Poland 12-year-old softball team to play Tallmadge in state final

KENTON — The Poland 12-year old softball team posted a 7-6 victory over Conneaut Wednesday in a Little League consolation bracket game and will take on Tallmadge today for the title.

Tallmadge, which is unbeaten, shut out Poland 2-0 Tuesday, so Poland needs to beat Tallmadge twice today to advance to the Little League Central Region Tournament in Joplin, Mo.

Wednesday Poland fell behind 3-0, tied the score in the third inning, gave up three runs in the bottom of the third, then rallied for four runs in the fourth inning to prevail.

Jessica Rutana pitched six innings with six strikeouts to pick up the win. She also went 2-for-4, with two RBIs and scored twice.

Leah Howard and Anna Barnhart each had a hit and drove in two runs. Phoebe Bush singled and drove in a run, while contributing key hits were Megan Katchmer and Taylor Miokovic and Meredith Tesone.

Little League district

Poland defeated Howland, 11-5, in the Little League 9-10 baseball tournament Wednesday.

Poland will play at Canfield today at 6 p.m. for the district championship.

In the 11-year-old division, it was Boardman West over Boardman East, 4-3; Canfield over Howland, 12-8, and Poland over Austintown, 13-3. Today, Canfield plays at Boardman West at 6 p.m.

In 9-10 softball, Poland shut out Howland, 11-0. Those teams will play today at 6 p.m. at Poland for the district championship.

Connie Mack

STRUTHERS — Andy’s 9ers scored seven runs in the top of the sixth inning to come from behind and defeat Troy American Legion, 14-8, for the Connie Mack state championship at Cene Park. Andy’s finished with a 7-0 record, while Troy was 4-2.

Jonathan Keppler had three hits and drove home three runs, while Bill Grestenslager, Alex Johnson, Nick Ball, and Kirby Becker added two hits apiece. Becker also drove home three. Chris Eggleton went 22‚Ñ3 innings of relief for the win.

Bill Tecklenberg and Kyle Stephenson led Troy with three hits each.

The five teams that earned and elected to advance to the regional tournament at Cincinnati were the Heights Hawks, Stark County Terriers, Springfield Armoloy and Greenville Technologies.

Warren AA

WARREN — The Elite Shockers, behind 5-3, rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat P.I. I. Express, 6-5, Tuesday night.

Dave Patrick hit three singles for Express (5-15).

Champion Marlins 3, Flex Strut 2

WARREN — With the score tied 2-2, the Marlins’ (12-9) Brandon Keck led off the top of the seventh inning with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and relief pitcher DJ Gross, who worked a inning with two strikeouts to pick up the win, drove him home. Sean Lucas hit a pair of singles for Flex Strut (11-8).

Mahoning Valley Knights 23, Trumbull County Predators 4

WARREN — The Knights (16-2), who lead the Caffie Division, scored nine runs in the first inning, three in the second, six in the third and five in the fourth to cruise to victory. Andy Todor hit a double and single, while Derek Stanton hit three singles and drove in three runs for the Knights.

Hickory Hornets 8, Trumbull County Predators 6

HERMITAGE, Pa. — The Hornets scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning for a 6-1 lead, then added a run each in the fifth and sixth. The Predators outhit the Hornets 17-6, with Jarret Patridge and Andrew Burnett each hitting a double and Adam Collier hit a triple.

Mahoning Valley Knights 4, New Hamburg Hounds 3

NEW HAMBURG, Pa. — The Knights, trailing 3-2, scored a run in each of the top of the seventh and eighth innings. Andy Todor hit a double and single and drove in three runs for the Knights. Rick DiMuzio hit a double and single and drove in two runs. John Thompson hit a double and single.