POLAND KEEPS FOOTING DURING RAIDERS RALLY

CANFIELD OH— Things got a little too close for comfort, but Poland held off a furious South Range comeback to secure a 9-7 win on Monday in a game that started all Bulldogs before turning into a nail-biter.

Poland came out swinging in the first, hanging a five-spot on the board. Joe Zuccaro roped a double to bring in the first run, Owen McKenzie followed with a two-RBI single, and Dylan Kelty capped the frame with a two-run double to make it 5-0 in a hurry.

Tyson Tarajack tacked on another run in the second with a base hit to make it 6-1, and the Bulldogs looked like they were on cruise control with a 7-run cushion heading into the late innings.

But South Range wasn’t done. The Raiders chipped away, stringing together sacrifice flies and RBI singles to close the gap to just two by the end of the seventh. Poland’s bullpen bent but didn’t break, and Zuccaro came on to slam the door and pick up the save.

Tarajack got the win on the bump, tossing five innings while striking out seven and working around seven hits and five runs (three earned). McKenzie pitched in out of the pen before Zuccaro finished the job.

At the plate, Jacob Hayes couldn’t be stopped, going 3-for-3 on the night. McKenzie and Zuccaro each drove in three, while Tarajack showed patience with three walks. Poland tallied eight walks as a team and swiped four bases, including a pair each from Hayes and Carmine Tukalo.

South Range racked up 11 hits of their own in the rally attempt. Brennen Klasovsky went 3-for-4 to lead the way, while Nico Papuga drove in two. Andrew Brian, Gavin Hiscox, and Julian Tranovich all had multi-hit nights. Game two between the two conference rivals is set for Tuesday at Poland.