Canfield players grow up to go to state

Nine players on Canfield High's team were Little League regional finalists.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CANFIELD -- In 1998, the Canfield High baseball team made its first trip to a state tournament, but lost a semifinal game to Cincinnati McNicholas, 5-2.
Many of the Canfield Little League players that year who followed the high school team throughout the season made the trip to Canton's Thurman Munson Stadium to see the game.
Later that year, many of them were members of the Canfield Little League All-Star team coached by Jim Novotny that just missed -- by one game -- qualifying for the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
Now, nine of the players from that 11-12 Little League team that won the Ohio crown to earn a trip to Indianapolis, have grown up and become talented senior members of the Canfield High baseball team.
The nine players -- Chad Baker, Frank Turocy, John Virostko, Dan Freed-Pastor, Tim Novotny, Joe Pitzer, Nathan Porter, Josh Geric and Mike Pulakos -- have been with the Canfield team for three years, and have provided a big part of the talent base that has helped the Cardinals qualify for state.
Six years later
And just like when the nine players followed the team in 1998, they also will be followed this week by a big throng of Canfield youth league players who are expected to make the trip to Columbus Thursday to see the Cardinals take on Steubenville Big Red in the Division II semifinal (Cooper Stadium at 10 a.m.).
The development of Canfield High baseball talent and experience over the past six years -- 16 of the 18 players on the rosters are seniors, including all of the starters -- is expected to increase the Cardinals' chances of bringing back a state championship.
The other seniors are starters Justin Kucek, Rick Banna and Dave Piersante. The substitutes are John Carbon, Chris Sherman, Mike Rubosky, Len Staffrey, Josh McKinney and Chris Morris.
Bodes well for future
And future Canfield teams also will benefit from the continuity of the developmental program from youth leagues to high school, said coach Tony Ross.
"The [Little League] program has been a big factor in the success of the Canfield High baseball program," Ross said. "We have a tremendous feeder system. That's how programs develop.
"Any coach will tell you the same thing. It happens at the lower levels from Little League and Pony League," Ross said.
Ross said he used to watch those nine players play Little League baseball, and still watches the younger kids play.
"I enjoyed watching them play, and to watch their progress over the years," Ross said.
He should know. Now in his third season as coach, Ross has guided his three teams to a 72-18 record, including 28-4 this season with five straight wins in the sectional, district and regional meets.
Ross has two 10-year-old twin sons -- Anthony and Michael -- playing Little League, and they are now part of the same developmental program that his players have helped promote.
"Not only is there a bond between our players, but also between our players and the younger kids in Canfield," Ross said. "Our freshmen, JV and varsity players hold clinics for the younger players. We give back a lot to our roots."
Coaching tradition
Tradition and coaches have been factors in Canfield's success. Dick Duffet, who coached the Cardinals to the state in his final season in 1998, gave way to Lee Frey, who coached three years (1999, 2000 and 2001) before Ross took over.
But Ross said Phil Bova started it all, pointing out that Canfield has had only one losing season since Bova launched baseball at the school in 1972.
"If It weren't for my coach Phil Bova, who started baseball in Canfield in 1972, we wouldn't have developed a winning tradition," said Ross, who graduated from Canfield in 1983 and was coached by Bova in Canfield Little League and high school.
kovach@vindy.com