Barker’s pitching delivers blow to Rondinelli’s run

A suicide squeeze by Nick Crum scored the go-ahead run in Dave Sugar’s win over Express.

STRUTHERS — Jared Barker allowed just one unearned run on six hits and he pitched a complete game with six strikeouts leading R J Trucking to a 3-1 victory over Rondinelli Tuxedo Wednesday in Class B League action at Cene Park.

Barker improved to 3-1. Matt Pitzulo hit a double and two singles for R J (12-5). Marc Kanetsky hit two singles for Rondinelli (15-3). Kevin McCollugh (2-1) took the loss.

Dave Sugar 4, Youngstown Express 2

STRUTHERS — Dave Sugar Excavating rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh inning to prevail. Nick Dinello’s bunt single tied the contest with one out in the top of the seventh, and a suicide squeeze by Nick Crum scored the go-ahead run.

Pat O’Brien had three hits, while Dan Banna and Dinello added two for Sugar (14-4). Justin Shaffer (3-1) had 10 strikeouts in six innings, while Jake Kucek struck out two in a perfect seventh inning for his second save. Dan Eich had a run-scoring triple while Jason Fithian (0-3) went 6 1/3 innings and was the tough luck loser for the Express (4-14).

Astro Falcons 11, Livi Steel 1

STRUTHERS — Astro knocked out 14 hits as it defeated Livi Steel in six innings. Shane Wagner and Trent Vallinger had three hits each, while Jared Turocy and Ryan Rovnak added two safeties apiece for Astro (11-6). Jared Kirin (3-0) allowed no earned runs and struck out six in the complete game win. Justin Gorgacz had two hits for Livi Steel (10-8).

Tuesday Rondinelli Tuxedo 16, Action Physical Therapy 0

STRUTHERS — Rondinelli Tuxedo (15-2) scored 11 runs in the second inning in cruising to the victory Tuesday. Cory Hill hit two singles and drove in three runs, while Corey Hitt hit a pair of singles. Sean Haywood and Ben Davis each had two hits for Action Physical Therapy (0-17)

Livi Steel 8, Simon Roofing 5

STRUTHERS — In a game that was originally started at Wilder Park in Niles, and finished Tuesday at Cene Park, Livi Steel (10-7) used an 11-hit attack to defeat Simon Roofing. Taylor Englebaugh had a triple and a single with three runs batted in, while Garrett Molloy and Justin Gorgacz added two hits apiece for Livi Steel. Ross Revella, Matt Durkin and Matt Cooper had two hits each for Simon Roofing (11-6), who left 15 men on base.

Youngstown Metros 4-10, Twinsburg 2-7

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown Metros swept a doubleheader from Twinsburg in the Tri-State Collegiate League Tuesday at Pemberton Park.

A triple by Anthony Porter, singles by Matt Yarab and Rich Tisone, and a stolen base and a double by C.J. Morris brought home three runs for the Metros in the fourth inning of the first game. Corey Vukovich worked a complete game as he scattered five hits with eight strikeouts for the win.

A six-run third inning gave the Metros a 8-0 lead and Twinsburg couldn’t catch up in the second game. Anthony Porter hit a triple, double, single and drove in two runs. Eric Pirtz hit a triple and single and drove in two runs, while C.J. Morris hit a triple and single and drove in two runs. Joe Irwin hit a double, single and drove in two runs. Kyle Schoeneman and Jono Susin each had two hits for Twinsburg.

Champion Marlins 3, Mahoning Valley Knights 0

WARREN — Champion Marlins’ pitcher Tom Popadak silenced the bats and ended the nine-game winning streak of Mahoning Valley Knights Tuesday at Packard MacGregor Field.

Popadak scattered four hits, with 10 strikeouts for the win. The Marlins (8-4), in third place, tightened the Caffie Division standings. The Knights (9-1) are first and Flex Strut (8-3) is second.

The Marlins scored two runs in the fourth inning on an error and three singles. Lance Townsend and Jason Johnson each hit a double and single, while Jake Gross hit a pair of singles. Josh Swipas hit two singles for the Knights.

Flex Strut 3, Trumbull County Predators 1

WARREN — Richard Benchia pitched a one-hitter with eight strikeouts to pick up the win for Flex Strut, which scored all of its runs in the top of the seventh inning. Bill Eddy hit a pair of singles for the winners.