Canfield, Poland excelling at state

Astro Falcons have advanced to the championship game of the NABF Junior tournament in Struthers.

SOUTH POINT — The Canfield 12-year-old Little League baseball team won its opening game in the state tournament Saturday, defeating Hardscrabble Little League of Clayton, 12-2.

Colton Crissman pitched 51‚Ñ3 innings and Zach Kuchmaner came in to close. They combined for 10 strikeouts.

Michael Kindinis and Jarret Vrabel went 3-for-4 for Canfield.

Canfield advanced in the winner’s bracket to play Avon Little League today at 4 p.m.

Poland wins district

Poland defeated Canfield, 10-4, to win the Little League 11-year-old district championship Sunday night.

Poland advances to the state tournament in Cambridge.

Softball Junior League

ASHTABULA — After opening the state tournament with a loss Saturday, the Poland 13-14-year-old All-Star team won twice Sunday to advance to today’s state title game.

After losing to Ashtabula, 5-1, on Saturday, Poland rebounded with a 9-7 win over Portsmouth West and a 6-3 triumph over Ashtabula.

In the first win, Kasie Serich and Emily Chandler combined for the pitching win. At the plate, Chandler’s three hits drove in two runs and she scored once.

Kelsey Malenic had two hits and one RBI while Courtney Capan drove in two runs.

In the win over Ashtabula, Serich was the winning pitcher, striking our four and allowing one earned run.

Capan had two hits and two RBIs while Jennifer Harkelrode had two hits.

Today’s winner will advance to the regional tournament that begins Aug. 2 at Firestone Stadium in Akron. Eight states are expected to send teams to the regional.

NABF Juniors

STRUTHERS — Astro Falcons moved into the championship game with a come-from-behind 8-7 win over Rondinelli at Cene Park.

Astro sent 11 men to the plate in a seven-run fifth inning to erase a 6-1 Rondinelli lead.

John Beatty had two hits and drove home three runners while Joe Fontana and Raul Pizzano added two hits each for Astro.

Ron Sullivan picked up the win in relief with Kyle Allen going the final 22‚Ñ3 innings for the save.

Shane Parks had three hits while Joe Aulizia and Phil Lipari added two hits each for Rondinelli.

NABF Senior

STRUTHERS — R J Trucking scored three times in the fifth inning and added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh to eliminate Astro Falcons, 6-3.

Ross Revella had two hits for R J while Jared Barker tossed a complete game with three strikeouts.

Shane Wagner and Jared Turocy had two hits each for Astro. Steve Gruver had nine strikeouts but took the loss.

Brownlee Lookouts 3, Rondinelli 1

Three errors in the bottom of the first inning cost Rondinelli three unearned runs in a winner’s bracket game.

Ryan Mace tossed a six-hitter with five strikeouts for the win.

Robert Switka took the loss despite a complete game four-hitter with four strikeouts. Switka allowed only three base runners after the first inning and retired 15 of the last 16 batters he faced.

Youngstown Class AA

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown Class AA playoffs begin today at 6:30 p.m. at Pemberton-Donnell Park when Penn Ohio takes on Roth Brothers. Tri-County will play Youngstown Metros at 8:30 p.m.

Both games are the first of a best-of-5 series. The winners advance to the best-of-7 championship series.

Tri-State Collegiate League

ROCKY RIVER — J.L. Thomas scored seven runs in the fourth inning en route to a 12-3 win over Youngstown Metros.

Joe Iacobucci’s two hits included a double.

The Metros rebounded for a 10-9 win, with Tom Clayton hitting two homers and Armani Johnson one.

Warren AA

WARREN — Torrie Frangiamore hit two home runs to lead the Mahoning Valley Knights over P.I. I. Express, 9-3, Saturday.

The Knights also won the completion of a suspended game by forfeit.

Carmen DeChristofaro earned his fourth win on the mound, pitching six innings.

Flex Strut 11, Hickory Hornets 3

Jim Skiffey was 4-for-5 and Bill Eddy 3-for-4 to lead Flex Strut.

Skiffey also had two stolen bases and scored three times, while Adam Morgan and Jeff Claar each had a base hit and a double. Josh Fulmer got the win for Flex, with five strikeouts in five innings.

Kolton Hoffman of the Hornets was 3-for-4, while Bob Long was 2-for-3 with a double.

Flex Struts 8, Cleats Club Seat Grille 3

Morgan had a three-run double and Jim Skiffey a two-run single for Flex.

Mike Swoboda of Cleats was 4-for-4 with three stolen bases and struck out eight on the mound.