Boardman's 13-year olds open Zone tourney today

The locals will play host Hagerstown, Md., in the double elimination event.
BOARDMAN -- Twenty five years ago, coach Ray Bagissarian led the Boardman 13-year old PONY League baseball team to the World Series championship.
Twelve players are going to attempt that again when Boardman's 13 year old PONY League All Stars travel to Hagerstown, Md., where they will go against the host team today at 8:30 p.m. in the PONY League Zone eight-team double elimination tournament.
Champion advances
The champion will advance to Chino Hills, Cal., for the PONY World Series.
Boardman (8-2) reached the Zone level by winning the Chuck Schafer Memorial and PONY regional tournaments.
Nine of the players on the Boardman squad competed during the regular season with the Eastern Offset team (15-9).
Members of the team are Philip Hall, second base-right field; Carmen Tarantino, pitcher-shortstop; Tyler Walls, pitcher-shortstop-center field; Alec Neapolitan, first base; John Fithian, catcher; Mark Calautti, third base; Tyler Blangero, pitcher-outfield-shortstop; Dan Dougherty, outfield; David DiBernardi, pitcher-second base; Matt Lukach, pitcher-right field; Joe Markovich, pitcher-outfield, and Carlo DeAscentis, pitcher-right field.
Leading the way
Tarantino has worked 14 innings, allowed 11 hits, with 15 strikeouts. He has also been to bat 30 times, with 12 hits, which includes three home runs, a triple and two doubles and 13 RBIs.
Neapolitan has eight hits in 23 trips to the plate, which includes four doubles and four RBIs. Walls has 12 hits in 29 at bats, included two doubles. He's pitched 11 innings, gave up 11 hits with 12 strikeouts.