Poland pulls out 2-1 victory
The Bulldogs scored the winning run over Niles in the bottom of the seventh.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
STRUTHERS -- David White's father was yelling his best baseball advice from behind the backstop at Cene Park's Field No. 2 Thursday with his son at bat in the bottom of the seventh inning.
"He's going to groove a fastball, so pull your hands back and look for the fastball," Bill White said as his sophomore son waited for a 2-1 pitch from Niles' Kyle Pitts.
It turned out to be the right move as the ball off the bat of White's swing punched the outside of the third base bag and went into foul territory in the outfield.
With the score tied, 1-1, White's leadoff hit of the seventh inning was just what Poland needed.
Vallinger gets game winner
But it wasn't until Trent Vallinger's game-winning single four batters later ended the game, 2-1, in the Bulldogs' favor in the Division II district semifinal.
Pitching is what set the stage for the close score between the Metro Athletic Conference schools.
"That was his best outing all year," Poland coach Rich Murray said of winning pitcher Lou Coppola (6-1), who tossed a nine strikeout two-hitter.
"He came out and was throwing strikes," Murray said. "He's hard to beat when he's throwing that hard."
Pitts (5-2) allowed only four hits and struck out five.
"He just kept us off balance all day," Murray said of the Red Dragons pitcher.
One of Niles' two hits was from Robbie Porter in the first inning. As the fourth batter of the game, Porter's fly ball dropped in front of Vallinger, the center fielder, and scored Sean Cleary for a 1-0 lead.
Pitts pitched well for Niles
Pitts was pitching a perfect game through four innings until Ken Cutrone walked to start off the fifth.
Don Stanovcak reached base on a fielder's choice, stole second, got to third on a passed ball and tied the score on Mark Turnbull's single up the middle. With the bases loaded, Niles center fielder Matt Vince caught the third out.
"He's a sophomore who has been starting two years," Murray said of Turnbull. "He doesn't really feel pressure because he's been in big games before."
Sophomore Mark Carlozzi was the pinch-runner who scored the game-winning run on Vallinger's single up the middle. Carlozzi was running for White.
"I heard it and it helped," White said of hearing his father's voice before his big hit.
Stanovcak's sacrifice bunt got Carlozzi to second and Turnbull's groundout advanced him to third. Jim Petrolla, who replaced injured starter Mike Rubesa, walked before Vallinger's game-winner.
"I was just looking to get a 'W' for my team and move us on in the tournament," said Vallinger, a freshman.
Vallinger's hit up the middle came on a 1-0 count with two outs.
The game was the rubber match between the MAC teams.
"There was a little less offense, but I'd attribute that to Pitts," Murray said in comparing Thursday's outcome to that of the two earlier meetings.
"He was lights out through four innings," Niles coach T.C. Guarnieri said of his ace.
"When you get two good pitchers like Lou Coppola and Kyle Pitts going at it, it's going to be a quick one and you've got to jump them and do what you can."
Poland (19-6) plays Canfield today at 6:30 p.m.
Niles' season ends at 19-7.