ROTH STRIKES OUT 15 IN SHUTOUT OF POLAND
AUSTINTOWN OH- A fun out of conference rivalry took place on Thursday night, when The Austintown Fitch Falcons welcomed in The Poland Bulldogs on the baseball diamond. Michael Dillulo (Poland) and Joe Roth (Fitch) started on the mound for each respective team. Fitch loaded the bases up in each of the first 2 innings; however, Dillulo did a good job of pitching out of trouble. Allowing just 1 run and stranding 6 baserunners, Dillulo walked a tightrope to start against The Falcons.
Roth had it going for Fitch, striking out 5 of the first 6 batters faced, and retired the first 9 in order. The bottom of the 3rd turned out to be the biggest inning against The Bulldogs for Fitch. With Donova Bell Sullivan slugging a 2 run triple to right-center, giving The Falcons a 3-0 lead. After getting out of the first 3 innings, Dillulo’s pitch count became a factor, which brought Matt Paparodis to finish the game out.
Despite a lead-off home run by Joe Roth and a line drive single by Mikey Sciortino, Paparodis settled in and pitched 3 innings, giving up just the 1 run.
Player of the Game was Fitch’s Joe Roth, who provided all the pitching and offense that a coach could ask for. Pitching the shutout allowed Fitch to come away with the 7-0 victory over Poland, starting their season off 2-0.
Joe Roth (Pitching) vs. Poland 3/31: W(2), 7 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 0 ER, 15 K
Joe Roth (Batting) vs. Poland 3/31: 3 AB, 2 H, 1 HR(1), RBI, BB.
Donovan Bell Sullivan vs. Poland 3/31: 3 AB, 1 H, 1 3B(1), 2 RBI.
The double-barrel of sophomore pitchers did a solid job for Poland on Thursday night, with Paparodis highlighting 3 innings of relief.
Matt Paparodis vs. Fitch 3/31: 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 K.
Poland (1-1) will now look to go back to the team they beat on Wednesday in The Hubbard Eagles (0-1). This time around, Poland will be on the road at Hubbard on Saturday, April 2nd.
Austintown (2-0) will be having an all conference Monday of matchups, with both the baseball and softball team slated to face Harding (0-2) on April 4th.
*Contributed By Ty Bartell
Postgame Interview With Joe Roth:
