Five Class B teams getting ready for Mack state tourney at Cene

By John Kovach

Opening-round pairings will be determined at tonight’s banquet.

STRUTHERS — The Youngstown Class B League will have five teams in the Ohio Connie Mack state tournament that begins Saturday at Bob Cene Park.

The area will be represented by Rondinelli Tuxedo, Simon Roofing, R J TRucking, Astro Falcons and Dave Sugar Excavating for the tournament that runs through Thursday.

Rondinelli was runner-up and Simon Roofing placed third in last year’s tournament, won by Greenville Sluggers.

“We expect about 30 teams in this tournament,” said Tom Otto, manager and franchise holder for Simon Roofing.

Otto said pairings will be distributed tonight at the annual tournament banquet at Mr. Anthony’s.

The Astro Falcons have the top hitter and pitcher in the league this season. Mark Lapikas finished the regular season with a .655 batting average and Steve Gruver had a 3-0 record and 0.45 earned run average, according to Otto.

Lapikas, a recent Ursuline High graduate, will continue his career at the University of Toledo while Gruver, from Austintown Fitch, is headed for the University of Tennessee.

Astro also has the No. 3 hitter in the league in Shane Wagner (.449), who ranked behind Lapikas and Jason Bagoly (.456), a senor at Fitch and a highly-rated catcher for Rondinelli.

“Bagoly is considered one of the top Division I prospects in the B league and the Youngstown area,” said Otto, noting that Rondinelli also has two pitching aces in Robert Switka (3-0, 0.70 ERA) of Ursuline and Jim Kinnick of Fitch.

“Kinnick was hurt most of the year but is back now,” Otto said. “Switka was Ursuline’s leading pitcher this year and Kinnick signed to go to YSU.”

Otto said R J’s key player is shortstop Matt Pitzulo, a senior at Poland High with a .438 batting average that ranked No. 4 in Class B. Otto said R J’s top pitcher is Jared Barker (3-3, 2.18).

Dave Sugar features Todd Kibby, a pitcher-first baseman and senior at Springfield with the B League’s No. 2 ERA (0.71) with a 2-1 record, plus a .367 batting average.

Kibby is complemented by teammates Pat O’Brien, an infielder-pitcher and senior at Boardman High; Jake Kucek, a catcher and pitcher from Canfield, and Dan Banna, a third baseman and senior at Canfield.

O’Brien is batting .333 with a 4-2 record and 2.41 ERA while Banna is hitting .375.

“[Kucek] hit only .267 but is a good defensive catcher,” Otto said.

Livi Steel’s leaders are pitcher Zack Cuffman (1.91 ERA, 3-3), “a lefty from Pennsylvania,” said Otto, and shortstop Bobby Herberger (.400), a 2008 Mooney graduate.

Otto said that his team, Simon Roofing, has been led by outfielder Matt Durkin (.372) of Cardinal Mooney and third baseman Ross Revella (.368) of Ursuline, both 2008 graduates.

The league has a dedicated group of men who have built a successful organization.

Scott Ruark from Astro Falcons is treasurer of the B league and is the Mack tourney coordinator. The league president is Tony Gorvet, manager of Rondinelli.

Other league officers are Bob Burke, vice president and the Wharmby Sports franchise holder, and Greg Kreiger, secretary and the R J Trucking franchise holder.

kovach@vindy.com