SANDLOTS Babe Ruth 15 team blanks Illinois in regional opener
Youngstown's 14-year-old team also won in Indiana.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Shawn Roman pitched a two-hitter with eight strikeouts Friday as the 15-year-old Youngstown Babe Ruth League All-Stars blanked Illinois, 3-0, in their first game of the Babe Ruth Regional Tournament.
Drew Fitzpatrick had a double, two singles and one RBI while Todd Kibby had three singles and one RBI to lead Youngstown.
Youngstown advanced to play Western Kentucky on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in the double-elimination meet.
Babe Ruth 14s
JASPER, Ind. -- Bo Slemons went 3-for-5 with six RBIs while Anthony Raschella was 3-for-5 four RBIs to lead the 14-year-old Youngstown Babe Ruth League All-Stars to a 16-3 romp over Illinois in their opening game of the double-elimination meet.
The game was abbreviated to five innings because of a scoring rule.
Shane Parks pitched the first 3 2/3 innings for Youngstown to get the win while reliever Adam Shrodek earned the save.
A.J. Zorella, Kyle Vaclav, Raul Pizarro and Joey Aulizia each had two hits to aid the winners.
Youngstown's next game is Sunday at 2:30 p.m. against the winner of the Kentucky-Indiana game.
Babe Ruth 16s
STRUTHERS -- Livi Steel won two games at the Ohio Valley Regional hosted by Cene Park.
In its opener, Livi defeated Hammond (Ind.), 13-2. Bobby Herberger, Garen Ream, Jae Leeworthy, Zach Cuffman and Garret Herald had two hits each for Rondinelli.
Leeworthy went the first four innings on the mound for the win. He had four strikeouts.
Matt Delgado had two hits for Hammond.
In its second game, Rondinelli defeated Okolona (Ky.), 12-3. Robert Switka tossed a complete game for the win as he allowed one earned run with six strikeouts.
Cory Nesbitt had two hits and drove home three runs while Bret Cubellis added two hits and a pair of RBIs. Marc Kanetsky and Mark Lapikas also had two hits for Rondinelli.
Bryan Clemmons had three hits, including a double, while Bryan Chappell had two singles for Okolona.
In another game at Cene Park, Newark Moundbuilders defeated SE Illinois Nationals, 5-4. Rob Howell singled home Russ Seidell, who had tripled, with the winning run. Howell finished with three hits, including a double, while Jordan Maier singled twice. Nick Waites had a triple and a double for the winners.
Pat Norris went the distance for the win as he allowed two earned runs and struck out six.
Jon Wuest had a pair of doubles with two RBIs and Nick Poerio had two hits for the Nationals.
NABF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown T.C. Merchants lost to Columbus Big Katz, 8-3, in the College Division (22 and under) tournament at Pemberton-Donnell Park.
Jeremy Wentworth had three hits including a double for Columbus. Michael Kennedy, James Isiah and Ben Way all had two hits. Jordan Smith doubled and Way had three RBIs.
Adam Goodpasture was the winning pitcher, allowing no earned runs.
Andy Wess singled twice for T.C. Merchants.
In another game, Youngstown Metros lost to Pittsburgh Pandas, 2-1, in 10 innings.
Dan Bertolini and Tom Clayton had two hits each for Metros, and Clayton drove in the only run in the first inning.
Billy Herman doubled and singled for Pittsburgh. Nick Wendell and Lucas McCoy also had doubles.
Class AA
YOUNGSTOWN -- Bud's won, 4-3, on Thursday as Mark Nightingale's one-out singled scored Josh Page with the winning run.
Rick Gozur doubled twice for Bud's and Brent Parks singled twice. Shane Davis hit a double.
Ray Jaminet and Clee Hollandsworth both had two hits for O'Donald's/Tri-C. Jason Savage added a double.
Paul Yates was the winning pitcher with three innings of relief.