Tag Archive for: Poland

POLAND 9’S MAKE COMEBACK OF THE AGES TO WIN TITLE

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BOARDMAN, OH — Six runs down? No problem for Poland.

The Poland 9U All-Stars pulled off one of the wildest comebacks of the tournament so far, clawing their way back from a 6-0 deficit to edge out Canfield 7-6 on Wednesday night at the Fields of Dreams. It was grit, guts, and a whole lot of believing in each other.

Canfield came out like a freight train in the top of the first. Milo Tokarski got things rolling with a sharp RBI single. Then, two runs scored on an error to make it 3-0, and before Poland could blink, Palmer Ahlquist. laced a shot to the outfield that never stopped rolling — a three-run inside-the-park homer that made it 6-0. Just six batters in, and Poland was buried early.

But the Bulldog squad didn’t panic.

Poland started digging in the second. They scratched across two runs to stop the bleeding, then traded zeroes for the next couple of innings. The turning point came on the mound: Patrick Daugherty entered in relief in the second inning and flat-out shoved. The righty tossed four scoreless innings, keeping Canfield’s bats in check while Poland’s offense regrouped.

Meanwhile, Canfield starter Owen Zunic. was sharp through four-plus innings, giving up just three runs and striking out five. He had Poland chasing until they finally made the adjustment in the fifth.

That’s when everything changed.

Trailing 6-2 in the bottom of the fifth, Poland loaded the bases with some timely walks and infield singles. Luca Tamburro stepped in and ripped a clutch two-run single to pull the game within one. Then chaos took over — a passed ball scored the tying run, and another miscue brought in the go-ahead run.

Just like that, Poland had turned a six-run hole into a 7-6 lead.

Canfield tried to answer in the sixth, but Patrick Daugherty. wasn’t having it. He shut the door, calmly working through the final outs to secure the win.

Poland’s offense was efficient — only five hits, but they made them count. Leadoff man  Daugherty helped himself out with a 2-for-2 day, while Luca delivered the dagger.

For Canfield, Palmer Ahlquist was the standout, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Cam Kibby. also tallied a pair of hits in the losing effort.

PURCHASE GAME PHOTOS: HERE

STEEL VALLEY ALL STARS RETURNING TO REGIONALS

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CANFIELD, OH — Steel Valley’s 14U squad is back on a mission.

After falling short to the Czech Republic in last year’s Junior League World Series title game, the girls from Poland and Canfield—aka the Steel Valley All Stars—decided one run wasn’t enough. With 10 of 11 players returning from the 2024 roster, this group isn’t just hoping for redemption—they’re chasing it.

Step one? Handle business in Ohio. Mission accomplished. State Champs Again

The defending Central Region champs made quick work of the Ohio bracket this week, ripping off three straight shutouts to punch their ticket back to Indianapolis for regionals.

🗓 JULY 6 – SVAS 2, Rock Hill 0

The opener was a pitcher’s duel with runs at a premium. Mackenzie Moore made things happen in the second, working a walk, swiping second, and eventually scoring on a grounder and wild pitch. Sydney MacDonald later reached on a fly ball-turned-error and scored off a perfect small-ball sequence capped by a Harper Darney sac bunt.

MacDonald was nails on the hill, tossing a no-hitter with 15 punchouts. SVAS scratched out just two hits—one each from Ali Blinsky and Emma Boccieri—but made every pitch and every run count.

🗓 JULY 6 – SVAS 10, Cuyahoga Falls 0

In the nightcap, the offense exploded. SVAS pounded 9 hits and dropped a 10-spot on Cuyahoga Falls.

Milana Mollenkopf and Harper Darney went a perfect 3-for-3 with extra-base fireworks—each smoked a triple, and Darney added a double and three RBIs. MacDonald chipped in with 2 hits and 2 RBIs of her own.

Blinsky got the ball and delivered, scattering 3 hits and racking up 9 Ks.

🗓 JULY 7 – SVAS 10, Rock Hill 0 (Championship Game)

MacDonald was back in the circle for the state title game and picked up right where she left off. Another no-hitter. Another shutout. This time with 12 strikeouts and just 2 free passes.

