STRUTHERS, OH- In a tight baseball game that never saw one team lead by more than 1 run the Columbiana Clippers fell in the District Semi-Finals to Mogadore by a 3-2 score in 9 innings.  The Clippers finish the season with a 13-15 record while Mogadore (9-7) moves on the face South Range in the District Title game on Thursday.

Mogadore struck first in the bottom of the first with a 2-out infield single to take an early 1-0 lead.  Columbiana took the lead in the top of the third with two runs.  Michael Ginocchi led the inning off with a single.  Zach Fahs hit into a fielders choice and moved to third on a Chase Franken single.  Two pitches later, Fahs would score on a wild pitch and Franken would move to third.  Franken would score on another wild pitch giving the Clippers a 2-1 lead.

Mogadore would tie the game up at 2 in the bottom of the fifth.  With two outs and a runner on second the Wildcats would single to center scoring the runner and knotting the game up.

The score would stay the same until the 9th.  A Mogadore walk, bunt single and intentional walk would load the bases with 1 out.  The next hitter would ground to third and Clipper 3rd baseman Ryan Fahs threw out the runner at home.  The next pitch, however, went to the backstop and Mogadore was able to scamper home with the winning run.

Overall, it was a great effort by the Clippers and a great baseball game.  Fahs pitched an excellent game going the distance scattering 7 hits, striking out 4 and allowing only 2 walks on 104 pitches.  Offensively, Fahs lead the game off with a double while Franken, Ginnochi and Erik Hopfenziz each singled

The Clipper season has come to an end with seniors AJ Perkins, Zach Fahs, Dejon Hudson and Aaron Thistlewaite playing their last games.  Perkins and Fahs leave the Clipper program as 3-year letter winners and key contributors to the Clipper baseball.  Their leadership and effort will be missed and were great examples to the younger Clippers what it takes to be successful in this game.

**Reported by Ryan Wolf

COLUMBIANA, OH-  Columbiana (12-14) dropped a 10-0 seven-inning decision to #4 ranked Toronto on Friday afternoon.  The game was the final EOAC contest for the Clippers who finish the season at 9-4 in the league.

AJ Perkins started and pitched 3 innings taking the loss.  Perkins gave up 6 runs, only 1 earned, on 7 hits and walking 1.  Ryan Fahs pitched 2 innings in relief followed by Evan Kenneally for another 2.

Offensively, the Clippers were able to knock out 8 hits, but could not get the big two-out hit when needed to score.  Chase Franken led the way with 3 hits including a double.  Dejon Hudson, Steven Anderson, Michael Ginocchi, Perkins, and Kenneally all singled for Columbiana.

**Reported by Ryan Wolf

CANTON, OH-  Columbiana traveled to Canton Thursday evening to take on the #1 seed Crusaders of Central Catholic.  In a game that came down the wire, the Clippers prevailed defeating Central 1-0 to earn a sectional championship and a matchup with the Mogadore Wildcats next Wednesday, May 16th at Cene Park in Struthers.

The Clippers were led on the mound by Chase Franken who threw the complete game shutout.  Franken (5-4) gave up only 3 hits while striking out 4 to earn the victory.

The game got off to a fast start for Columbiana.  After a Zach Fahs line out, Joe Bable doubled to left center and Chase Franken would single to give the Clippers runners on 1st and 3rd with 1 out.  AJ Perkins lined a ball back up the middle but an outstanding play by the Crusader pitcher would end the threat as he snagged the ball out of the air and threw to first for the double play.

In the bottom of the inning, the Clippers defense showed they were ready to play and back up Franken for the entirety.  AJ Perkins made a fine running catch on the leadoff hitter’s sinking liner, followed by Tyler Andersen’s great snag of a line drive to second.  Evan Kenneally would get the last out, diving into foul territory to grab a looping liner toward first to end the inning.

Neither team would threaten again until the fourth inning.  In the top of the frame, Franken ripped a ball to the left-center fence for his school record 14th career triple to get the inning started.  With a drawn in infield, AJ Perkins would line a ball to right to knock in the only run the Clippers would need on the night.

Columbiana continued to play excellent defense the rest of the way including Erik Hopfenziz quickly hopping on a wild pitch and throwing to Franken to get the out at home on a Crusader trying to score from third in the bottom of the 6th.

In the final frame, the Crusaders would threaten but the Clippers would shut it down.  After a leadoff walk and a steal, Central Catholic was looking good with the tying run on 2nd with no one out.  Franken would induce the 8 hitter to pop up to the shortstop Bable, followed by a ground out to Andersen at second.  With the leadoff hitter up, 2 outs and a runner on third, Franken would strike him out to end the game and secure the victory for Columbiana.

With the win, Columbiana now sits at 12-13 on the year.  The Clippers will host Toronto this afternoon at Legion Field for the final EOAC contest of the year.  First pitch is scheduled for 5 PM.

PERRY, OH-  Columbiana (8-13) traveled to Perry, Ohio Saturday afternoon for the 6th Annual Perry High School Wood Bat Classic.  The Clippers faced Mentor Lake Catholic in game one falling by a 9-5 score and were defeated 7-6 in game 2 by Beachwood.

In game one, the Clippers would battle all game taking a 5-4 lead into the 5th but just didn’t have quite enough against the Division 1 Cougars.  Leading the way for the Clippers was Erik Hopfenziz who went 2-3 with 2 RBI’s and a double.  Steven Anderson also added a double and an RBI along with Ryan Fahs who knocked in 2 in the 1st with a 2 run single.

In game two, the Clippers took an early 2-0 lead but Beachwood would take the lead for good with a 4 run fourth inning.  Columbiana battled back scoring 4 runs in the top of the 7th but would leave the tying run on base falling 7-6.  The Bison turned three inning-ending double plays under the lights that ultimately did the Clippers in.  Evan Kenneally pitched a complete game striking out 5 while giving up 7 runs (4 earned).  Offensively, Erik Hopfenziz continued his strong afternoon adding another hit while walking twice.  Chase Franken and Zach Fahs each doubled while Ryan Fahs singled 3 times and knocked in 3 runs.

Tyler Andersen had a strong day defensively playing both shortstop and 2nd base.  Andersen had 5 assists and 2 putouts including a nice turn on an inning-ending double play against Lake Catholic.

Columbiana returns home Monday for Senior Night to take on Leetonia in EOAC action.  The first pitch is scheduled for 5:00 PM with Senior Night activities taking place before the game at 4:50.

**Reported by Ryan Wolf