Switka pitches 7-0 win for Ursuline
By Paul Trgovac
The Irish will meet East Palestine at Cene Park for a regional berth.
STRUTHERS — Robert Switka of Ursuline High tossed six shutout innings, allowing two hits, and the Irish took advantage of six errors by Crestview to eliminate the Rebels, 7-0, in a Division III baseball District Semifinal.
Ursuline (19-5) will face East Palestine tonight at Cene Park (Field 1) for the district title and a trip to the regional in Massillon next week. Crestview’s season ended with a 9-17 record.
“We told the kids after the game that we are one and done here, and we can’t assume we are going to do things down the road,” said Ursuline coach Sean Durkin. “You have to take care of business here and that means [today].”
The Irish got on the board in the top of the first inning. Ross Revella opened the game with an infield single — the first of his three hits in the game (one being a double). Revella then stole second and advanced to third on a ground out before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Mark Lapikasm giving the Irish a 1-0 lead, the only run allowed by Crestview’s Corey Hill in the first three innings.
Meanwhile Switka was masterful as he allowed just one walk over the first three frames with four strikeouts. The only hard hit off him was a line drive by Hill which Switka snared and turned into a double play.
In the fourth inning the Rebels had two errors which led to an unearned run for the Irish. Lapikas was safe on an infield hit and moved to second on a throwing error on the play. Paul Cene then was safe on an error, and after Hill struck out the next two hitters, an infield hit by Nick McGahagan scored the second run of the game.
The Rebels defense committed three errors that led to three more unearned runs in the sixth inning. Two runs scored on one play, while Wade Dennis drove home another with a single.
Don Baco drove home the final two runs for Ursuline with a single in the seventh.
Switka (6-0) went the first six innings as he allowed just two hits. He had seven strikeouts and just one walk.
“We rode him [Switka] today. He has been a horse for us,” said Ursuline coach Sean Durkin.”He did what we expected out of him today.
Hill allowed only three earned runs with four strikeouts and one walk.
“Cory [Hill] went out there and battled as well as he could but we didn’t do a good job defensively.” said Crestview coach Rick Gates.
“We faced an outstanding pitcher today. He had great location with his pitches, and his breaking ball is sharp, which gets you off balance. This was a good experience for our young kids and should help for next year.”
Ursuline is expected to start Shawn Roman on the mound, but Durkin said the entire staff is available, maybe even Switka as a closer.
“I was a little disappointed with our approach at the plate,” said Durkin. “We went up there free swinging, instead of having patience, but that is tournament baseball.