At the plate, the Steel Valley lineup turned it into a hit parade—14 in total. Gia Vrona and Emma Boccieri both went 3-for-3 with doubles, while MacDonald and Brooklyn Kosco added two hits each, including a double. Mackenzie Moore also roped a pair of hits to help seal the deal.

Next stop: Indianapolis. SVAS will try to defend their Central crown and punch another ticket to the World Series. They open up regional play Thursday, July 17 against Iowa.

Steel Valley All Stars Roster

📍 Poland

  • Sydney MacDonald
  • Emma Boccieri
  • Giana Zuppo
  • Gia Vrona
  • Ali Blinsky
  • Brooklyn Kosco

📍 Canfield

  • Milana Mollenkopf
  • Harper Darney
  • Mackenzie Moore
  • Sophia Payne
  • Kit Testa

The road to redemption is officially underway.

BOARDMAN 12U HAS A DATE WITH STATES

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BOARDMAN, OH- Boardman’s 12U All-Stars came out swinging and never let off the gas Tuesday night, taking down Poland 7-2 at Boardman Community Baseball behind a big-time outing from AJ Limongi both at the plate and on the bump.

Right out of the gate, AJ Limongi gave Boardman a jolt with a missile to right field for a three-run homer in the top of the first, getting the crowd and dugout fired up early. It was the first shot in what turned into a steady offensive push.

In the third, Boardman cracked things open a little more. Ryan Sutch ripped a double into right to plate one, and Grady Gozur followed with a single to left that brought in another. By the end of the frame, Boardman had built a 3-0 lead and had Poland on its heels.

Limongi was locked in on the mound, mowing down Poland hitters with a mix of heat and movement. He spun 4.2 innings of one-hit ball, punching out nine and keeping Poland scoreless through his time on the hill. He ran into some traffic with four walks, but worked around it with poise. Ryan Sutch took over in relief and handled the rest without much trouble.

Boardman added insurance in the fifth and sixth—capitalizing on a couple of Poland miscues and tacking on runs with disciplined at-bats. AJ stayed hot, going 2-for-3 on the night and finishing with three RBIs. Grady added a pair of swipes on the bases and was involved in the scoring early. Ryan finished with an RBI double and a run scored as well.

Poland showed some fight late, drawing seven walks and scratching across two runs, but couldn’t generate the big hit to shift momentum. Luke Bushey led the charge with a 2-for-2 day at the plate, while Nico Pitzulo chipped in with a hit and the team’s lone RBI.

With the win, Boardman moves ahead to the State Tournament and will represent District 2 beginning next week in Boardman.

PURCHASE GAME PHOTOS: HERE

POLAND 12U ALL STARS FLEX THEIR WAY INTO DISTRICT TITLE GAME

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BOARDMAN, OH- Poland’s 12U All-Stars came out firing and never let up Monday night, punching their ticket forward in the Little League tournament with a dominant 11-0 run-rule win over Crestview in five innings.

Poland wasted no time putting pressure on Crestview, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Dante Carchedi slapped a single to right to get things going, followed by Dom Holtz lining one down the left-field line to move the traffic along. Crestview’s defense cracked early, committing an error that allowed the inning’s third run to cross. Just like that, Poland had the lead—and they weren’t about to give it back.

In the third, Poland made it 4-0 when Drake Vlosich showed patience at the plate and drew a bases-loaded walk. That run came without a ball in play, a sign of the disciplined approach Poland brought all night.

Poland put the game out of reach in the fifth, exploding for five more runs on just three hits. Dante Carchedi stayed hot, driving in another run with a base knock. Holtz picked up a sac fly for his second RBI of the game, and Nico Pitzulo forced in another with a walk. Then came the exclamation point: Jaxon Vrona stepped up and launched a two-run bomb to dead center, sending the dugout into a frenzy and putting the mercy rule in motion.

Vrona was locked in all night, going 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs and the game’s only homer. Dante and Holtz both finished with two hits and two RBIs apiece. Maceo B added a pair of hits as well, rounding out a balanced attack that racked up 11 total hits.

