DIVISION II DISTRICT Kucek propels Canfield

His triple gave Canfield a 1-0 win over Poland in a district semifinal.
By CHUCK HOUSTEAU
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
STRUTHERS -- It was only fitting that the Division II district semifinal baseball game between Canfield and Poland took extra innings to complete and end in dramatic fashion.
Justin Kucek's triple in the eighth inning drove home Jordan Schultheis with the winning run, as Canfield outlasted Metro Athletic Conference rival Poland, 1-0, Thursday at Cene Park.
The victory advanced Canfield to the district championship game tonight against Niles at 6:30. Niles eliminated Chaney, 7-4.
The game showcased two teams that were nearly identical in talent, and battled evenly in the regular season and through 71/2 innings of postseason play.
Shared MAC title
Canfield earned bragging rights and the chance to win a district title after the teams split regular season games and shared the MAC title.
"This was by far the best game I've ever been involved in," said Canfield coach Tony Ross. "The game was so well played by both teams and I knew that it would end in a dramatic way."
Poland coach Rich Murray could barely find words to express his disappointment after the heartbreaking loss.
"It's tough to be on the wrong side of a game like this," Murray said. "I'm proud of the kids. I just wish we could have got [Poland pitcher] Reid [Lamport] one run tonight."
Kucek's heroics were set up after Josh Geric struck out but reached first base on a wild pitch. Schultheis then pinch-ran for Geric.
Kucek delivers
With no outs, Ross overruled a bunt call at the last minute, and Kucek blasted Lamport's first pitch over the right fielder's head to score the winning run.
"They called a bunt," Kucek said. "But then Coach Ross called it off and I got to swing away."
Ross said that Kucek got the green light because he has been hitting the ball well the last three weeks.
"It was a great feeling to help the team win this game," Kucek said. "Everyone works so hard and deserved to win."
Pitching duel
The game settled in as a pitching match-up between Canfield's Rick Banna (8-0) and Lamport (4-3). Both teams had just three hits entering the eighth inning, and neither team got a runner past second base until the game-winning triple.
Poland's best chance came in the seventh when Adam Wigley and Chris Aracich started the inning with singles. The Bulldogs, however, failed to get a bunt down with no outs, and the threat failed.
"That was critical," said Murray of the failed bunt attempt. "We get those runners to second and third with one out and we have a good chance to score on the groundout."
Ross gave much of the credit for the win to Banna, who earlier in the season pitched a one-hitter against the Bulldogs.
"What can you say about his effort?" Ross said. "He would have stayed out there until his arm fell off. There was no way he was coming out."