET RANGE

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NEW WATERFORD- It’s appropriate that this year’s underdog team has a mascot of a Bulldog.  East Palestine continued to stay hot in a 9-6 victory over Western Reserve at Next Level Complex on Tuesday.  It was a game that was supposed to be played at Western Reserve, but the field was not suitable for play.

In the second inning, East Palestine got their offense started. Cooper Vance drove in one when he singled.  The Bulldogs also scored four runs in the fourth inning. The big bats were led by Sean Helpy, Dalton Vance, and Cameron Wischerman, who each had RBIs in the inning.

Western Reserve scored three runs in the third inning to chip away at the lead. Windham, Slaven, and Brycen Jackson each drove in runs during the frame.

Cooper Vance led the Bulldogs to victory on the hill. He allowed ten hits and six runs over seven innings, striking out six and walking one.

Windham took the loss for Western Reserve. He surrendered eight runs on eight hits over four innings, striking out one.

East Palestine had 11 hits in the game. Brock Cheurco, Vance, and Vance all managed multiple hits for EP. The Vance boys and Cheurco each collected two hits to lead the team.

Western Reserve collected ten hits. Wise and Slaven each racked up multiple hits for Western Reserve. Wise led Western Reserve with three hits in four at-bats.

The Bulldogs will face off on Wednesday against defending State Champions, South Range.  First pitch is set for 5 pm.

 

 

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EAGLES FLY INTO NEXT ROUND AGAINST GIRARD

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HUBBARD, OH- Dylan Durkos broke open a 2-1 Hubbard (16-12) lead in the bottom of the fifth with a bases-loaded single, bringing in two runs. This was after Girard’s (7-15) Nick DeGregory scored Austin Claussell on a base hit in the fourth inning.

Nate Bencetic had three hits and three RBI for the Eagles. Jimmy Palumbo added two RBI for Hubbard and Lukas Mosora had two doubles.  Evan Jarvis and Jamie Thomson also had multiple hit games for the blue and white.

Joe Barr was the winning pitcher who allowed just three hits while striking out five.

Matt Miles took the loss for Girard going five innings, giving up six runs on nine hits and fanning five Eagles.

Offensively for the Indians, Jayden Maggs, Austin Claussell and Nick DeGregory had hits.

Hubbard will play Poland today at 5 p.m. at Poland.

SWEENEY SHINES AS BLUE DEVILS BLANK BEARS, ADVANCE IN TOURNEY

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LISBON, OH- Justin Sweeney shut down Leetonia, throwing a complete game shutout and leading Lisbon to a 10-0 victory on Tuesday.

The Devils got things moving in the first inning. An error scored one run for Lisbon on a Blake Reynolds grounder that scored Sweeney.  However, it was the fifth inning that put the nail in the coffin for Leetonia as Lisbon notched three runs. The push was led by a single by Blake Reynolds and a double by Logan Bell.

A single by Brayden Duko in the second inning was a positive for Leetonia.  Also, the only hit of the game for the Bears.

Sweeney was the winning pitcher for Lisbon. He lasted five innings, allowing one hit and zero runs while striking out seven and walking zero.

Duko took the loss for Leetonia. He lasted three innings, allowing five hits and five runs while striking out one.

The Blue Devils tallied ten hits. Sweeney and Nick Mundy each managed multiple hits for Lisbon. Sweeney went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead the team in hits.  David Anderson Blue Devils Varsity tore up the base paths, as three players stole at least two bases. Bell led the way with three.

 

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