DIVISION II BASEBALL

The Bulldogs play Lakeview today for the championship.
By ROBERT J. FUSCO
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
STRUTHERS -- Anthony Fuller has been struggling at the plate.
He's the first to admit it.
But that hasn't stopped him from contributing to the success of the Poland High baseball team -- with his glove.
"Every game, I try to do one thing to help this team win," said Fuller, who contributed both offensively and defensively in the Bulldogs' 6-2 Division II district semifinal win over Chaney Thursday at Cene Park.
The senior outfielder made two outstanding defensive plays, had two hits, scored twice and drove in a run, helping the Bulldogs (22-3) into today's district title game against Lakeview.
Diving catch
"He has led by example all season," Poland coach Steve Rohan said of Fuller, who threw a runner out at home plate in the second inning and made a diving catch in right field to stifle a Chaney (21-6) rally in the sixth.
"He's the best competitor on this team," added Rohan. "Even if it's a game in the gym, he doesn't want to lose."
With Poland leading 4-0, Fuller made a diving catch of Chris Hlinka's line drive with runners on first and second. He had a chance to double off either runner, but his throw to first baseman Sean Clayton skipped in. Adam Boris followed with a two-run double to make the count 4-2.
"I was really disappointed with myself," Fuller said of this throw after the catch. "I felt I let the team down. I saw [shortstop] Jon [Habuda] pointing to first and I waited for Sean to get back to the bag and I didn't get anything on the throw."
But he redeemed himself in the bottom of the inning, slapping a hit-and-run single to right to score Adam Wigley, giving Poland a 5-2 lead. Rick DiMuzio scored an insurance run on an errant thrown on an attempted pickoff play.
"I just wanted to get one of those runs back," Fuller said. "[Relief pitcher] John [Shaffo] threw me a low curve that I really shouldn't have swung at, but I went down and got it."
Fuller earlier tripled to start the fifth and scored on pinch-hitter David Koval's single to right. Koval then stole second and scored on Brandon Hardin's sacrifice fly.
Senior ace John Hay (6-0) finished off a four-hit complete game by striking out the final two batters, giving him eight for the game.
School record
"Those two runs were big because [Chaney] had a little momentum," said Hay, who set a school record with his 20th career win in three seasons as a starter. "I started to rush things a bit in the sixth and got some pitches up in the zone.
"In the middle innings, that was the strongest I've felt all season," said Hay, who set down 10 straight batters at one point and extended his scoreless-inning streak to 28 before Chaney scored. "I got into a strong rhythm and was spotting all three of my pitches for strikes."
Hay struck out Adam Boris with runners on second and third and two outs in the first, then benefited from Fuller's other defensive gem to get out of another jam in the second.
"I didn't think I had a chance," said Fuller, who threw out John Shaffo attempting to score from second on Lou Kopachy's single. "Johnny has good speed and the ball kind of died in the grass a bit. I thought the throw was up the line a bit, but [catcher] Billy [Christian] hung in there and made the tag."
Poland never trailed, scoring twice in the first when Dan Bertolini singled, was sacrificed to second by Hardin and scored on Habuda's single. Clayton followed with a double to left.
Fuller and Habuda split four of Poland's eight hits.
Shaffo, Kopachy, Mike DeNiro and Adam Boris hit safely for the Cowboys.