PREP TOURNAMENTS

By Paul Trgovac

Champion wins in a Flash

The Flashes scored 10 runs over the fourth and fifth innings to top South Range.

STRUTHERS — The Champion High baseball team scored five runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to break open a 3-3 tie en route to a 13-3 victory over South Range in Tuesday’s Division III district baseball semifinal at Cene Park.

Champion (14-8) will play Campbell in the district title game at 6:30 p.m. today at Cene Park.

The Red Devils knocked off Girard 9-2 in the other semifinal to set up the third meeting this season of the All-American Conference Blue rivals.

South Range used three singles to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first but the Flashes tied the contest in their half of the frame.

The Raiders then took a 2-1 lead in the third on a double by Vince Miller who scored on a ground ball later in the inning.

In the Champion third, Billy Yartz led off with a single, and after a walk to Scott Bailey put two runners on, Rick Yauger drove a ball just inside the bag at third for an opposite field double scoring two runs and a 3-2 lead for the Flashes.

“Ricky [Yauger] is just a sophomore and did a nice job for us behind the plate and really came through at the plate today.” said Champion coach Tim Cope.

South Range tied the contest with an unearned run in the fourth as Champion suffered two of its five errors in the inning.

“We made some mistakes today on defense but we were able to overcome them,” said Cope.

With one out in the bottom of the fourth, the Flashes had seven straight men reach base safely as four singles and two walks plated five runs.

Two scored on a single by Derek Sumner.

Champion put the game away with five more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Two more walks along with three singles and a sacrifice fly by Brent Barbe plated the run, ending the game on the 10-run rule.

“It seemed that their [South Range] pitchers were struggling throwing strikes and we did a good job of showing patience at the plate and getting a good pitch to hit.” said Cope.

Colton Greathouse (5-0) went the first four innings for the win, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits with two strikeouts. He did not walk a man.

Shane Brown tossed a scoreless inning.

“He [Greathouse] is also just a sophomore and did a nice job all season for us,” said Cope. “He was around the plate all day and did a great job of not walking anyone.

“If we field the ball he could have allowed fewer runs.”

Billy Yartz and Yauger had three hits each with Yauger driving home four runs and Scott Bailey and Sumner three RBIs each for Champion.

Miller (4-4) went the first 31‚Ñ3 innings and suffered the loss. He allowed eight runs on five hits with four strikeouts and walked seven.

Mike Thorpe went 11‚Ñ3 innings and allowed five runs.

Phil Arsuffi, Miller, and Chris Gause had two hits each for South Range who ends the season at 14-11.

Champion (14-8) and Campbell split their two meetings in the regular season, with the Flashes winning the AAAC Blue division title over the Red Devils.

“We will go with our senior Scott Bailey on the mound tomorrow,” Cope said. “We know Campbell will be up for us, and it should be a good game.

“They have a great program that I have a lot of respect for.”