EP’s ace is in place, but Irish looming

By Joe Scalzo

Nick DiCello was terrific in relief as the Bulldogs overcame Girard, 12-4.

STRUTHERS — He’s a big boy with a big beard and a big arm.

Nick Baiamonte’s ego, however, doesn’t match.

“I’m kind of shy,” he said.

He meant in interviews. The East Palestine senior isn’t shy on the mound — you don’t get to be 20-3 over three years of high school baseball by accident — and he’ll need all the cockiness he can muster when he pitches tonight’s Division III district final against Ursuline.

“They’re a huge powerhouse,” said Baiamonte following Monday’s 12-4 district semifinal win over Girard at Cene Park. “It’d be great to knock them off.

“I’d be on Cloud Nine.”

Before Monday’s game, East Palestine coach John Snyder and Baiamonte agreed they’d be better off tempting fate and throwing the team’s No. 2 starter, Taylor Snyder. Baiamonte had pitched in the district semifinals the past two years, only to watch the Bulldogs come up short against Woodridge in the final both times.

“We wanted to give Nick a chance to pitch in the final and see what happens,” said John Snyder.

For 42‚Ñ3 innings Monday, the strategy seemed awful risky. Girard starter Chris Weibel had a 3-1 lead and seemed to be in control, while Taylor Snyder had already left after just three innings.

But a two-out error in the fifth inning gave the Bulldogs an extra out and they took advantage, scoring five unearned runs to chase Weibel and take control.

Things only got worse from there as East Palestine piled on six more runs in the sixth inning to put the game away.

“That’s high school baseball,” said Girard coach Jason Johnson. “You’re up 3-1, you make a mistake and the next thing you know, it’s 6-3, then 12-3 and you’re fighting.

“For 42‚Ñ3 innings, we were in total control.”

Bulldogs lefty Nick DiCello was terrific in relief, tossing the final four innings to get the win. He struck out six and allowed just two hits over that stretch, using good location and a variety of off-speed stuff to stifle the Indians.

“He’s done it all year for us,” said John Snyder. “He likes coming in in the middle of games. He comes in calm and collected.”

DiCello also had two hits, two RBIs and scored twice for East Palestine (17-6), while Tommy Powers reached base four times and scored three runs.

Brett Cubellis reached four times — he walked twice and was plunked twice — and scored two runs to lead Girard (16-10), which lost to Ursuline in last year’s district final.

“We have 13 seniors and they busted their [butt] for me,” said Johnson. “We won 33 or 34 games the last two years and they turned this program around.

“I’m gonna miss them.”

Now the focus turns to the another senior-laden team. Ursuline has advanced to the state tournament the past two years and will be a heavy favorite in today’s 7 p.m. game.

And Baiamonte will have all day to think about it since seniors at East Palestine are already finished with classes.

“All I’ll have to do is wake up and eat breakfast,” Baiamonte said.

When asked how he’ll sleep tonight, he smiled and said, “Maybe with some sleep aids.

“But I like it like this. The past two years we had the late game [in the district finals] and we might not play until 10, then have to play the next day at 4:30. Now we get more rest.”

And rest, he’s hoping, makes best.

“I’m ready for tomorrow,” he said. “I can’t wait.”

scalzo@vindy.com