Boardman’s big innings too much for Poland, 9-3

By Doug Chapin

The Spartans are trying to bounce back from last year’s 10-15 season.

BOARDMAN — Big innings were the story Monday as Boardman High defeated Poland 9-3 in a non-conference baseball game on the Spartans’ field.

The Spartans (3-1) put up a four-spot in the first inning, saw their lead trimmed to 5-3 when the Bulldogs tallied three runs in the fifth, then scored four more in the bottom of the fifth to put away the victory.

The Spartans are trying to rebound from a 10-15 campaign.

“We want to have a winning season. Last year was a disappointment, though we had a lot of close losses, and we want to make a run in the tournament,” Boardman coach Jack Hay said about the Spartans’ goals. “We have four starters back, but we have 10 seniors on the team.

“We have two pitchers from last year, Joe Strawinski, who came in here in relief, and Kevin McCulloh, who played shortstop today,” Hay said. “Probably our top pitcher, who goes [today], is Pat O’Brien. He came on late last year as a pitcher, so he has some experience.”

Strawinski relieved Rob Boyd, who was solid through four innings, scattering four singles. Boyd ran into trouble in the fifth, yielding two walks and a three-run home run by Matt Pitzulo. That brought on Strawinski who retired five in a row with the help of a double play.

Strawinski’s contribution at the plate was just as notable as he blasted a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth. McCulloh added his second run-scoring double of the game later in the frame to complete the scoring.

Hay said the key to Boardman’s success is “pitchers throwing strikes, not getting behind. Our top guys are pretty good at that, but our other guys, they’ve got good stuff but they have to be more efficient.

“I think we also are a little too selective at the plate, I’d like us to be more aggressive,” he said. “We like our defense and we have good team speed, though we have a different approach. Probably the slowest guy in our lineup is our leadoff guy, Mike Popio, but he’s a very heady ballplayer and we like him leading off.”

Popio started the Spartans’ four-run first with a double, scoring on McCulloh’s double. Shane Parks drove in a run with a hit and O’Brien plated two with an opposite-field single. Dan Kubala had a run-scoring single in the second.

Poland (1-2) returns seven from last year’s 17-12 season. The Bulldogs got a solid relief appearance from Jason Simons, who retired eight of the first 10 he faced before giving up the four-run Boardman fifth.

“Jason pitched good tonight and that was his first time on the mound this year,” Poland coach Rich Murray said. “I like our bats and our fielding, though our bats haven’t come alive yet. I think we can field it, but we’re just going to have to pitch the ball. If we pitch it, we’ll be all right; if not, then we’re in for more of thislike tonight.”