EAGLES ARE GOLDEN; WIN EOAC TITLE
COLUMBIANA, OH- Columbiana (16-6, 9-2 EOAC) and United squared off Friday afternoon in a game that was started 18 days ago but suspended due to rain with United leading 3-1 with two outs in the top of the second and runners on the corners. United got off to a bang with Trent Newburn hitting a double to the left-center field gap off Riley McElwain who took over for Alex Eusebio on the mound. United’s double scored both runners on base, taking the Eagles to a 5-1 lead.
McElwain settled down after that allowing only two more hits, one an infield single and the other a flair to left. McElwain would surrender one run in his 4.1 innings of work while striking out four. Seth Spooner pitched the final inning striking out one for the Clippers.
After being down by four, the Clippers would go scoreless in the 2nd but would start chipping away scoring one run in the 3rd and two more in the 4th. After a United run in the sixth the Clippers immediately responded with a run of its own in the bottom frame.
In the seventh inning, Columbiana would mount a rally looking for the tying run. A one-out single by Zachary Pleska got the inning started. Pleksa would move to second on a wild pitch which then allowed United to intentionally walk Seth Spooner. A Clipper flyout followed but Alex Eusebio would keep the Columbiana hopes alive with an infield single to short. However, that was all the Clippers had as the final out was recorded on a strikeout giving United the victory. With the win, United clinched the EOAC championship.
Devin Daugherty finished the game with two doubles while Alex Eusebio and Zachary Pleska each also had two hits. Seth Spooner tripled for Columbiana.
Trent Newburn finished with a double and two walks and a pair of RBI, Grant Knight had three hits in the game and scored a run.
Newburn went a complete game for the Eagles, allowing eight hits, five runs (2 earned) and striking out ten in the victory.
Columbiana will travel to Niles Saturday morning for a match-up with Western Reserve at Eastwood Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 11 AM.
*Contributed by Ryan Wolf