While the bats were cooking, Luke Bushey was lights out on the bump. The right-hander was in full command, tossing a five-inning no-hitter. He struck out nine, walked three, and kept Crestview hitters guessing all night with a mix of heat and movement. Not a single hit found grass, and only one or two balls were even hit hard.

Poland’s defense had Bushey’s back too—clean sheet in the field, no errors, and a double play to help snuff out a rare baserunner threat. Holtz was a magnet at shortstop, racking up nine defensive chances without a miss.

Crestview starter Owen Neiheisel battled through nearly four innings, giving up six runs (five earned) on six hits while striking out three.

Poland’s clicking in all phases—timely hitting, shutdown pitching, and clean defense.

CANFIELD USES FAST START TO EARN A DISTRICT BANNER

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BOARDMAN OH-  Canfield’s 12U crew wasted zero time on Monday night, hanging a seven-spot in the first inning and never looking back in a 12-2 beatdown of Poland in the district championship.

The opening frame was a full-on ambush. McKayla Lang slapped a two-run single, Kate Broderick roped a two-run double, Kylee Kritz added an RBI knock, and a Poland miscue opened the floodgates even wider. Leah Griswald capped the rally with an RBI groundout as Canfield set the tone early and loud.

Kritz did damage both ways, spinning five innings in the circle to earn the W. She gave up just three hits and two runs while punching out a pair. At the plate, she added two more hits and two RBIs to her stat sheet.

Broderick was swinging a hot bat too, going 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. Mia Tieche and Bethy Zorella also notched two hits apiece, while Canfield’s lineup worked five walks and kept the pressure on all game long.

Poland’s Callie Shaffer went four innings in the loss, giving up eight runs (six earned) on eight hits and striking out five. Shaffer, Abby Stewart, and Colleen Sheely each chipped in a hit for Poland, with Mia Marsico knocking in their lone RBI.

Canfield’s bats were alive, their approach was patient, and their arms got the job done. That’s a recipe for a district title—and they cooked it to perfection.

POLAND WALKS OFF IN EXTRAS TO SECURE THEIR SPOT

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BOARDMAN OH-  In a wild back-and-forth battle, Poland’s 12U All-Stars walked it off in extras to knock out South Range 9-8 on Thursday night and punch their ticket to the district title game.

South Range came out swinging, with Naveen Hadi driving in the game’s first run in the top of the first. But Poland answered quick, dropping a four-spot in the bottom half thanks to RBI knocks from Addie Shilling and Mari McDonald.

After trading runs through the middle innings, South Range clawed back in the sixth. Hadi smoked a liner down the right field line to plate two, and a Poland miscue let two more come around, giving Range the lead.

But Poland didn’t flinch. They tied it at 7-7 in the home half of the sixth on a South Range error, and even after Range scratched one across on a passed ball in the top of the seventh to go back up 8-7, Poland came back swinging.

In the bottom of the seventh, Browning Holtzman grounded out to bring one home and tie it up, and then Gabby Gunn roped a double to center for the walk-off dagger that sent South Range packing.

Calloway Shaffer got the start for Poland, tossing 3 innings and striking out 5. Giuliana Falasca came in and pitched 4 innings of relief and fanned 5. Hadi put in a strong showing for South Range in the circle and at the plate, going 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs and throwing 6 1/3 innings.

Poland racked up 10 hits in the win, with Gunn, Jesse Justice, and  Falasca all collecting two apiece. Four different players knocked in a run for the blue and white.

Poland now moves on to the district championship on Monday, where they’ll have to take down Canfield twice to claim the crown. South Range’s tournament run comes to a close after a hard-fought game.

CANFIELD LOCKS IN A SPOT IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP

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BOARDMAN OH-  Canfield’s 12U squad is one win away from locking down the district crown after taking care of business against Poland, 7-4, on Wednesday night.

Poland cracked the scoreboard first thanks to a wild pitch in the opening frame, but that lead didn’t last long. Canfield came right back in the bottom of the inning, sparked by a McKayla Lang infield single that brought in a run and flipped the momentum. From there, the red-and-black crew kept their foot on the gas.

