Poland powers to title in Div. 2

By Chuck Housteau

The Bulldogs scored six runs in the fifth inning to turn back Hubbard, 13-3.

STRUTHERS — Poland coach Rich Murray has to be wondering if this is the year that the Bulldogs put it all together for a successful run through the Division II regional baseball tournament.

Hubbard coach Brian Bosheff has to be wondering, “What if?”

The Bulldogs were three outs and four runs away from elimination in a district semifinal contest Monday night against Niles before rallying in the final inning to advance to the championship game Tuesday at Cene Park against Hubbard.

Poland used the momentum from Monday’s comeback effort against the Red Dragons to easily turn back the Eagles 13-3 in only six innings to capture the Division II District title game.

The Bulldogs advanced to regional play with the victory for the second straight season and third during Murray’s helm.

Poland (17-7) will face the Louisville on May 28 at Hudson in a 5 p.m contest.

“After the way we played the other night and had to come back and play right away, this was a great win,” Murray said. “We’re kind of thinking that this could be our year after the way things unfolded, but [Monday] in the fourth inning we were thinking maybe this wasn’t our year.

“This year we want to go to the regional and make some noise. We’ve been going there and not really getting the job done. We’d like to go there and win a couple of games and get down to state.”

Hubbard on the other hand was coming off a high Monday after upsetting Cardinal Mooney.

The Eagles (16-10), however, lost one of their key players and starting pitcher for the Poland game, Dan Helsel, to a severe leg injury in the contest.

Hubbard had defeated Poland in the regular season and had high hopes even without Helsel available.

“I think losing [Helsel] maybe motivated us for awhile,” Bosheff said. “We came in pumped up because we wanted to win for Dan.

“Unfortunately that can only carry you so far. After that talent takes over and Poland had a little bit more tonight.”

The Eagles trailed only 4-3 to a Poland team that had nine seniors heading into the fifth inning before the wheels fell off.

Poland sent 10 batters to the plate in the fifth inning and scored six runs on three hits and a crucial Hubbard error.

Matt Pitzulo, who is one of the top hitters in the area and who has accepted a scholarship to continue his career at Bowling Green, had a big RBI scoring triple in the rally.

It was Pitzulo’s second triple of the game and third hit. The shortstop drove in three runs in the game.

“I was feeling confident the whole night,” Pitzulo said. “I just wanted to go out and try and hit the ball hard and make things happen for us.

“[Monday’s] game was a little too nerve-wracking for me so tonight was nice to come out here take care of business and mercy them in six.”

Pitzulo got plenty of offensive help from his teammates.

Zach Custer and Ryan Rovnak each had two hits and two RBIs. Nick Elliott and Drew Petro also drove in two runs each while Phil Lipari belted a triple and single with one RBI.

“We’ve hit the ball well all year long,” Murray said. “Everyone on this team is capable of doing what we did tonight.”

Sean Gabriel (8-1) pitched six strong innings giving up five hits and staying out of trouble for the most part.

Hubbard started sophomore Jarrod Seech in Helsel’s place and Seech pitched four solid innings before Poland rallied against Hubbard relievers Tim Schiraldi and Scott Thompson.

Zach Palumbo had two hits for Hubbard while Matt Shelton slammed a triple.

Hubbard returns its entire starting lineup next season.