HIGH SCHOOL PREVIEW Regional baseball

DIVISION I
Where: Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium, Canton.Schedule: Friday -- Mayfield (24-4) vs. Canton GlenOak (21-3), 2 p.m.; Boardman (22-5) vs. Wadsworth (21-8), 5 p.m. The championship game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday.Boardman scouting report: The Spartans, under the guidance of first-year manager Scott Knox, are making their first regional appearance since 1997. Pitcher Matt Repec (9-0, 2.54) will start Friday. The junior has a batting average of .511. Rounding out the Spartans' defensively will be senior first baseman Dave Stillwagon, .205; senior second baseman Kevin Gesacion, .364; junior shortstop Mike Krieger, .458; sophomore third baseman Andy Good, .579; senior catcher Tony Delapenna, .200; senior left-fielder Kris King, .447; junior center-fielder Giancarlo Silvestri, .268, and junior right-fielder Sean Curry, .363. Knox says he's undecided about his designated hitter, but said that Krieger (3-2, 3.26) would be the starting pitcher if Boardman advances to Saturday's regional final.Knox said that his staff entered the season with high expectations for a good campaign. "Most of the players here I knew about because they play Class B ball," he said. "So I had some idea about the skill and talent and talent here. We wanted to shoot clear to the top." Knox says he is happy with the Spartans' pitching and defense. "That's where it all starts, and we've been very consistent with our pitching and hitting. Offensively, we have good numbers and we have executed well at the right times. Mentally and physically, I think we've matured as a group." Knox cited a doubleheader sweep of North Canton Hoover in early May as a key moment in the season. "That gave us a pretty good indication of how well we are doing mentally and physically because Hoover is a strong Division I team." Boardman also split a doubleheader with GlenOak, a team they could meet in the regional final.
DIVISION II
Where: Cene Park, Struthers.Schedule: Friday -- Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit (21-7) vs. Canton Central Catholic (23-4), 2 p.m.; Struthers (18-7). Chardon Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin (18-5), 5 p.m. The championship game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday.Struthers (18-5) scouting report: It's been a long time coming for the Wildcats. The last time Struthers won a district baseball crown was in 1973. The Wildcats tied Poland for the Metro Athletic Conference title, breaking a streak of 18 years without a league championship. Coach Bill Cammack, in his fifth season, played at Struthers High. Senior right-fielder Jason Rosenberger (.382, 17 RBIs) will hit leadoff and senior pitcher Pat Watt (8-1, .364, 9 RBIs) will bat second. They will be followed by catcher Bob Benson (.400, 3 homers, 21 RBIs); senior shortstop Jared Bogan (.354, 3 homers, 18 RBIs); senior center-fielder Eric Barone (.383, 9 RBIs); left-fielder Matt Bradley (.340, 9 RBIs); second baseman Matt Medvec (.267); senior first baseman Chuck Cormell (.400, 6 RBIs), and senior third baseman John High (.360, 8 RBIs). Senior John Stanko (.345) will DH.Cammack saw ND-CL play one inning in the district final, a 12-2 win over Conneaut. In that frame NDCL scored eight runs and hit three home runs. "They hit the ball and have great speed," Cammack said. He figures the Wildcats will face "the best pitcher in the state of Ohio, Mike Madsen. He's going to Ohio State."Madsen (10-0) has allowed just 15 hits all season and has struck out 88 in just over 40 innings of work.In order for the Wildcats to win, they must "put the ball in play. They know they have to shorten up their swings. We've played good defense the last few games," Cammack said. "We have to put the ball in play or we may struggle."The Wildcats are 3-1 this year at Cene Park, losing to Cardinal Mooney early in the year. They may play all their home games at Cene next year.
DIVISION III
Where: Schroeder Field, Massillon.Schedule: Friday -- Ursuline (16-9) vs. Wellington (14-6), 2 p.m.; Chagrin Falls (24-2) vs. Doylestown Chippewa (19-4), 5 p.m. The championship game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday.Ursuline scouting report: The defending state champions defeated Campbell, Crestview and Girard to win the district title. Ursuline has three starters back from last year's team: Leadoff batter Justin Adams, who is a senior center-fielder with a .343 batting average; cleanup batter John Angelo, a junior pitcher who is hitting .383, and Steve Stroney, senior right-fielder, .323. The rest of the batting lineup is: Scott Adair, junior shortstop, .308; Erin Satterlee, junior second baseman, .459; Brad Hochendoner, senior catcher, .351; Josh Conkey, sophomore third baseman, .262; Kevin Barry, sophomore designated hitter, .248 (playing for senior first baseman Chuck Pregibon), and Pat Sipusic, junior left-fielder, .243.Manager Sean Durkin scouted Wellington in the 4-1 district final win over Columbia. "They also beat Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in the semifinals and we expect to see their left-handed pitcher, Matt Horvath, that beat St. V's," Durkin said. "Pitching appears to be their strong point - they won a lot of low-scoring games this year. Offensively, they don't kill the ball."Durkin said Ursuline's schedule and being defending state champions has prepared his team for its second consecutive regional appearance. "It seems like every year, the team from our district comes out of it well prepared," Durkin said. "We knew starting out this season that we would be real young and need to grow a lot. After winning it all last year, we knew everyone would be coming after us this year. I think that benefited us."Doylestown Chippewa knocked off undefeated Akron Manchester to advance to the regional.