The place to be Cene

DISTRICT WEEK

Tournament games continue this week with baseball at Struthers ballpark

By TOM WILLIAMS

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

If you love baseball but traveling to Cleveland, Akron or Pittsburgh is not on your scorecard, Cene Park in Struthers is the place to be this week.

Beginning with today’s doubleheader, the baseball complex along the Mahoning River will be the site of 12 high school district baseball games that will send four teams to next week’s regional action.

Also determining district championships this week will be area softball teams at Boardman, Jefferson, Cortland and Lisbon events.

“We feel like our sectional-district is just a real meat grinder,” Mooney High softball coach Mark Rinehart said of the Division II district that opens on Wednesday with a doubleheader at Jefferson’s JAGS Complex. “I thought it was the toughest one in the state last year and it’s right up there again.”

Last year’s Jefferson district produced a state champion — Canfield. The Cardinals edged Poland by a one in the 2008 district title game then went on to sweep regional and state competition.

Last Thursday, Mooney ousted Canfield to earn a district date against Edgewood.

“We’ve played Edgewood twice and lost both times by one or two runs,” Mooney senior first baseman Meghan Williams said. “We feel we are definitely ready.”

In the other game, Poland will play All-American Conference Red Tier rival Howland, a team the Bulldogs swept in the regular season.

Div. III action in Lisbon on Thursday will kick off at 4:30 p.m. with what promises to be a top pitcher’s duel between South Range’s Madison Yanek and Champion’s Lindsay Swipas.

Yanek’s Raiders are making their first district appearance in several years while Swipas’ Golden Flashes have recent history on their side. Champion was state runner-up in 2006.

In 20 games, Yanek’s record is 16-4. She recently tossed five consecutive shutouts and almost had a sixth before Springfield scored an unearned run in the seventh inning of Friday’s 3-1 tournament game.

“Her four losses were one-run games,” said South Range coach Jeff DeRose of Yanek’s sophomore season. “She’s developed into one of the top pitchers in the whole [Inter Tri-County League]. I think over the next couple of years, she’s going to be a force.”

The second game at Lisbon’s Dickey Fields has Ursuline, with junior ace Casey Lower, facing United.

In Div. IV at Lakeview High this afternoon, ITCL2 champion Western Reserve takes on Lordstown while Rachel Pico leads Warren JFK against St. Thomas Aquinas.

Boardman is the only area Div. I softball team still alive and plays Madison on Tuesday at the Fields of Dreams.

The Cene Park baseball schedule opens today with a doubleheader at 4:30 p.m. — Mooney vs. Hubbard and Poland vs. Niles. The winners will play Tuesday at 7 p.m., with the victor advancing to regional.

Tuesday’s Div. III games have Champion playing South Range and Girard playing Campbell. Ursuline, which has been to regional three straight years, is playing in the Euclid district and will meet Garfield Heights Trinity on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Euclid High.

Wednesday’s Div. IV showcase game is Columbiana, one of the ITCL1’s best teams, taking on McDonald, the ITCL2 champion. The other game has Springfield facing Mathews.

Fitch and Warren Harding will represent the Mahoning Valley in Thursday’s Div. I semifinals.

williams@vindy.com