Wednesday, July 10, 2002
They defeated Line Drive Academy 7-1 to win the best-of-5 series.
By BILL SULLIVAN
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
STRUTHERS -- David Yost and Don Ehrenberg proved to be a study in contrasts, but the pair combined to lead the Astro Falcons to the Class B League championship.
Yost and Ehrenberg pitched and hit the Falcons to a 7-1 victory over Line Drive Academy, giving the Astro team a 3 games to 1 decision in the best-of-5 series Tuesday at Cene Park.
Yost, who had a tremendous spring pitching at Poland High School as a junior, threw a five-hitter with six strikeouts. He walked just three and effectively kept the ball away from the Line Drive team.
"It's probably the best game I've thrown all year," Yost (5-0) said.
The five hits he allowed came in different innings.
"I spaced them out. The defense played great; you can't ask for much more."
First home run
While Yost has been consistent, Ehrenberg hit his first home run of the season in the Class B League. He belted nine this year as a senior at Center High School in Monaca, Pa.
"It feels like high school season again," Ehrenberg said. "I finally got my swing back and am starting to get back in shape."
His homer cleared the wall in right center, about 400 feet away, to open the second inning and make it 2-0.
"We were looking for that all year long," Falcons manager Robert Boughner said.
"Last game we got one. He hit nine in high school. We were waiting for it. It came at a decent time, too."
After Yost retired Line Drive hitters in order in the top of the third, the Falcons batted around in the bottom of the frame.
Ten players batted, five got hits and five scored to make it 7-0 and give Yost all the support he needed.
Brent Parks tripled to center to score Dan Bertolini; Adam Coco walked; and Dan Leonard reached on an infield single to load the bases.
Bob Benson doubled in two runs and Ehrenberg doubled in two more to make it 7-0.
"He's got power," Yost said of Ehrenberg, who plays third base.
"I haven't had my swi ng; I took a month off, now I'm back on," Ehrenberg said.
Only one unearned run
Yost took command from there and Line Drive was only able to score an unearned run when Mike Hanck doubled to center and tallied on a fielding error.
"That was the best job I've seen all year," Ehrenberg said of Yost.
His pitches were "away and down. That's the way he's got to be."
Line Drive won the regular season title with a 23-4 record, while the Astro Falcons opened 0-3 and finished third at 17-10.
"We didn't expect to be here," Boughner said. "To get here is unbelievable."
He thought Yost's pitching was the catalyst to the decision.
"He's a big-game pitcher. He's done it all year, especially in high school and for us. He hung in there. He's a gutsy kid."
Ehrenberg suspected the Falcons could vie for the crown after they matured as a team. They lost 11 18-year-old players from last summer.
"We knew we were good, it's just a matter of coming together," Ehrenberg said.
Matt Repec singled twice for Line Drive.
But Yost and Ehrenberg, a pitcher and an infielder from different sides of the state line, one who's been consistent and one who is just regaining his form, were too much to overcome.
sullivan@vindy.com