Tag Archive for: NE8

TIGERS CLAW PAST GIRARD

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HOWLAND, OH- Both squads brought their A-game to the mound on Friday, but Howland Tigers edged out Girard 3-1 in a tight contest.

Brendan Ray took the hill for Howland and went the distance, chalking up 21 outs. Girard initially broke through in the fourth inning after a wild pitch allowed them to score.

The Tigers roared back in the bottom half of the same inning, taking the lead for good at 3-1. Terry Werner kicked off the rally with a clutch single, Isaiah Burgess grounded out to send a runner home, and Anthony Marimpietri added a key RBI single.

Ray was stellar, bagging the win by holding Girard to just one unearned run on five hits while striking out nine over seven innings. Jaden Royal absorbed the loss for Girard, giving up three runs across six innings, managing only one strikeout and handing out four walks.

The Tigers showcased some solid hitting, with Luca Fronzaglio, Brayden Kovarik, Marimpietri, Ray, and Werner each bagging a hit. Marimpietri, Werner, and Burgess each notched an RBI. Defensively, Howland was on point, turning two double plays to stifle any Girard rallies.

For Girard, leadoff hitter Will Hynes was the bright spot, going 3-for-4 and swiping two bases, but it wasn’t enough to spark a comeback. Camron Herrick was a standout in the field, getting involved in three key plays.

Howland looks to keep the momentum rolling as they head to Austintown-Fitch on Monday.

BAILEY’S BIG DAY KEEPS THE CATS AT BAY

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SALEM, OH- Lance Baileyput on a show,  racking up three hits as the Salem Quakers cruised to a 10-0 shutout against the Struthers Wildcats on Friday. Bailey was everywhere, knocking singles in the first, fourth, and sixth innings.

The Quakers set the tone early, jumping ahead in the first inning after Troy Gibson drew a walk that brought in a run. They tacked on another in the second when Carson Rhodes grounded out, but the real explosion came in the sixth inning. They unleashed five runs off seven hits, with Bailey, Trenton McCoy, and Austin Chaffin delivering big hits to drive in runs.

McCoy was stellar on the mound, tossing a gem by allowing just two hits and zero runs over six innings, fanning eight. On the other side, Michael Scavnicky had a rough go, giving up eight runs across five innings for the Wildcats.

The Quakers’ bats were hot, amassing a total of 21 hits. McCoy went a perfect 4-for-4, leading the charge, while Chaffin, Gibson, and Bailey each knocked in two runs. The team was aggressive on the bases, swiping six bags, with Rhodes stealing two himself.

For Struthers, Scavnicky and Eddie Bradley managed to pick up a hit each in a tough outing where they also turned a double play.

Next, the Quakers are set to face the Cardinal Huskies on Saturday. With momentum on their side, they’re looking to keep the wins coming.

LAKEVIEW HANGS ON TO WIN OVER NILES

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NILES, OH- Nathan Paolucci was a hit machine, snagging three hits in four at-bats, as Lakeview Bulldogs edged out McKinley 7-6 on Friday. Paolucci was everywhere, with a single in the fourth, a double in the first, and another single in the third.

Niles wasn’t going down without a fight, though. After falling behind by four runs in the fourth inning, they rallied back, stringing together a couple of singles and a double to close the gap.

Lakeview first got on the scoreboard with Nolan Toth’s single in the second inning. They added another run in the third when Andrew Brown grounded out.

Jackson Uphoff claimed the win for Lakeview, navigating through five and two-thirds innings while giving up six runs on seven hits. Brixton Gilmour was saddled with the loss for McKinley, despite pitching a complete game, where he allowed seven runs (five earned) on 11 hits. Brown secured the save for Lakeview.

Lakeview tallied 11 hits in total, with Brown and Toth both having multi-hit games. The Bulldogs were aggressive on the bases, stealing seven bags in total, with Paolucci and Hayden Newton each swiping more than one.

McKinley put up a good fight at the plate too, with nine hits. Kristopher Hrosar, Tyler Williams, and Nick Clark led the charge, each grabbing two hits. Hrosar and Clark also each drove in two runs.

Next up, Lakeview will host Struthers on Monday.

TARAJACK BLOWS OUT THE CANDLES ON POLAND

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CANFIELD, OH- To say Tyson Tarajack celebrated a birthday would be an understatement.  In a pitcher’s duel on Thursday, South Range pulled off a tight 2-0 win over Poland. Tarajack was the star on the mound for South Range, going the distance with a complete game and giving Poland their first loss of the 2024 campaign.

