Tag Archive for: Featured

A DRAGON’S TALE- MARCO DEFALCO

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The list of accolades continued at Cene Park Tuesday night for recent Niles McKinley baseball standout, Marco DeFalco.  DeFalco collected the Baird Brothers Player of the Game with a 3-4 outing at the plate that included 3 runs scored, and a stolen base.  Not to mention his 11 K’s on the bump which led the Astro Falcons to the Bob Cene Memorial Tournament Championship.

While DeFalco is headed down the road to Youngstown State in a couple months, he’s enjoying his time this summer and hoping to lead the Astros to another championship before the boys of fall takeover the spotlight.

Our Nate Keiper had a chance to talk to yesterday’s MVP for this week’s Baird Brothers Player Profile-Marco DeFalco.

KNIGHTLINE STAYS HOT, GROUNDS ASTROS

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STRUTHERS, OH-  With a name like “Gunnar” you’d expect an athlete for a rocket for an arm, and ice in his veins.  Expectations confirmed.  Coach Tommy “Juice” Otto sent Gunnar Boehm to the bump on Wednesday to take on the Cene Division’s top team, the Astro Falcons and found victory 5-1 at the end of the night.

Boehm did not disappoint.  He scattered 5 hits giving up only one run (3rd inning) while walking four ‘Stros and striking out 11.  Impressive to say the least, especially when the mean batting average on the other side was well over .300, with an on-base percentage even higher than that.

As for Knightline’s sticks?  They matched the color of their uniforms as they stayed red-hot.  Anthony Yasulka led the way with a double and contributing the RBI were Kole Klasic with 2, Anthony Cinicola, Colton Stoneman, and Ben Rivera with one apiece.

For the Astro Falcons, Frank Craska got the start on the hill and scrambled 4 runs from 10 hits while walking just one, and sitting down four Knightline hitters.  Evan Jarvis saw relief duties and gave up one run on two hits.

Only five hits for the Astro’s on Wednesday, as Marco DeFalco led the way with a double, and RBI.  Mark Trotta also contributed a double for the home team.

Both teams will now prepare for the Bob Cene Memorial Tournament that begins Thursday at 3:30.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: GUNNAR BOEHM (KNIGHTLINE)

BAIRD BROTHERS FLEXES AGAINST CREEKSIDE

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STRUTHERS, OH-  In a battle of McGraw’s on the hill, it was Baird Brother’s prospect, Marshall McGraw that stood tall at the end of the evening with an 11-1 win in 5 innings over Creekside.  McGraw would go five very strong innings for the complete game only having to hurl the pearl 38 times (34 strikes.)  He would also give up one run on two hits, walking one and striking out nine Creekside hitters.

Offensively for Baird Brothers, Catcher Tyler Smith came through with 2 hits in three at-bats that resulted in 4 RBI.  His defining moment during the game was a three-run, base-clearing triple in the second inning that gave Baird the lead for good.  Also contributing with RBI’s: Jake Keene with 2, Zach Mancz, Joey Craska, and Coleman Stauffer with one each.

For Creekside, Ian McGraw went 4.2 innings giving up 6 hits, and 11 runs (8 earned) while walking four, and fanning two.

Both teams will now prepare for the Bob Cene Memorial Tournament that begins at 3:30 Thursday.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Tyler Smith (Baird Brothers)

DURA EDGE PUSHES PAST MACRI’S

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STRUTHERS, OH-  On a night where hits were at a premium, Terry Dobson’s Dura Edge squad did the most with what they had.  Dura Edge would scatter just three hits to score 5 runs in a 5-1 victory on Tuesday night over Macri’s Sports.

Western Reserve product Dom Velasquez would be held without a hit but produce 2 RBI to lead the way for the black and gold.  For his efforts, he was also named the Baird Brothers Player of the Game.  Adam Walker would also make several impressive plays defensively but showed up most on the scoresheet accounting for 2 runs.

