Fitch 'D' fails as Chaney cruises

The Cowboys now have unloaded 37 hits in the last two games.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
AUSTINTOWN -- The Chaney High baseball team gets better the more it plays and swings the bats, and that could be good news for the Cowboys as tournament-time approaches.
Playing for the fifth straight day Friday, the hard-hitting Cowboys appeared to be taking batting practice as they sprayed 16 hits and rolled to a 16-1 victory over Austintown Fitch at the Falcons' field.
Chaney (9-5) enjoyed a six-run third inning and finished off the Falcons with a seven-run burst in the fifth, before the game was called after Fitch batted because of the 10-run, five-inning rule.
Meanwhile, senior pitcher Ken Bielik fashioned a four-hitter over the distance to gain his first win of the season after two defeats.
And the Cowboys played errorless ball, while Fitch committed four errors.
Ball seems big to them
"We've been hitting the ball. We had 21 hits against Warren JFK Thursday in a 12-2 win," said Chaney coach Mike Popio, whose Cowboys shelled Fitch's No. 1 pitcher, Brian Sterling, in the fourth inning.
The Cowboys continued to tag reliever Bob Melnek before he was injured in the fifth and replaced by Kevin Pontius.
"We really have been seeing the ball well. It makes it a lot of fun."
His description: "The ball looks like a basketball."
Popio believes that one of the reasons for such sharp hitting -- 37 hits in two games -- is that his batters are getting more swings at the ball.
"We're playing every day and they are getting more repetitions, and the more you get the better you get. We played five days in a row," said Popio, whose Cowboys also beat Fitch last Tuesday, 8-4.
Fitch (10-7) coach Wally Ford said his team hasn't been hitting well this spring, and that the defense also failed against Chaney.
"We've struggled all year offensively," Ford said. "We had some defensive breakdowns [against Chaney]. We missed some easy fly balls and made some bad throws. Chaney is one of the better-hitting teams we played -- right up there with Boardman."
The power parade
Seven players powered the Chaney onslaught. Chris Hlinka socked a three-run homer and single, while Gary Boris unloaded a solo homer to go with a single for two RBIs.
In addition, D.J. Fahndrich rapped two singles and drove in two runs, Bielik and Aaron Boris each contributed a two-run single, John Shaffo had a double and two singles and Jeff Shaffo chipped in with a double and single.
Chaney was batting .390 as a team entering the game. Gary Boris was hitting .514 and Fahndrich was at .513, followed by Jeff Shaffo (.472) and Adam Boris (.429).
Team is encouraging
Popio is encouraged by his team's fireworks against Sterling.
"That was a good measuring stick for us to go up against one of their top pitchers," said Popio, who also was impressed by Bielik's mound work.
"This was one of his best outings this season," said Popio.
"Bielik was spotting his fastball fairly well and his curve was around the plate and kept the batters off balance."
The lone bright spot for Fitch was Terry DeSalvo, who drilled a solo homer and double.
Ford believes the game would have been a lot closer if it weren't for the Falcons' poor defensive play.
"Defensive breakdowns opened [the game] up more than it should have," Ford said. "It's not like us."
kovach@vindy.com