DIVISION I BASEBALL Fitch rolls past Geneva in five innings

Rob Melnek pitched the 14-0 shutout victory.
By RYAN JONES
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
AUSTINTOWN -- The Fitch High Falcons were all business from the start in Wednesday's Division I sectional baseball final with the Geneva Eagles.
Fitch needed only five innings to dispose of the Eagles, 14-0.
The Falcons (17-5) rode the efforts of senior pitcher Rob Melnek, who pitched his second shutout of the season, coupled with strong offensive production in the first three innings.
Falcons score early
Dom Modarelli and Melnek singled to right to open the first frame. Melnek advanced to second courtesy of a Mike Eliseo infield hit, and Mike Brown followed with a walk. Jeff Kotel then reached on an error that allowed Melnek to score. John Mang then singled home both Eliseo and Brown.
The next two batters, Justin Roche and Matt Lutz, both reached on errors, allowing Kotel and Mang to score. John Burich hit an RBI single to plate Roche as the Falcons jumped ahead 6-0.
"For about the last week and a half we've really been stinging the ball," coach Wally Ford said. "We've taken a little extra batting practice before the past two games and the guys are really seeing the ball well right now."
Three-hit effort
One run would have sufficed for Melnek (4-0), who allowed three hits while striking out five in his third complete game of the season.
"Coming into the year, we did not have a clear cut No. 1 starter," said Ford. "However, Bobby has been the most consistent guy for us.
"The thing that Bobby does well is that he gets ahead of hitters and then goes right at them. He is not an overpowering pitcher, but he is always around the strike zone and he trusts the defense behind him."
Fitch added two more runs in the second inning and five in the third.
In the third frame, Melnek, who went 4-for-4 with three RBIs, singled home Lutz and Burrich after they led off with singles to left. Eliseo followed with a three-run homer, his fourth of the season, to push the lead to 13-0. The junior first basemen finished 3-for-3 with three RBIs.
Solon next
Fitch will play Solon in a district semifinal next Wednesday at Cene Park. The Falcons also have a league game with Canton GlenOak and two league games against Boardman.
"It's fun right now, because we have some big games coming up, we are right in the thick of things in the Federal League and we have tournament game to play as well," said Ford.