On the bump, Jake Bowen got the job done in style with 5 hits given up and not allowing a single run to score.  He would also walk one and fan two hitters.  Will Shaffer would come in relief allowing one run on three hits and also sitting down two Macri’s hitters via the strikeout.

For Macri’s, Sam Wells came out on fire and impressed all in attendance before allowing 5 runs on 2 hits, only 2 of those being earned.  Wells also contributed offensively with a double and an RBI late in the game.  Catcher Jared Bajerski would get on and steal a base before leaving the game with an injury.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Dom Velasquez (DURA EDGE)

PHOTO CREDIT: STUDIO 47 PHOTOGRAPHY

KNIGHTLINE SURVIVE AVALANCHE

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STRUTHERS, OH- When Adam Jannette toed the rubber last night for Knightline, he did so with poise and on a mission.  His mission was to take advantage of the aggressiveness of the Avalanche hitters and chase pitches out of the zone.

Mission Accomplished.

Jannette wound up scattering 4 hits and giving up only 2 runs in his start.  All the while keeping Avalanche hitters guessing through seven strikeouts, and no walks.  Efficiency was key for Jannette who didn’t allow a single walk in the game.

Leading the way offensively for Tom Otto’s Squad was his backstop, Tim Herberger.  Herberger went 2-4 with 2 RBI to earn himself the Baird Brothers Player of the Game honors.  Also contributing some ribs on the grill were Colton Stoneman, Gunnar Boehm, and Zach Yasulka with one apiece.  Herberger and his teammates continue to stay hot offensively as they collected 10 hits as a team following Sunday’s USSSA State Championship.

A tough night on the bump for Avalanche starter Garrett Brewer (1-1) who gave up 7 hits, 6 runs, 7 walks, and fanned 6 Knightline hitters.  His ERA took a toll and was pushed to a season-high-5.44.  In relief was Joel Kreuzwieser who plugged the leak giving up only one run on three hits.

Contributing with the sticks, and on the basepaths for the Avalanche: Hayden Gallagher with an RBI, and Koby Winslow had a stolen base.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Tim Herberger (Knightline)

PHOTO CREDIT: STUDIO47 PHOTOGRAPHY

SPIRIT OF DALLAS: HEART OF A LION

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In this edition of Praise Up, we sat down with FCA Steel Valley Board President, Dallas Lehman.

Dallas talks about the significance of networking, connecting, and impacting young people through and to Christ.  We go through some of his original walks with FCA, to where it has come in the Valley through hard work, dedication, and service.

All that and more on this edition of FCA: Praise Up.

 

 

KNIGHTLINE WALKS OFF WITH USSSA STATE TITLE

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STRUTHERS, OH- In a punch, counter-punch battle for the USSSA Ohio State Championship-Youngstown’s Knightline was able to throw one last haymaker to knockout IVL.  It came down to the last play, but IVL 17U was on the wrong end of a 6-5 defeat to Knightline on Sunday. The game was tied at five with Knightline batting in the bottom of the seventh when an error scored one run for Knightline.

After IVL 17U scored three runs in the top of the sixth, Knightline answered with three of their own. IVL 17U scored when Zack Scalf doubled on a 1-2 count, scoring two runs and Anthony Staimpel singled on a 1-1 count, scoring one run. Knightline then answered when Zach Yasulka singled on a 1-2 count, scoring one run, Tim Herberger singled on a 0-1 count, scoring one run, and Joe Kozlina doubled on a 1-0 count, scoring one run.

Knightline reliever Anthony Cinicola and Matt Harper entered the game out of the bullpen and helped to close out the game in relief.  Cinicola would be credited for the pitching victory when he walked off Knightline with a chopper to short.  Sam Nicodemus took the loss for IVL 17U. He surrendered three runs on four hits over one inning, walking zero.

Tom Pitko started the game for Knightline. He surrendered three runs on three hits over five and two-thirds innings, striking out five Luke Bosley started the game for IVL 17U. He went five innings, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out one and walking zero

Scalf went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead IVL 17U in hits.

