Youngstown’s 14-year-old team reaches Ruth Series final four

VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT

The Youngstown Babe Ruth 14-year-old All-Star team advanced to the final four of the World Series in Quincy, Mass.

Thursday, Youngstown pummeled Palo Alto (Calif.), 17-10, in a single-elimination quarterfinal game.

But Youngstown’s 13-year-old All-Star team saw its World Series end with an 11-9 loss to Sikeston (Mo.), the Midwest Plains representative at the World Series in Jamestown, N.Y.

Terry Landis, coach of the 14-year-old team, says his players call each other the “Comeback Kids.”

After losing a pool game Wednesday, Youngstown rebounded with a nine-run outburst in the fifth inning of the first elimination game. Youngstown sent 14 players to the plate in that frame for a 14-1 lead.

Winning pitcher Justin Fleo, G.J. Senchak and Cody Pitzulo each hit two singles and drove in two runs during the big inning.

Everyone in the starting lineup had at least one hit for Youngstown, which collected 17.

“With their backs to the wall, the kids came out swinging,” Landis said.

Dan Popio and Mark Leone led the Youngstown attack with three singles each. They also scored three times and drove in three runs apiece.

“The kids can’t wait for [today’s] game because two more victories and we win the series,” Landis said.

Youngstown goes against Norwalk (Conn.), which is 4-1 in the World Series, in a semifinal game today at 5:30 p.m.

“Norwalk plays good defense and hits the ball hard,” Landis said.

In Jamestown, Sikeston exploded for 11 runs in the first inning.

In the first inning, the Midwest Plains champions sent 16 batters to the plate, scoring 11 runs on eight hits.

But once reliever Chris Maze entered the game for the Ohio Valley representatives, Youngstown shut down the Sikeston attack.

Maze pitched 52⁄3 innings, giving up no runs and only one hit while striking out five.

Vic Kuchmaner hit a two-run homer to center field in the top of the seventh as Youngstown mounted a comeback by scoring four runs.

Robert Vargo and Danny Ferguson each had two of Youngstown’s nine hits. The others with hits were Troy Parks, Brenden Cope, Nick Andrews and Drew Delsignore. Mike Raschilla scored twice.

Andrew Harper, Brandon Goodwin and Tanner Murphy each had two hits for Missouri. Harper contributed three RBIs. Murphy earned the win on the mound, pitching five innings.