The scoreboard lit up in the bottom of the sixth when South Range finally broke through. Gaven Nagy’s sacrifice fly got them on the board, and Lincoln Cleevely daringly stole home to add another run.

Tarajack was in command throughout, surrendering just three hits and no runs over seven innings, and striking out seven. Meanwhile, Zuccaro shouldered the loss for Poland, allowing two runs across six innings on four hits, with five strikeouts to his credit.

Tarajack wasn’t just a force with his pitching; he also led South Range at the plate, going 2-for-3. Despite the low-scoring game, both teams were flawless in the field, with each turning a double play and Poland maintaining a clean sheet with no errors.

For Poland, Ryan Dilullo, Matt Paparrodis, and Chris Denney each managed a hit, but they couldn’t string enough together to challenge South Range’s lead.

Next up, South Range will hit the road to face St. Clairsville on Saturday, and Poland will look to rebound against Boardman.

THINGS ARE LOOKING UP IN HUBBARD

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HUBBARD, OH- It all came down to a nail-biter at Hubbard on Thursday, where the Eagles snagged a thrilling 3-2 walk-off win against Columbiana. The game was deadlocked at two apiece until Geno Leshnack blasted a triple in the bottom of the eighth to drive in the winning run.

The pitching was top-notch on both sides. Hubbard’s pitchers combined for a whopping 14 strikeouts, while Columbiana’s staff managed to sit down nine.

Leshnack kicked things off with a single in the first inning that put Hubbard on the scoreboard. Columbiana answered in the sixth, evening things up thanks to smart base running by Ian Less and a timely single from Avery Young.

Matthew Bobovnik took home the win for Hubbard, allowing two runs and three hits over four innings, with six strikeouts. Braydon Songer started the game strong, giving up just one hit and no runs over four innings, adding eight strikeouts. For Columbiana, Alex Eusebio was on the mound first, yielding two runs on seven hits across six innings and striking out nine.

Hubbard racked up nine hits in total. Leshnack was a powerhouse, driving in all three of Hubbard’s runs and going 3-for-4 at the plate. Andrew Kali matched Leshnack with three hits of his own.

The Eagles were aggressive on the bases, stealing seven bases, with Songer, Kali, and Leshnack each swiping more than one. Meanwhile, Columbiana wasn’t far behind, stealing six bases themselves, with Less leading with three.

Hubbard’s fielding was flawless, notching zero errors. Johnny Reyes led the defense with the most chances.

Hubbard’s next stop is a game against Conneaut this Friday while Columbiana will prep for Leetonia on Friday as well.

LAKEVIEW TAKES A BITE OUT OF HOWLAND

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CORTLAND, OH- The Lakeview Bulldogs clinched a solid 7-3 victory over Howland Thursday.

The Bulldogs jumped ahead early, with Matt Seikel cracking a single in the second inning that drove in two runs. Brandon Toot kept the momentum going with a sacrifice fly in the third, pushing the score to 3-0.

Jacob Shaker was on point from the mound for Lakeview, holding Howland to just two hits and no runs over four innings, notching three strikeouts without issuing a walk. On the other side, Anthony Marimpietri shouldered the loss for Howland, giving up four runs on seven hits in just under four innings.

Lakeview was on fire at the plate, racking up 10 hits. Seikel, batting seventh, led the charge with three RBIs and went 2-for-3 for the day. Toot, Nathan Paolucci, Hayden Newton, and Seikel each managed two hits.

For Howland, Luca Fronzaglio, Ketan Perry, and Dominic Santee each knocked in a run, with Santee also leading Howland with two hits in four at-bats.

Up next, the Bulldogs hit the road to face Niles McKinley on Friday in a NE8 matchup.

BULLDOGS STAY PERFECT AGAINST STRUTHERS

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POLAND, OH- The Poland Bulldogs took down Struthers 10-3 on Tuesday, fueled by a massive eight-run explosion in the fifth inning at Poland Seminary High School. The rally was sparked by hits left and right: Matt Paparodis, Ryan Dilullo, Jacob Hayes, Aiden Thompson, Jacob Jenkins, and Zach Livosky all delivered crucial singles that drove in runs, alongside a helpful Struthers error that added to the chaos.

The Bulldogs set the tone early, scoring in the first inning off a walk by Hayes and a Struthers error. However, Struthers bounced back, tying the game at two in the third thanks to J.R. Hovanec’s double. They even snatched a brief lead in the fifth when Drew Chizmar singled to make it 3-2.

