Sikora is tough in clutch

The senior pitched Boardman to a 5-2 win over Fitch for the sectional title.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- Senior pitcher Kevin Sikora threw a five-hitter with nine strikeouts and two walks and especially proved to be tough in the clutch, as Boardman High used a balanced offensive attack and good defensive play to eliminate Austintown Fitch, 5-2, in a Division I sectional baseball tournament final Monday at the Spartans' field.
"[Sikora] is one of those pitchers who never is out of it. He doesn't panic," said coach Scott Knox of Boardman (17-7), which advanced to the district tournament at Cene Park next Monday to play the Euclid sectional winner at 4:30 p.m. in a semifinal.
"He was throwing his changeup well around the plate and in the strike zone.
Coach Wally Ford of Fitch (12-10) agreed. "Sikora was as good as we have seen all year," said Ford, noting that Sikora "was keeping us off balance. His changeup was really effective. He kept the guys off balance and was mixing it up."
Ed DeLuca had a single and was hit by a pitch to account for two RBIs for Boardman, while Anthony Porter, Joe Bako and Dom Silvestri each had an RBI and Joe Iaccabucci had a double and single for the Spartans.
Boardman scored two runs in the fourth inning to take a 3-0 lead on Bako's and DeLuca's singles, and added single runs in the fifth and seventh innings on Silvestri's sacrifice fly and DeLuca's HBP, respectively.
Fanned three in row
An example of Sikora's effectiveness in the clutch was the fourth inning when Fitch scored one run to cut Boardman's lead to 3-1. The Falcons had runners at first and third with no one out, but Sikora proceeded to strike out the next three batters to douse the rally.
"That [fourth] inning was huge," said Ford. "We got something going. We have runners at first and third. Then he strikes out three in a row. If we could have just put the ball in play."
Knox said Sikora (6-1) has the experience to back him up in the clutch.
"He's had a lot of big games. He is a four-year letterman." said Knox.
Sikora, who got last-inning relief help from Rich O'Brien, bested Steve Gruver (4-4) who pitched a nine-hitter with five strikeouts and three walks before being relieved by Dave Diyorio in the seventh.
Knox said O'Brien pitched well this year, with a 4-1 record and two saves.
Four hit batters help Boardman
Gruver was wild at times and hit four batters, one of them being DeLuca who forced in Anthony Porter on the errant pitch in the seventh inning for a 5-2 lead.
"That's the most HBPs [Gruver] had this year. His curve ball was not snapping. It didn't break against a few guys." said Ford.
A nice play by freshman shortstop Kevin McCullough helped Boardman end Fitch's seventh inning rally. The Falcons had runners at first and second with two outs when Jason Bagoly hit a hard grounder up the middle. But McCullough managed to make a great stop for the out.
"We stuck [McCullough] in the lineup a few weeks ago," said Knox, who has been pleased with McCullough's play.
Ford also lauded Diyorio, Joe Koch and Joe Burnich.
"They were our top hitters this year. They all were batting over .300," said Ford.
kovach@vindy.com