MICKEY MANTLE Three area teams make fifth round in state tourney

The Astro Falcons, Youngstown Propane and Youngstown Express persevered through the loser's bracket to advance into today's play.
STRUTHERS -- Three Youngstown Class Little B teams worked their way through the loser's bracket Saturday, to earn spots for today in the fifth round of the Mickey Mantle (16 and under) state baseball tournament at Cene Park.
Astro Falcons, Youngstown Propane and Youngstown Express are the teams that advanced.
Alltel, which had reached the quarterfinals in the winner's bracket following Friday's action, lost twice Saturday and was eliminated.
Astro Falcons 14, Manchester 6: The Falcons scored at least one run in every inning and ended the five inning game with a six-run surge in the bottom of the fifth to earn a spot for Sunday's fifth round.
Dan Bertolini earned his second pitching decision of the day. Sean Clayton went 3-for-4 with a double. Mike Polokous hit a triple.
Astro Falcons 8, Amherst 7: Earlier in the day, the Falcons behind 7-2, rallied for a run in the sixth inning, then scored five more in the seventh to prevail.
Clayton hit a pair of doubles and drove in two runs to pace the winners.
Propane 8, Brecksville 7: Nick Pompeo worked the seventh inning in relief for Youngstown Propane to pick up the mound win.
Propane rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh to get into today's competition.
Andrew Good hit a triple and three singles to spark the winners. Pompeo hit a double and single.
Propane 12, Middie Magic 1: Youngstown Propane collected 13 hits and scored three runs in the third inning, six runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth to turn back Middie Magic.
Mark Sikora went 3-for-4 with an inside-the-park home run to pace Propane. Chad Baker, Andrew and Nick Burnett each hit a triple.
Lake Erie 10, Express 6: With the score tied 5-5, Lake Erie Snappers scored pulled away as it scored four runs in the sixth inning.
Brent Parks hit a double and single to pace Express. Matt Colella and Danny Ford each hit two singles.
Express 9, Shaker Heights 7: Express trailing 7-1, scored five runs in the fifth inning, one in the sixth and two more in the seventh to bounce back from its initial setback.
Justin Byler hit two triples, while Frank Turocy chipped in with a triple and single.
Express 11, Cleveland EPI 7: A five-run fifth inning decided it for Express, which eliminated Cleveland EPI.
Justin Byler hit a triple and two singles to pace the winners. Brandon Drespling doubled and singled. Robert Stull pitched 21/3 innings in relief to pick up the win.
Akron Outklaws 8, Alltel 5: Akron Outlaws reached Sunday's semifinals with the win over Alltel. Mike Tanner hit a triple and single for the loses.