Stephen Kopkash was the winning pitcher for the Bulldogs, handling his business with six hits and two runs over four innings while striking out nine. On the mound for Struthers, Mike Scavnicky faced the brunt of Poland’s offensive outburst, giving up five runs over three and two-thirds innings.

Paparodis not only contributed with his bat but also started on the mound for Poland, surrendering one run over two innings with three strikeouts. Meanwhile, Thompson pitched a clean inning in relief, striking out three and keeping Struthers at bay.

Zach Livosky stood out by driving in two crucial runs from the ninth spot in the lineup, and Matt Boccieri demonstrated discipline at the plate with two walks, contributing to the team’s total of six. The Bulldogs also showed off their speed, stealing a couple of bases, with Boccieri swiping two himself.

Struthers didn’t go quietly, racking up 10 hits, led by Scavnicky’s three-hit effort. Grady Moore also showed his speed, nabbing two bases as part of Struthers’ four total steals on the day.

Next up, the Bulldogs (11-0)will be back on their home turf Wednesday to face NE8 rival, South Range. 

HUBBARD HAS RARE OFF DAY AGAINST FIRELANDS

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DEFIANCE, OH- On Saturday, Firelands took down Hubbard with a decisive 15-1 victory, fueled largely by a massive second inning where they scored ten runs.

The game started off closer than the final score would suggest, with Hubbard getting on the board first. Johnny Reyes kicked things off with a single in the first inning that brought home a run, giving Hubbard an early lead. But that lead didn’t last long.

In the top of the second, Firelands completely turned the game around, exploding for ten runs on just four hits. The key hit of the inning came from player Aaron Bower, who knocked a single that drove in three runs, blowing the game wide open.

Firelands kept the pressure on in the third inning, adding more to their already substantial lead with Liam Varndell grounding out to bring in another run.

On the mound, Nathan Draga pitched a solid game for Firelands, giving up just one run on five hits over four innings while striking out two. For Hubbard, Gabe Rusnak faced a tougher outing, lasting only a bit over an inning while allowing three runs.

Reyes was a bright spot for Hubbard, going 2-for-2 and driving in their only run. The team also managed to turn a double play in the field.

For Firelands, the offensive effort was widespread with four different players each driving in two runs. Christopher Radman showed great discipline at the plate, drawing two of the team’s six walks. Firelands was just as sharp defensively, turning a double play of their own.

Hubbard (8-7) will look to rebound in their next game against Canfield on Monday, hoping to turn things around after this tough loss.

RED DRAGONS BOUNCE BACK AGAINST STRUTHERS

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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.

POLAND STAYS UNBEATEN; CAGES LAKEVIEW

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CORTLAND, OH- At Lakeview High School on Tuesday, Aiden Thompson was unstoppable, going a perfect three-for-three at the plate to help Poland Seminary Varsity Bulldogs secure a commanding 9-4 win over Lakeview.

The game started with Lakeview edging into an early lead after Nathan Paolucci knocked a single to drive in a run in the first inning. However, the Bulldogs didn’t let that lead last long. They came roaring back in the second inning, unleashing a six-run barrage highlighted by Carmine Tukalo’s three-RBI double following a gritty 7-pitch at-bat.

Thompson continued his hot streak in the third, adding another RBI single to extend the Bulldogs’ lead to a comfortable 7-1. His consistent batting was a key part of the Bulldogs’ strategy, keeping the pressure on Lakeview throughout the game.

On the mound, Matt Paparodis handled his business effectively, grabbing the win with a solid four-inning outing where he gave up three runs (two earned) and struck out five, despite handing out five walks. Lakeview’s Paolucci, who started, found it rough going against the Bulldogs’ active bats, yielding eight runs over nearly six innings.

The Bulldogs’ lineup showed depth and versatility, racking up a total of 11 hits. Tukalo and Thompson were not the only ones swinging well; Ryan Dilullo and Jacob Hayes also had multiple hits. The Bulldogs were also aggressive on the base paths, stealing six bases, with Thompson and Paparodis each snagging more than one.

Lakeview tried to keep pace, with Paolucci, Isaiah Lantz, and others contributing hits, and Eli Gough working the count for three walks, showing great plate discipline. Despite their efforts and a total of seven walks drawn, the early deficit was just too much to overcome.

Looking ahead, the Bulldogs are set to face LaBrae on Wednesday, riding high from their solid team performance and likely looking to keep their momentum going.