HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL Mooney's sweep thwarts Boardman's bid to clinch title

Now the Cardinals and Fitch have chances to share the SVC crown.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
STRUTHERS -- Hold the celebration.
The Boardman High baseball team had a chance to win its third straight outright Steel Valley Conference championship on Friday. All the Spartans needed to do was win one of two games against Mooney.
They didn't.
Mooney, playing its final games against Boardman as SVC rivals, swept the doubleheader at Cene Park with a 7-3 victory in the first game, and an 8-7 come-from-behind win in the second.
"We have some injuries, but that's not an excuse," Boardman coach Scott Knox said. "We came to play and we came to win. We didn't get it done."
Fitch is next hurdle
Boardman (12-10, 5-2) has clinched a share of the league title, but must now beat Fitch at home on Monday to win the title outright.
If Fitch wins, the Falcons earn a share of the title. Mooney (9-9, 5-3) also can win a share of the title if Fitch wins.
"We're trying to get set for the tournament and make sure everyone in the rotation is set," said Knox, who has three injured pitchers. "But these are still Steel Valley games."
In the first game, the Cardinals scored five runs in the first inning to take control.
Boardman sophomore Luke Kirshner struggled in his first varsity start, giving up all five runs and leaving the bases loaded with two outs in the first. Matt Madrid got the final out and pitched well over the next six innings.
Ucchino prevails
Mooney senior Matt Ucchino (2-2) pitched 61/3 innings to get the win.
He wasn't overpowering -- Ucchino had just two strikeouts -- but kept the powerful Spartans lineup in check for most of the game. His only blemish came in the third, when he gave up three runs as Boardman cut its deficit to 5-3.
"Both teams played pretty well after the second inning," Mooney coach Tom Flynn said. "Matt settled in and pitched a great game."
Kyle McCarthy had three hits and scored twice to lead Mooney, which added runs in the second and seventh innings.
"We just played good fundamental baseball and getting that one run in the seventh was key," Flynn said. "It changed what Scott [Knox] could do."
Jeff Hehr and Mike Babyak each added two hits for the Cardinals. Andy Good, Matt McConnell and Andrew Golubic had two hits for Boardman.
The nightcap
In the second game, Mooney scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at 7.
In the bottom of the seventh, McDermott bunted back to the mound and Tom Zetts' throw to first sailed into right field, allowing Will Simon to score the game-winner.
McDermott finished with three hits, including a triple, and two RBIs and Jeff Hehr also had two RBIs. Kyle McCarthy and Dean Palumbaro each added two hits. Joe Irwin got the win in relief.
Madrid had two hits, including a double, for the Spartans. John Poma, Nate Tacsik, Zetts and Good each added two hits.
Under Flynn, the Cardinals won or shared six straight SVC titles from 1994-99. Ursuline won the league in 2000 en route to a Division III state title.
scalzo@vindy.com