CENE PARK Chaney beats Niles 8-1, Poland is next

The Cowboys hope to avenge a tournament loss from last season.
By BILL SULLIVAN
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
STRUTHERS -- Every player in the Chaney High batting order produced on offense, but it was an early defensive play that keyed the Cowboys' 8-1 win over Niles Thursday in the Division II sectional baseball tournament.
With a Niles runner on first base and one out in the bottom of the first inning at Cene Park, Mike Conroy hit a ball almost to the warning track in center field, but Chris Hlinka retreated and made the catch.
Chaney junior pitcher Aaron Boris (4-1) breathed a sigh of relief and threw a complete-game four-hitter for the Cowboys (21-4).
"A tone-setter was Chris Hlinka running down that monster fly ball by Conroy in the bottom of first inning," Chaney coach Mike Popio said
"It's probably a double or a triple if it gets over his head [and] they're pumped up," Popio said. "[Instead] it's an out and we're feeling pretty good and Aaron's feeling 'Hey, I can throw it in there and we'll run it down and get them out.' "
Early lead
Chaney used a double by Hlinka, three singles and a stolen base to give Boris a 3-0 lead in the second frame.
In the fourth inning, the Cowboys used an RBI double by John Shaffo, two singles and two walks to go ahead 5-1.
"Everybody is hitting the ball," said sophomore catcher Lou Kopachy, who finished 3-for-3. "We just came through today with eight runs and held them to four hits -- good pitching by Aaron."
Another three runs
Keyed by a two-run double by Jeff Shaffo, Chaney put the game away in the sixth with a three-run outburst.
"We really hit the ball well throughout the year," Popio said. "We've relied on that to help our young pitching out. If everybody in the lineup was able to contribute someway today, that helped Aaron go out there a little more relaxed."
Buoyed by the 10-hit attack, Boris was able to throw strikes and rely on his defense.
When Niles did mount a threat, with two men on in the fifth, Chaney's defense rose.
A sharp ground ball to Cowboy Mike DeNiro at third was turned into a nifty 5-4-3 double play.
Also for Chaney, Adam Boris had two singles and two runs, Dan Balog scored twice and Dan Enyeart produced an RBI single.
With the win Chaney earned a rematch with Poland in a district semifinal at Cene Park Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
A season ago in a district semifinal, Chaney led 4-1, but Poland rallied for a 5-4 victory.
Joe Skocik had a single and a double for Niles (12-13).
sullivan@vindy.com