Fitch holds off Chardon, 9-5

By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
STRUTHERS -- Junior pitcher Steve Grover of Austintown Fitch has been struggling with a sore elbow this spring and hasn't been able to pitch very much.
In fact, entering the Falcons' Division I district semifinal tournament game against Chardon Tuesday at Cene Park, Grover managed to post only a 2-0 record with one save.
But Grover finally put it all together for the first five innings against the Hilltoppers with a four-hitter, 10 strikeouts and an eight-run lead before yielding to reliever Nick Crum in the sixth inning.
Then Fitch, with Crum struggling, withstood a last-inning, four-run comeback by Chardon to emerge with a 9-5 victory, advancing to a district final against Lakewood St. Edward (10-9) today at 7 p.m.
Senior Chuck Olesky powered the Fitch attack with a three-run, inside-the-park homer in the third inning and two singles, while Jason Bagoly added two RBIs. Nick Wiery and Joe Koch had two singles each and Xavier Godoy an RBI and single.
Grover still recovering
Coach Wally Ford of Fitch (13-11) said that he removed Grover (3-0) from the game after five outstanding innings because of the elbow.
"Last week was the first time that he pitched in about two or three weeks and the pitch count on him [Tuesday] got pretty high," said Bell. "He is just getting back into form. He looked good tonight."
Crum gave up five hits and four runs in his two innings, but managed to put down Chardon's rally in the seventh.
Ford said Crum isn't the only other pitcher that Fitch has for relief, and that if he had to he could have called in Jim Kinnick.
"Kinnick has been pitching really well. Kinnick will start [tonight]."
Vince Riola, who pitched in the Class B League last summer for Rondinelli's, took the loss for Chardon. Riola (7-4) pitched four innings and gave up seven runs and seven hits before being relieved by Andrew Ross in the fifth.
Top of batting order jells
Ford said Wiery, Koch and Olesky have been fueling the offense this year. Koch, a senior, is the leadoff batter followed by Wiery, a junior, and Olesky, a senior.
"The top of the batting order has been hitting all year," said Ford. "Wiery is over .500, Joe Koch is over .400 and Chuck Olesky is around .400. Those three guys set the table. That has been the key for us."
Coach Greg Fronk of Chardon (18-7) said that it took his bats awhile to get acclimated to district play.
"We have not had a lot of experience on the district level. It took us time to get started and to swing the bats," said Fronk, whose Hilltoppers touched Crum for four straight singles to start the seventh by Bryan Gregorich, John Gregorich, Ryan Mitri and Ian Herner to instigate the comeback.
Herner singled in the first run while Matt Mivsek followed with a sacrifice fly that brought in the second run. Then Riola singled in the third run and Brian Laznik tallied another run on a sacrifice fly.
Herner and Bryan Gregorich each had two singles for Chardon while Mivsek and Laznik each added a single and RBI.
Fronk admitted that Grover was in fine form on the mound.
"He has a nice delivery. He hides his pitches well. His pitches have some nice movement," said Fronk. "The ball looks like it is coming in low and then it is rising into the batter."
kovach@vindy.com