Kylee Kritz got the start in the circle and went the distance, scattering seven hits and four runs across six innings while striking out seven. She worked around five free passes but came up big when it mattered. At the plate, Canfield totaled nine knocks, with Lang going a perfect 2-for-2 and driving in a run. Mia Tieche also chipped in an RBI.

Canfield’s defense was on lockdown mode—no errors all game, and Tieche led the way with eight chances handled cleanly.

For Poland, Mari McDonald came up big out of the eight-hole with a pair of hits in as many trips. Colleen Sweeney added an RBI single and finished 1-for-1 with two driven in. They showed patience too, drawing five walks as a team, and like Canfield, played clean in the field with zero errors.

The win moves Canfield into Monday’s district championship. Poland will have to battle through the elimination bracket, facing South Range on Thursday at 6:00. If they survive that one, they’ll get another crack at Canfield with the title on the line.

CANFIELD STORMS BACK ON POLAND

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By Eric Hughes 

BOARDMAN OH- Canfield defeated Poland 12-11 on Tuesday night, coming back from a seven-run deficit to advance in the 10U softball district tournament.

Katarina Falasca hit an RBI single in the top of the first inning to help give Poland an early 3-0 lead. Rilyn Baun responded with an RBI triple in the bottom of the first inning to cut the deficit to 3-2.

Poland had an explosive six-run inning in the top of the third, thanks to RBIs from Gabi Vrona, Alexis Armbrecht, Avery Friedrich, and Kenzie Kivilighan, to take a 9-2 lead.

Canfield responded with six runs of their own in the bottom of the third inning, including an RBI triple by Julianna Walters to drive in two runs, to cut the deficit to 9-8.

Gabi Vrona hit another RBI single in the top of the fifth inning to help extend Poland’s lead to 11-8. Canfield scored a run in the bottom of the fifth inning to cut the deficit to 11-9 and help set the stage for the final inning.

Savannah Hardman hit an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning to make it a one-run ballgame, followed by a walk-off RBI base hit by Makenna Gilmartin to drive in the tying and winning runs and help Canfield complete the comeback.

POLAND JUMPS AHEAD IN FIRST DAY OF DISTRICTS

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BOARDMAN OH-  Poland’s 10U squad put on a show Monday night, dropping South Range 14-4 in five innings to keep their district title hopes alive and well.

Preslie Tamburro was the engine that made it all go. The right-hander went the distance in the circle, striking out nine over five frames while giving up just four runs on six hits. But she didn’t stop there—Tamburro was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, ripping two triples and knocking in a run.

The bats were hot all around for Poland. Gabi Vrona sparked a big inning with an inside-the-park homer in the fourth. Katarina Falasca and Avery Friedrich both had monster nights—each finishing with two hits, two RBIs, and two runs scored.

For South Range, Ellie Arundel drove in two with a clutch base knock, and Adrianna Bowers reached twice, scoring once.

Poland now moves on to face Canfield (Carbon) Tuesday at 6:00. South Range heads to the loser’s bracket and will play again Wednesday against the loser of the Boardman vs. Austintown matchup.

POLAND BLOWS UP LATE TO GO HOME EARLY

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BOARDMAN OH- For three innings, it looked like a tightrope act in the circle. Poland clung to a slim 2-0 edge over Springfield thanks in part to a solo shot off the bat of Giuliana Falasca.

But the 4th inning? That’s when the Bulldogs dropped the hammer. Mari McDonald lit the fuse with a grand slam that sent the dugout into a frenzy and stretched the lead to 6-0. A few batters later, Elinor Erb sealed the deal with a two-run double that ended it early, locking in a 10-0 walk-off win in four innings.

Calloway Shaffer was lights out for Poland, spinning a complete game shutout in the circle. On the flip side, Isabella Philis pitched tough for Springfield and kept things close until that final frame unraveled.

With the win, Poland punches their ticket to Wednesday’s matchup against the winner of Austintown vs. Canfield. Springfield drops into the loser’s bracket and will square off with South Range on Tuesday at 8:00, looking to keep their season alive.