Dave Sugar, R&J advance in Class B playoffs

Alex Oles had a one-hitter as Youngstown Metros beat Jamestown, Pa. in the Class AA League.

STRUTHERS — Dave Sugar Excavating and R J Trucking advanced in the Class B League playoffs by winning first-round series in consecutive games Friday at Cene Park.

Dave Sugar beat Livi Steel to earn the right to face the Astro Falcons in a best-of-three semifinal series starting today at 5 p.m.

R J, which eliminated Simon Roofing, will face Rondinelli Tuxedo in another best-of-three series at 7:30.

Both games will be played on Cene 1.

R J 6, Simon 3

Scott Smith had a single and a double and drove home a pair of runs while Brad Byers tossed five innings for the win. Dan Kubala pitched the sixth and seventh for the save with two strikeouts.

Ross Revella led Simon with a pair of hits.

Excavating 4, Livi 1

Justin Shaffer tossed a four- hitter with nine strikeouts for Dave Sugar.

The only run allowed by Shaffer was unearned as he did not walk a batter. The only time Livi had more than one runner on base was in the seventh inning. Dan Banna drove home two runs in the three-run Sugar fourth.

Zach Magee had a pair of hits for Livi while Zach Cuffman allowed just five hits and three earned runs in the complete-game loss.

Little b playoffs

STRUTHERS — Livi Steel and Wharmby Sports advanced in the Little b playoffs after both won opening-round series, 2-0.

In the best-of-three semifinals starting today, Livi faces the Astro Falcons, while Wharmby takes on Rondinelli Tuxedo.

The Livi-Astros series is at 5 p.m., while Wharmby and Rondinelli play at 7:30. Both games will be on Cene 2.

Livi Steel 5, Simon Roofing 2

Livi’s four-run fifth inning was the key against Simon. Kevin Pierce had a single and double while Zach Chapin had a two-run double. Will Frazier tossed the first six innings, allowing only one run with six strikeouts for the victory.

Zake Eynon had a pair of hits for Simon.

Wharmby’s 5, Yo. Express 3

Wharmby Sports scored four runs in the top of the first inning and held on. Nick Cianci tossed a complete game with five strikeouts for the win while Jimmy Dobran and Ian Dunn added two hits.

For Express, Erik French and Bob Schmid had two hits apiece, while Rob Boyd went the distance in defeat. Boyd had seven strikeouts and walked eight, five of them coming in the first inning.

CLASS AA LEAGUE

Yo. Metros 12, Jamestown 0

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown Metros scored all of its runs in the first three innings in the rout over 41‚Ñ2 innings in a game highlighted by Alex Oles’ one-hitter that included 11 strikeouts.

Armani Johnson, Eric Pirtz, Anthony Porter, C.J. Morris and Dom Sylvestry knocked in two runs apiece, while Sylvestry and Chester Kirkwood both had two hits. Oles pitched five full innings, allowing only three walks.

Cory Hochschild’s single in the second inning spoiled Oles’ no-hitter. Jamestown committed four errors.