Boardman's season ends with 8-7 loss

The top-ranked Spartans put on a rally that produced five runs in the seventh frame to fall short against Canton GlenOak.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CANTON -- Mistakes, something the Boardman High baseball team hasn't had to deal with much this season, ended the Spartans' season unexpectedly early.
In Friday's Division I regional semifinal game at Thurman Munson Stadium, Boardman, which was ranked No. 1 in the state in Division I by the Associated Press coaches' poll, did not have one of its better games, dropping an 8-7 decision to Canton GlenOak.
The Spartans (24-4) committed three errors all leading to runs. Their usually strong pitching staff hit three batters and all three forced in runs.
Even with that and trailing 8-2 going into the final inning, the Spartans put on a rally that produced five runs in the seventh frame to fall just short of the Eagles.
Hole too deep
"You just can't dig yourself into a hole like that at this level of play," Boardman coach Scott Knox said. "You can't hit three batters and bobble the ball three or four times, especially when you lose by one run.
"We had some guys come off the bench in the final inning and come through today, but we just were too far behind in the game," Knox said.
"They're disappointed of course, but what they accomplished in this season by far outweighs today's performance," he said. "They're going to remember this one for a while, but as time goes on they'll remember the good things that happened this season also."
Winning coach Joe Gilhousen also lauded the Spartans.
"You got to give them credit, they came out swinging in that last inning," Gilhousen said. "We knew they would. You don't get to be ranked No. 1 unless you are a pretty good team.
"I know one thing that was the longest half inning I've ever been through," he said. "They beat us here last year, so maybe it was our turn this year."
GlenOak starting pitcher Jim Waller made it through six and two-thirds innings before he tired and walked the bases loaded in the seventh.
After Waller walked his fourth batter and forced in the first Boardman run, Gilhousen brought in James Sonnefeld, who was greeted by back-to-back singles by Giancarlo Silvestri and pitch-hitter Jason Nolfi.
Final play
Those hits each produced two runs before Sonnefeld got Ryan Vaughn to ground into a game-ending force play.
Boardman starter Mike Krieger breezed through the first two innings, retiring the Eagles in order.
But in the third with one out, he walked Nathan Colopy. Vaughn tried to pick off Colopy at first base and threw wildly, allowing him to get to second.
Matt Marx singled to right with Colopy holding at third and Tyler Maag got an infield single to load the bases.
Krieger hit Andy Scritchfeld to force in the game's first run and then Brian Moore hit a sacrifice fly to center field plating the second run.
In the fifth inning, Boardman tied up the contest with one out as Mark Sikora hit a chopper in front of the plate and beat it out for a single and Andy Good walked.
Senior Matt Repec doubled deep off the base of the center-field wall, scoring both runners.
But in the bottom of the fifth, Krieger walked Maag to open the inning. When Scritchfeld bunted in front of the plate, Krieger fell down fielding the ball and threw wildly to first allowing Maag to reach third. Knox then brought in Repec to pitch.
Repec struck out the first batter he faced, but then hung a curve ball on Ray Frisbee who lined a double down the left field line scoring both runners.
The Eagles broke open the contest in the bottom of the sixth as they sent 10 hitters to the plate.
The parade
Marx opened with a walk and Joe DePasquale singled to left. Colopy bunted down the third base line and Tom Zetts threw wildly to first loading the bases.
Repec then hit Matt Marx to forced in the first run and Maag lined a single to right scoring the second run.
Zetts came on to pitch and retired Scritchfeld, but he hit Moore to force in the third run.