Knightline collected ten hits. Herberger and Colton Stoneman each managed multiple hits for Knightline. Hershberger led Knightline with three hits in three at-bats. Knightline was sure-handed in the field and didn’t commit a single error.

 

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LOCAL TALENT PEPPERS NEOBCA ALL-DISTRICT TEAMS: SOUTH RANGE’S HANEK COACH OF THE YEAR

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Ohio- The Northeast Ohio Baseball Coaches Association has come out with its list of 2018 All-District Teams.  The following YSN-Partner schools and players were chosen:

DIVISION III:  

Coach of the Year: Jim Hanek (South Range)

Pitcher: Jake Gehring (South Range)

OF: Jeff Feo (Crestview)

Catcher: Jared Bajerski (South Range)

OF: Ben Rivera (South Range)

OF: Dylan Huff (Crestview)

UT: Chase Franken (Columbiana)

IF: Caleb Hill (Crestview)

 

Division IV:

IF: Logan Bell (Lisbon)

OF: Cam Summers (Lisbon)

 

CLIPPERS NAMED TO NEOBCA ALL-STAR LIST

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COLUMBIANA, OH-  Chase Franken was named to the second team of the Northeast Ohio Baseball Coaches Association (NEOBCA) all-district team.  On the year Franken hit .451 with 8 doubles and 8 triples (school record) while scoring 36 runs.  Franken also was 5-4 on the mound with a 3.48 ERA.  He struck out 65 in 50.1 innings pitched.

CHASE FRANKEN

Zach Fahs and AJ Perkins will represent the Columbiana/Mahoning all-star team on June 26th at Canal Park, home of the Rubberducks,  in the NEOBCA All-Star game.  The Columbiana/Mahoning team will take on the Trumbull/Portage team with the first pitch scheduled for 4 PM.

ZACH FAHS

AJ PERKINS

 

**Reported by Ryan Wolf

BAIRD’S YOUNG GUNS SHINE IN SOGGY SHOWDOWN

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STRUTHERS, OH-  To say that Jake Gehring has had an eventful baseball season would be an understatement, to say the least.  A few weeks removed from his gem in the OHSAA State Semi’s in Columbus, Gehring as well as his close friends Brandon Mikos (Cardinal Mooney) and Trey Pancake (Beaver Local) got the call to play against Roth Brothers in Youngstown Big B action.  The stars of tomorrow shined in their debut.  In fact, not even the rain could stop Baird, as the teams and fans endured a 45-minute rain delay before play was completed and Baird Brothers took the 11-0 victory over Roth Brothers.

On the bump, Gehring would give up no runs on three hits, and three walks.  He would send nine Roth batters back to the dugout via the strikeout.  Offensively, though, Gehring was equally as impressive when he doubled with two outs in the bottom of the first that resulted in two RBI and made the score 3-0.  Two batters later, it was Mikos who cleared the bases with a 3-run double that put Baird up 6 runs.  They weren’t done yet.  Dayln Brickner would hit a single that moved the runners up one base, an error would score Mikos (7-0) and then it would be Connor Rakow’s 2-out single that would score Luke Stauffer and Brickner to close out the frame at 9-0.

Pitching standout Cole Constance would garner the loss for Roth Brothers, but battled through 4 innings, a rain delay and much adversity for his team.  This was not representative of what Constance had shown so far this season, as he had a 2-0 record coming in while giving up 5 walks, and striking out 18 with a minuscule ERA at 1.33.

With the victory, Baird Brothers remain at the top of the Goldstone Division with a record of 7-1.  While with the loss, Roth Brothers (6-3) falls behind Creekside into third place, and 2 games behind the Astro Falcons atop the Cene Division.

 

THE BAIRD BROTHERS PLAYER OF THE GAME:  JAKE GEHRING

PHOTO CREDIT: STUDIO47 PHOTOGRAPHY (JOSH WORKMAN)