Fitch hangs on to defeat Spartans

Reliever Brian Sterling did well in the Division I baseball game that started on Friday.
By BILL SULLIVAN
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
STRUTHERS -- Usually a pitcher gets four days rest between appearances, but this wasn't a usual situation.
Brian Sterling was asked to do the baseball improbable and the lanky Austintown Fitch senior pulled it off with great finesse.
After throwing 131 pitches in six innings of work Thursday against Garfield Heights, Sterling came on to throw in relief in the completion of the suspended Division I district final against Boardman Saturday at Cene Park.
On to regional
Fitch held on to beat the Spartans 6-5 and advance to the regional tournament for the first time since 1994. That year the Falcons reached the state meet.
Friday, the Falcons (17-10) will take on Massillon Jackson at Thurman Munson Stadium in Canton.
Sterling should be rested by then.
Fitch used a double by Mickey Howley, four singles, two walks, three wild pitches and a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning to take a 6-2 lead Friday before lightning suspended play.
Sterling was enjoying the game from the bench. Did he ever think he might be called on to throw?
"Not after 131 pitches I never imagined I would," Sterling said with a laugh. "It was pure adrenaline today, just carrying on from yesterday. I could probably throw a good three or four innings off adrenaline today. It was a big game."
The Spartans (16-14) scored three times in the fifth to close to 6-5 and were hitting in the sixth when play was halted.
Sterling saved the game in relief of junior John Mang (4-2) who moved to third base when play resumed.
Spartan reaches third
Mark Sikora led off the Boardman seventh inning with his second hit, a double, and two ground balls to Mang put the Spartan on third.
Sterling got a strikeout to end the drama-packed game.
"I was just trying to get it done for our seniors," Mang said. "I'm just glad we can get them to the regionals."
In the two-game district, Sterling struck out 11 in eight innings.
"Sterling came in and did a great job," Mang said. "That's what we needed him to do. He's a great pitcher."
Boardman left seven men on base including the potential tying run at third as the game ended.
"We had our chances and we didn't get it done," Boardman coach Scott Knox said. "We're where we want to be in our batting order. We start out with a double in the seventh inning and we took our best swings. It just wasn't supposed to be today."
Fitch coach Wally Ford sensed trouble when Sikora doubled.
"The seventh inning when they lead off with a double, that's just what you don't want, a runner into scoring position right off the bat," Ford said. "Brian hung tough. He got a couple ground balls."
Top Falcon hitters
Mike Eliseo singled three times for Fitch and Elliot Endsley added two safeties. Each had RBI singles in the big fourth frame.
"I was happy, but I think it was mostly a team effort to pull this one out," Eliseo said of his offensive work.
He said he was in a small hitting slump the second half of the season but it was his hit that scored the sixth Fitch run.
Shortstop Bob Melnek turned in three fine defensive plays for Fitch including going behind second base to field a ball and throw out a Spartan to end the fourth.
sullivan@vindy.com