Canfield spoils Poland's title celebration

& lt;a href=mailto:kovach@vindy.com & gt;By JOHN KOVACH & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CANFIELD -- Clutch pitching and timely hitting enabled Canfield High to spoil Poland's bid for the outright Metro Athletic Conference championship Wednesday, and kept the Cardinals' hopes alive for a share of the title.
Dan Leonard pitched a six-hitter before loading the bases with two outs in the top of the seventh inning, but reliever Jake Wargacki struck out Adam Wigley to end the threat, as Canfield held on to a 6-3 victory to pull within a half-game of Poland.
Mike Turjanica's run-scoring double capped Canfield's four-run rally in the third inning for a 4-3 lead that provided the margin for victory, while Tim Dewberry's two-run double in the sixth gave the Cardinals some insurance.
But the outcome was in doubt until the end, after Leonard surrendered a single to Dan Bertolini, a double to Jonathan Habuda and a walk to Sean Clayton.
Reliable reliever
Canfield (17-6, 8-2 MAC) coach Tony Ross said he took out Leonard (4-1) with just one out to go because, "Dan got up [there] with his pitch count.
"We have confidence in Jake in that situation. We rely on him."
Coach Steve Rohan of Poland (19-3, 8-1 MAC) also called Leonard a clutch pitcher.
"He wants to be there when the game is on the line," said Rohan, whose Bulldogs have one final chance to win the MAC title outright at Salem Friday. If they lose, Canfield will share the crown.
Dave Yost (3-1) pitched a five-hitter for 3 2/3 innings for Poland before being relieved by Cole Budinsky.
Poland takes lead
Poland scored all of its runs in the second and third innings, with Clayton figuring in two of them. He scored when Rick DiMuzio was caught in a rundown between first and second base in the second inning, before safely making it second base. Then Anthony Fuller singled home DiMuzio.
Clayton's groundout in the third inning scored Dan Bertolini, who had walked.
Bertolini and Fuller finished with two singles each.
"We had two great double plays [but] our defense was not timely," said Rohan.
One of Poland's three errors allowed two runs to score, before Chad Baker's groundout scored a run to tied the score at 3-3.
& lt;a href=mailto:kovach@vindy.com & gt;kovach@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;