RED DRAGONS BOUNCE BACK AGAINST STRUTHERS
NILES, OH- Tuesday’s game at Waddell Park was a close-fought affair, with the Niles Red Dragons just edging out the Struthers Wildcats 5-4 in a contest that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the last out.
The Red Dragons struck first, lighting up the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning. AJ Yost kicked things off with a single and then took matters into his own hands by stealing home, showcasing both speed and daring.
Struthers responded in the top of the third when JR Hovanec delivered a timely single that brought in two runs, nudging the Wildcats ahead 3-2. But their lead was short-lived as Niles McKinley rallied back in the fourth inning. Brian Parsons’ well-placed sacrifice bunt, followed by hits from Brixton Gilmour and Landon Turner, each drove in a run, flipping the game back in favor of the Red Dragons.
On the mound, Gilmour was solid for Niles McKinley, scattering six hits across a complete game and allowing four runs while striking out six. His counterpart, Jordan Becker of Struthers, struggled a bit more, surrendering five runs over just three and two-thirds innings.
Hovanec was a bright spot for Struthers, batting in two runs, while Caleb Sakara, Josh Robison, Michael Scavnicky, Anthony Pastella, and Travis McMurray each contributed hits.
For the Red Dragons, Yost, Turner, and Gilmour not only led with their bats—each recording two hits and an RBI—but also with aggressive baserunning, contributing to a total of four stolen bases for the team. Yost alone swiped two bases, adding pressure on Struthers’ defense.
Defensively, Niles was flawless, not committing a single error throughout the game, with Andrew Strader making the most plays in the field with seven.
As Struthers prepares for their next challenge against Hubbard on Wednesday, they’ll be looking to tighten up their game and convert more of their opportunities into runs. Meanwhile, the Red Dragons will be riding high on their victory, hoping to carry this momentum forward against Lakeview.
