Bats go bonkers in MAC contest

Canfield beat Howland in a game called early because of the 10-run rule.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
HOWLAND -- For most of Tuesday's game, it seemed like the Canfield High baseball team was taking batting practice, as the Cardinals were hammering base hits all over the place, many of them sharp liners.
Then toward the end of the game, it looked as though the Howland team was taking batting practice, as the Tigers began shelling the white balls for base hits to imitate some of Canfield's prolific attack.
In the end, both teams put up some impressive numbers -- scoring 39 runs and smacking 42 hits -- in only five innings.
But Canfield came away with a lopsided advantage with 29 hits and 28 runs, to roll to a 28-11 victory at Howland Township Park in a Metro Athletic Conference game that was called early because of the 10-run rule.
12th victory
So, how good is Canfield (12-2, 4-0 MAC), which had built a 28-2 lead -- scoring 13 runs in the second inning -- before Howland staged an 11-run uprising in the last of the fifth inning?
"They are without question the best team we have seen. They have it all -- hitting, pitching, speed. They should go a long way," said Howland coach Tom Eschman, who also blamed his Tigers for "lousy pitching, no defense and the fact that we didn't hit until the last inning."
Canfield coach Tony Ross said his team is for real.
"We've been like [this] all year. We had 78 hits in six games to win the Hawaiian [South Carolina] tournament. It's not a fluke," said Ross.
"We did a great job getting into the weight room in the offseason. We started back in November," said Ross. "We lift almost the entire year and the whole [baseball] season. We are strong physically and mentally."
Baker keys attack
Chad Baker, a senior first baseman, hit a three-run homer, two doubles and a single, finishing with seven RBIs.
"This is our best-hitting day. We haven't put up runs like this since I can remember," said Baker, who also is a pitcher and will attend Pitt on a baseball scholarship.
"When we come ready to play collectively, we are a good team. This year we are focusing on the team aspect, and it is helping us a lot. We got behind each other."
For example, Dave Piersante and John Virostko each had four singles and two RBIs to reinforce the Cardinals, while pitcher Rick Banna had three singles and two RBIs and John Carbon blasted a fence-clearing solo homer and added an RBI single. Mike Rubosky had two singles and two RBIs.
Also showing power was Justin Kucek with a double, single and one RBI, while Mike Pulakos added two singles and one RBI and Frank Turocy two RBIs.
Banna wins fourth
Meanwhile, Banna held Howland in check the first three innings with five strikeouts and a 19-2 lead, before yielding to reliever Len Staffrey for the fourth and fifth innings.
Banna (4-0) bested four Howland pitchers, including starter Jared Bartholomew who was shelled in the second inning and yielded to Ben Leece, who in turn was replaced by Tony Pozega in the third and Ryan Miller in the fourth.
Bartholomew led Howland's offense with two doubles, one single and three RBIs, while Cody Anderson added a double, two singles and one RBI. Pozega contributed two singles and one RBI and Mannoli Pahoulis two singles and one RBI.
kovach@vindy.com