Cards’ rally clips Fitch 9-7

By Jim Flick

Canfield came back from a 6-0 deficit in the second inning.

AUSTINTOWN — After falling behind 6-0 in the second inning, Canfield stormed back to defeat Austintown Fitch 9-7 Monday.

The comeback by the Cardinals (6-2) was highlighted by home runs smashed by juniors Jared Turocy and Tom Cheslik, while Brett Cooper and Dan Banna smacked doubles. Canfield’s third pitcher of the day, senior Nate Wilson, came in from the bullpen to earn the win.

The Falcons (4-3) seemed to take command of the game in the second inning, when they more than batted around, sending 11 men to the plate. They pounded out four hits, including a double by Jimmy Kinnick, and Canfield walked four batters, as Fitch took a 6-0 lead.

“A lot of teams would have folded, but we’ve been down before,” Canfield coach Matt Koenig said. “They never gave up. It’s great to see that when your back is against the wall, some kids respond in pressure situations.”

The Cardinals started their comeback in the third inning, when Brett Cooper doubled to drive home two runs. Turocy followed and pounded the ball out of the park to cut the Falcons’ lead to 6-4.

Canfield tied the score in the fifth inning. After Dan Banna singled home a run, Mark Carrocce scored the tying run by scampering home from third when the Falcons misplayed a pick-off attempt at first base.

But the battle wasn’t over. Fitch briefly regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth when sophomore Tony Koch lifted a sacrifice fly to plate a run and give the Falcons a 7-6 lead.

After Cheslik smashed his home run in the top of the sixth for the Cardinals to tie the score again at 7-7, Canfield loaded the bases and with two outs Turocy stepped to the plate. This time, Turocy walked, driving in the run that gave Canfield the lead for good, 8-7.

Andrew Zunic singled in the seventh to drive in the game’s final run for the Cardinals.

But the Falcons did not go quietly. With runners at second and third, the last Fitch batter worked the count to 3-2 before striking out to end the game.

“Sometimes when you jump ahead like that, you coast,” Austintown coach Wally Ford said. “We had our chances, but we couldn’t capitalize on a few situations.”

On the other hand, Ford added, Canfield players “did what they had to do.”

The Cardinals’ starting pitcher was sophomore Kyle Kesner, who was relieved by sophomore Ron Sullivan after 12‚Ñ3 innings. Nate Wilson took the mound in the fourth and finished the game.

For Fitch, sophomore Chris Miller made his first start of the season and lasted 42‚Ñ3 innings before yielding to senior Mike Olenych.