Roth Brothers finish 24-0

The Youngstown Class AA
regular season champs begin playoffs Wednesday.

YOUNGSTOWN — The Roth Brothers baseball team of the Youngstown Class AA League won a doubleheader Monday at Oakland Field behind strong pitching to finish the regular season undefeated with a 24-0 record.

Roth Brothers blanked Tri-County, 5-0, as Josh Conkey and last-inning reliever Joe Marzano combined to pitch a two-hitter. Roth also ripped New Hamburgh, 9-1, on John Hay’s six-hitter.

Conkey registered eight strikeouts and Marzano two, while Adam Cox had a double, scored two runs and also walked three times to key Roth’s offense against Tri-County. Rick Gozur, Jim Putko and Joe Bettura each had an RBI to aid the winners.

Tim Kearney pitched a four-hitter with 13 strikeouts but also issued 12 walks for Tri-County.

Hay had four strikeouts and Paul Kello two to get the save for Roth against New Hamburgh. Cox, Gozur and Mike Sikorski each belted a homer, the latter two unloading two-run shots. Mark Nightingale added a two-run double.

Roth Brothers will begin play in the best-of-three Class AA League playoffs Wednesday at Pemberton Park in Game 2 at 8:15 p.m. against the winner of Tuesday’s Tri-County-Penn-Ohio game.

Wednesday’s playoff opener at 6:15 is between the Youngstown Metros and Youngstown Tamburro’s.

Metros win pair

WARREN — It took 10 innings for the Youngstown Metros to turn back the Mahoning Valley Knights 4-3, then the Metros upended the Champion Marlins 14-2 in Warren AA League games Sunday at Packard Park, MacGregor field.

John Mang worked two inning of relief to pick up the win for the Metros, who scored the winning run in the top of the 10th inning.

Tom Clayton and Cameron Cimino each had two hits for the Metros. Torrie Frangiamore hit a double and two singles for the Valley Knights. Vasili Pahoulis and Greg Barton had two hits apiece.

A 10-run third inning was the key to the Metros’ victory over the Marlins.

Anthony Porter hit two singles and drove in four runs for the Metros. Grant Sevek and John Warren each had two hits and drove in two runs. Jeff Speck hit a pair of singles for the Marlins.