LIONS RALLY FOR OPENING DAY WIN

East Palestine, OH- Baseball is back. The 2021 season got underway Saturday here at Next Level, home of Heartland Christian, and the home team Lions walked off with a 5-4 victory over the visiting Blue Devils from Western Reserve.
Senior standout Caleb Graft took the hill for Heartland and survived a challenging third inning to keep the LIons in striking distance through 5 1⁄3 innings. He struck out 12 before giving way to sophomore Drew Walker who finished the game to pick up the mound win.

Jake Papagallo had a strong start for the Blue Devils striking out six in his four innings. Nick Nemi took the loss.
Devin Sirota led the Lions’ offense with two hits, two runs scored, and an rbi. After scoring the game’s first run in the second, the senior kept his team alive with two outs and the bases empty in the decisive seventh inning rally. Trailing 4-2 entering the final frame, the Lions got within one after Aaron Gault singled and scored on a Graft sacrifice fly. Then, Sirota set up the dramatic ending as he singled, stole second, and scored on a two-strike base hit by Nate Garzanich to tie the game. With Garzanich at third, the Lions were once again down to their last strike when Joel Morgan ended it by beating the throw to first on a ground ball to shortstop.

Brock Miller had two hits for Western Reserve who will host LaBrae on Monday. The Lions are scheduled to host McDonald on Wednesday.

*Contributed by YSN’s Mark Franken