Kucek’s early three-run homer leads Canfield past Spartans, 6-2

Fitch ace Steve Gruver shut down North Canton Hoover.

BOARDMAN — Jake Kucek hit a three-run home run as the Canfield High baseball team scored four runs in the first inning and went on to post a 6-2 victory over Boardman Wednesday. All of the runs scored in the contest were unearned.

Boardman (13-5) scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning, but the Cardinals added two insurance runs in the sixth.

Brian Fox worked five innings, with four strikeouts to pick up the win for Canfield. Shane Parks took the loss for the Spartans.

Kucek also hit a single for Canfield, while Jared Turocy hit three singles and scored once.

Joe Strawinski hit a double and single to spark Boardman and Eric Walters hit a two-run single.

Fitch 5, North Canton Hoover 2

NORTH CANTON — Jason Bagoly ripped a pair of doubles and Steve Gruver struck out nine as Fitch topped Hoover in a Federal League contest. Andrew Warren added two hits for the Falcons (8-6, 5-2). Gruver improved to 3-1.

Mooney 15, Warren JFK 6

WARREN — Colin Hart pitched a one-hitter for Mooney (17-4, 3-1 Steel Valley Conference). Drew Fitzpatrick added two hits including a double and Anthony Franceschelli also had two hits for the Cardinals.

Howland 8, Campbell 6

CAMPBELL — Sophomores Adam Shrodek and Joe Aulizia, seniors Stefan Stelk and Vince Villio and junior Jared Kirin all had two singles for Howland (9-9, 3-5 MAC).

Tigers pitcher Andy Zigmont is 5-0. Raul Pizzarro had a triple and double and Tom Hofus had three hits for Campbell.

Lowellville 5, Western Reserve 4

BERLIN CENTER — Senior Vince Travaline had two singles as did senior Tony Donofrio for the Rockets (15-3, 11-1 ITCL Tier Two). Junior Drew Skelley (4-1) allowed five hits before Dante Abbas entered with the bases loaded in the top of the sixth. Abbas, a junior, eventually got the save after 12‚Ñ3 innings of relief. Sophomore Bryan Rossavita also doubled for Lowellville. Matt Kalbfell doubled for Western Reserve (8-8, 7-4 ITCL).

East Palestine 13, Mineral Ridge 4

MINERAL RIDGE — Tommy Powers had four singles and an RBI and Taylor Snyder had three singles and three RBIs.

Taylor pitched a four-hitter for the Bulldogs.

Senior Joe Miller had two singles for two RBIs for Ridge (9-10, 3-8 ITCL Tier One).

Springfield 5, Crestview 2

COLUMBIANA — Todd Kibby had three hits and drove in two runs to lead Springfield (15-5, 9-1 ITCL).

Bryan Visingardi added two hits and an RBI, while Frank Sferra and Matt Semach also drove in runs.

Nick Wylie went 3-for-3 with an RBI and Corey Hill had two hits for the Rebels (5-14, 5-7).

Columbiana 10, South Range 0

COLUMBIANA — Tyler Dejong (2-3) pitched a two-hitter for Columbiana, besting Steve Bensinger (3-4) of South Range (6-11, 2-6 ITCL Tier One) who threw a four-hitter.

Jeff Davidson had three RBIs on two sacrifice flies while John Ritchey had a double, single and two RBIs to pace the Clippers (10-10, 6-6).

Lisbon 12, United 10

LISBON — After battling back and forth for six innings, Lisbon took the lead for keeps as it scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth.

The Blue Devils (5-11, 5-7) were paced by Dean Rose, who hit two doubles and two singles and drove in three runs. Dustin Borg hit three singles and drove in three runs. Lucas Rambo hit a pair of doubles and drove in three runs. McCavitt Carter, T.J. Rosenberg, Jake Snyder and Andy Sheen had two hits apiece for United (10-7, 7-5).

Leetonia 7, McDonald 3

MCDONALD — Ryan Gruszecki pitched a seven-hitter with six strikeouts for Leetonia (9-5, 7-4 ITCL Tier 2), reinforced by Jake Kruegel’s two singles and two RBIs.

McDonald (13-4, 10-2 ITCL Tier 2) was led by Mike Gatta with a double, single and two RBIs, and Bill Rees with two singles and one RBI.

Girard 9, Liberty 1

LIBERTY — Larry Goist singled, tripled and homered for Girard (12-8), while Marty Brinker had two singles and Brett Cubellis drove in three runs. Brinker also held the Leopards to one run over six innings to get the win.

Kyle Conway hit a leadoff homer in the first inning for Liberty (0-11).

Sts. John Paul 5, Youngstown Christian 1

YOUNGSTOWN — Andrew Izzi pitched a two-hitter with seven strikeouts for Sts. John Paul at Pemberton-Donnell Park.

Izzi bested Andrew Gonda, who pitched a four-hitter with 10 strikeouts for Youngstown Christian (6-5). Gonda is 3-2.

John McMurphy had two singles and two RBIs for Sts. John Paul.

Field 7, Southeast 1

MOGADORE — Forest Boggs scattered five hits to pick up the win. Field (11-5, 6-2) scored six runs in the second inning and the Pirates (6-11, 1-7) couldn’t recover in the Portage Trail Conference game. Forest Boggs hit a double and single for the winners, while Cory Yaceczko, Zack McCutcheon and Matt Eldredth each hit a pair of singles. Nick Hopkins hit a triple and Anthony Conci a double for the Pirates.

Late Tuesday Fitch 8, Poland 7

STRUTHERS — Fitch scored seven times in the second inning and then held off a seventh inning by Poland to pull out the win.

J.D. Kubacki hit a pair of doubles for the Falcons, while Mike Olenych went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Drew Petro had two doubles for Poland.

Mooney 13, Woodland Hills 2

STRUTHERS — Cardinal Mooney cracked out 15 hits, two each by Tim Marlowe, Bob Herberger, Mark Warchol and Brad Byers to coast past Woodland Hills in five innings.

Herberger had a home run, while Fitzpatrick and Matt Durkin added triples.