Y-town takes the hard way to Series

Youngstown rallied from a 6-4 loss over Illinois on Saturday to win six straight losers bracket games to capture the Babe Ruth title.

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YOUNGSTOWN — Sweeping three doubleheaders in as many days has earned the Youngstown Babe Ruth 14-year-old team a trip to Massachusetts to compete in a World Series.

In the Ohio Valley regional that ended Tuesday in Connersville, Ind., Youngstown rallied from a Saturday loss (6-4 to Illinois) to win six straight losers bracket games to capture the title.

“We did it the hard way,” said Youngstown coach Terry Landis, who is taking his sixth Babe Ruth team to a World Series.

Tuesday, Youngstown defeated Illinois twice for the regional tournament crown.

In the championship game, Youngstown won, 4-2. Mark Leone, Andre Jones and G.J. Senchak shared pitching duties.

In the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs, Youngstown and Illinois were tied 2-2 when Ryan Halicki doubled, scoring Ricky Jones with the winning run. Justin Fleo’s infield hit scored Halicki with an insurance run.

Senchak retired the Illinois side in the seventh inning to seal the victory.

Youngstown defeated Illinois, 11-1, in Tuesday’s first game. Fleo and Jones were the pitchers in that romp while Dan Popio, Cody Pitzo and Ricky Jones led the offense while John Sansone homered.

Landis says five of his players were on the Youngstown 13-year-old team that finished third in last year’s World Series in Virginia.

This year’s World Series begins Aug. 16 in Quincy, Mass. The 13-member team and coaches will fly to Boston Aug. 14. After the Aug. 15 banquet, Youngstown opens against the New England region winner.

The tournament has 10 teams divided into two divisions. Youngstown will play the other four teams in its division once. The teams with the best division records will advance to a one-game championship Aug. 21.

Helping Landis coach the team are Paul Struharek and Bob Halicki.

In the 6-4 loss to Illinois, Senchak’s three hits included a homer. Pitzo had three hits while Andre Jones had two.

Sunday, Youngstown eliminated Wisconsin and Eastern Kentucky, 13-2. In the second game, Senchak homered twice and doubled while Dane Gecina homered. Popio had three hits while Pitzo and John Sansone had two each.

Monday, Youngstown twice staved off elimination, first beating Northern Indiana, 12-11, then walloping Western Kentucky, 16-3.

Landis said the Northern Indiana game was dramatic as Youngstown rallied from a 7-2 deficit.

In the seventh inning, Northern Indiana had the tying run at third base with one out when center fielder Fleo caught a flyball, then threw a strike to catcher Popio to complete the game-ending double play.

Landis said tournament rules limit pitchers to seven innings over two games.

Other team members are Darrell Brammer, Nate Struharek and Tony Mahle. The team was assembled from the nine teams that made up Youngstown’s Babe Ruth league.

Youngstown beat out seven other teams to win the state tournament at Mt. Vernon. Ten teams were at the regional.