BALLISTIC COACH’S CORNER (EP 1) WITH CHRIS COSENTINO

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YOUNGSTOWN, OH- There’s a new team in town- and they have powder blue uniforms.  No, we’re not talking about the Toronto Blue Jays, we’re talking about Ballistic, the 10th gem in the gauntlet we call Class B.  Under the tutelage of first-year skipper, Chris Cosentino, Ballistic is out to prove that new franchises can hang with the big boys in Youngstown.

With first pitch coming in just over a week, we had the chance to talk to Coach C about his new team, challenges of a new franchise, and the steps he had to take to lead the charge for this team.

You can hear all his answers and more on Ballistic Coach’s Corner (EP 1) with Chris Cosentino.

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KNIGHTLINE COACH’S CORNER (EP 1) WITH TOMMY OTTO

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YOUNGSTOWN, OH- As sure as the sun rises in the East, if there is baseball to be played at Bob Cene Park, Tommy “Juice” Otto is going to be somewhere in the facility with his unmistakable coaching style, loud claps, and fierce cheering of his players.

Otto and his gritty, gutty style of baseball is up against another challenge in a shortened season with time constraints in 2020.  Although he’s in the midst of rebuilding his team due to fallout from COVID-19, the veteran skipper feels that his team can be battling for the trophy at the season’s end.

We caught up with Juice for the season’s first Knightline Coach’s Corner prior to the first pitch to discuss the obstacles, the excitement, and how things may be a bit different at Cene this season.

 

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PROSPECTS COACH’S CORNER (EP 1) WITH BRITT TAYLOR

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YOUNGSTOWN, OH- It’s a BIG year for baseball at Cene Park. If for no other reason than we’ve come to expect the unexpected in 2020. With a shortened season, all the teams in the B League are poised to put the chips on the table and let it ride for what will be a month and a half of America’s favorite past-time being played in our backyard at one of the most beautiful facilities in the state.

First-time 18U Manager, Britt Taylor is looking to take his youthful bunch of Prospects and make a big splash this season. A roster loaded with talent provides optimal opportunity for the Red and White.

We spoke with Coach Taylor about the team, the expectations, and the differences he feels this year could have. All that and more on the inaugural edition of Prospects Coach’s Corner with Britt Taylor.

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16U LITTLE B SCHEDULE RELEASED

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YOUNGSTOWN, OH- In affiliation with the Youngstown Class B League and Bob Cene Park, Your Sports Network is proud to be your exclusive home for 18U, 16U, and 14U action this summer.

As part of that partnership, we are honored to release the schedules for the respective seasons.  Keep in mind that all schedules are subject to change based on the needs and demands of all parties involved.

CLICK BELOW FOR FULL SCHEDULE:

2020 Schedule Little b – original (1)

 

YOUNGSTOWN CLASS B COACH’S CORNER: ASTRO FALCONS (EP 1) WITH DON PLETCHER

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YOUNGSTOWN, OH- “Play Ball” are two words that the Mahoning Valley has been longing to hear for months.  As the official media partner of the Youngstown Class B League, YSN will feature our series of Coach’s Corner for the B League this season.

We had the opportunity to sit with Astro Falcon 18U Manager, Don Pletcher to start the series.  Pletcher enters his second season as the lead bird of the Astro organization, and is looking to once again take the league by storm with his beefed-up roster, and outstanding staff.

Catch the thoughts of “The Sheriff” heading into the season, and how he feels about having the eyes of so many on Bob Cene Park beginning on June 14th.

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18U BIG B SCHEDULE RELEASED

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YOUNGSTOWN, OH- In affiliation with the Youngstown Class B League and Bob Cene Park, Your Sports Network is proud to be your exclusive home for 18U, 16U, and 14U action this summer.

As part of that partnership, we are honored to release the schedules for the respective seasons.  Tonight, we will release the 18U, Thursday will have the 16U release, and Friday we will release 14U schedules for all teams.  Keep in mind that all schedules are subject to change based on the needs and demands of all parties involved.

Click below for full schedule:

2020 Big B Schedule

PONY: CHINESE TAIPEI TOO MUCH FOR YOUNGSTOWN

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WASHINGTON, PA- Youngstown fell behind early and couldn’t come back in an 8-1 loss to Chinese Taipei on Monday.  Chinese Taipei scored on a home run by CHEN AN Pai in the first inning.

