Down, but not out

By Mark W. Miller

Columbus Warhawks beat Rondinelli, 11-6

Rondinelli needs to win twice today to reach the championship round.

STRUTHERS — A late rally that produced two runs wasn’t enough as Rondinelli Tuxedo was handed a 11-6 setback by the Columbus Warhawks in the Continental Amateur Baseball Association 18-and-under World Series double elimination tournament Friday at Cene Park.

Rondinelli will play the Indiana Mustangs today at Field 1 at 2 p.m. and with a win will play a second contest a 5 p.m..

“We need to win twice [today] if we expect to get into the championship round,” said Ken Quinn, the Rondinelli coach. “We still have some decent arms left that we can throw and that’s a plus for us.”

There was a 20-minute lightening delay Friday with Rondinelli (4-4) holding a 4-2 lead in the fifth inning. The Warhawks (6-2) answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning on a walk, stolen base, passed ball and singles by Mike Morgan, Elliott Williams, Wes White and Tristen Moore.

The Warhawks (6-2) scored seven runs in the bottom of the sixth on two walks, two fielder’s choices, a sacrifice, an error, three wild pitches and singles by Moore, Colt Stafford and Mitch Sroka.

Rondinelli Tuxedo rallied with a pair of runs. Phil Double walked, Corey Hitt hit a double and Todd Kibby was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Matt Durkin reached base on an error and Double and Hitt scored.

“I should have changed our pitcher after the 20-minute delay,” said Quinn. “We have a good group of kids and they showed us what they could do as they came right back and scored two runs.

“If we had won, we would have been playing in the winners bracket, but now we have to go out and do the best we can if we want to continue.”

In the first inning, the Warhawks took a 2-0 lead on a pair of hits and a costly error.

Elliott Williams tripled to lead off the inning. Two outs later, Tristen Moore singled him home.

Moore then stole second and scored on a two-base error.

Rondinelli answered with four runs in the third inning.

Marc Gorvet and Drew Fitzpatrick both singled to lead off the inning. Gorvett was then erased at third on a fielder’s choice by Double and Fitzpatrick moved to second.

Cory Hitt doubled home Fitzpatrick and Double. With two outs Matt Durkin hit an RBI single to score Hitt and Corey Nesbitt followed with an RBI triple to score Durkin, making it 4-2.

Hitt hit two doubles and a single and scored twice to pace Rondinelli’s 10-hit attack. Double, who reached base on a fielder’s choice and walk, also scored twice. Nesbitt hit a triple and single and Joe Sekula hit a pair of singles.

Moore and Sroka both hit three singles and scored twice for the Warhawks, while White scored twice.

miller@vindy.com