Y-town’s all-stars finish third

Walks and an overthrow in one inning and a lack of hitting were factors

Vindicator staff report

APPLETON, Wisc. — Youngstown’s third-place finish in the Babe Ruth 14-year-old World Series wasn’t what manager Terry Landis envisoned for his all-stars, nor was the cold and windy Wisconsin weather.

As a result, Landis was hacking and coughing on Saturday, following his team’s 3-1 loss to host Appleton in the semifinals.

An overthrow on a double-play and a dearth of offense were contributing factors in the outcome Saturday.

“Our bats went silent,” Landis said of Youngstown being held to two hits by Appleton’s Ryan Radue. After six innings and 104 pitches, Radue was replaced by Grant Yost, who finished the game.

“We just didn’t hit the ball,” Landis repeated, noting his team’s only two official hits by Vic Kuchmaner and Robert Vargo.

Youngstown’s lone run was scored by Michael Buchenic in the sixth inning, while pinch-running for Michael Raschila.

Youngstown’s Brandon Ritchie pitched five innings of two-hit ball before being relieved by Vargo, but two of Ritchie’s six walks came in the third inning when Appleton scored three times.

“He pitched a heck of a game,” Landis said of his starter, but, with the bases loaded in the third, a throwing error by the second baseman on a double play permitted Appleton runners on third base and second base to reach home.

“Those two walks came back to haunt us,” said Landis, whose team hadn’t played since Tuesday. Wednesday was a day off, Thursday was a bye and Friday was a rainout.

“This is the coldest world series I’ve ever been in,” said Landis, who coached Youngstown teams in five previous world series since 1990. “I had my jacket on the whole game. They [Wisconsin] could have this [weather].”

In pool play earlier in the week, Youngstown lost to Eau Claire, Wisc.

It’s some consolation that Youngstown came up one game away from the championship game, but the batting gods were not on Ohio’s side.

“One bad inning,” Landis said of the third. “After that, we hit the ball, but it was right to somebody. It’s just one of those things.”

After the championship game between Chander, Arizona and Appleton, an awards ceremony was held.

Youngstown received the third-place trophy and Landis anticipated a few of his players being named to the world series all-star team.

Still Landis wasn’t satisfied.

“I thought we should have won [the title].”