Chinese Taipei opened up scoring in the first inning when an error scored one run.

YI WEI Tseng pitched Chinese Taipei to victory. He lasted three innings, allowing five hits and one run while striking out three and walking one. SZ Te Li, YUAN KAI Chang, and YI LEI Sun all put in work in relief out of the bullpen, steering their team towards the victory.

Anthony Malagise took the loss for Youngstown.  He surrendered four runs on five hits over four innings, striking out one.

Chinese Taipei socked three home runs on the day. Pai had a dinger in the first inning. Tseng put one out in the third inning. TZU CHUN Yang went for the long ball in the seventh inning to seal the victory.

For Youngstown, Jarrod Malagise went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead Grit City in hits.

YU CHENG Yang led Chinese Taipei with two hits in three at-bats. Chinese Taipei didn’t commit a single error in the field. Pai had the most chances in the field with 11. Taipei stole six bases during the game as two players stole more than one. Yang led the way with two.

 

POST GAME REACTION:

Dom Fornataro

Luca Ricchiuti

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PONY: YOUNGSTOWN RECAPS 6-0 WIN OVER MEXICO

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WASHINGTON, PA- Following their 6-0 victory over Mexico on Friday, Team Youngstown sat down with YSN General Manager, Steve Leslie to discuss the win and what is to come on Monday evening against Chinese Taipei.

 

Manager Scott Ruark

Anthony Miller

Ben Slanker

Anthony & Jarrod Malagise

Luca Bertolasio

PONY: FIESTA DE YOUNGSTOWN

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WASHINGTON, PA- In the blue-collar city of Youngstown, Ohio; there’s time for work, and there is time to celebrate.  On a Friday night, prime time matchup against Mexico, Scott Ruark’s Team Youngstown embodied the city to the letter.  Guasave, Mexico had trouble keeping up with Youngstown in a 6-0 loss on Friday.

A single by Ezequiel Perez in the fourth inning was positive for Guasave, Mexico.  But that’s about where things ended for our friends south of the border.

Class B standout prospect Anthony Miller led Youngstown to victory on the mound. He surrendered zero runs on two hits over five innings, striking out ten. Stephen Tarnoci threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen. Tarnoci recorded the last six outs to earn the save for Youngstown..

Perez took the loss for Guasave, Mexico. He allowed six hits and five runs over six and a third innings, striking out 13.

Jose Alvarez and Perez each collected one hit to lead Guasave, Mexico.

Youngstown racked up eight hits. Ben Slanker and Miller each racked up multiple hits for “The Yo.”  Ben Slanker also took the crown home in the Home Run Derby prior to the game.

Youngstown returns to action Monday evening at 5:30 to face the winner of China and Puerto Rico.

 

“Powered by Narrative Science and GameChanger Media. Copyright 2019. All rights reserved.” 

 

PALOMINO: PUERTO RICO PREVENTS YOUNGSTOWN FROM TITLE SHOT

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LAREDO, TX- Youngstown’s Astro Falcons were within one strike several times of facing Chinese-Tapei for the 2019 Palomino World Series Championship.  For the second time in three days, Puerto Rico rallied in the seventh to take down Youngstown.

Ricky Havrilla was outstanding through five innings allowing just two hits and one walk and Youngstown had a 4-0 lead.  Single tallies in the first, second, third, and sixth innings gave them what seemed a firm grip on defeating Puerto Rico for the second straight night.  But suddenly the strike zone eluded Havrilla, and after three walks in the sixth, ironically his total for the entire summer in Youngstown’s Class B League, he gave up a two-run double cutting the score to 4-2.  Justin Miknis got out of the sixth inning jam and had Puerto Rico down to their last strike on several occasions, but after several foul balls, an infield single trickled just far enough into left field allowing the winning run to score as Puerto Rico put up three runs in the seventh.

Offensively, Justin Miknis had two hits as did Lucas Gulczinski, one of which was a double.  Chase Franken had an RBI triple, his third three-bagger of the tournament. And Brandon Gelpi hit a towering solo home run that gave Youngstown their biggest lead.

It was a heartbreaking ending to a four-day testament to guts and Youngstown grit.  From the outset, Youngstown had the toughest bracket challenge of any of the ten teams in Laredo.  Winning four games over the four days, Don Pletcher’s team did Y-town proud.

 

*Contributed by Mark Franken