STATE BASEBALL From Huntington Park

Eyeing history: With six state baseball titles, Newark Catholic has as much tradition as almost any program in the state. But the Green Wave, who went 8-19 in the regular season, weren’t expected to do much this spring. With a win Saturday, they can become just the second team in the 83-year history of the tournament to win a state title with a losing record. “We’d never have dreamed it six weeks ago,” said NC coach John Cannizzaro, who is 336-131 with four state titles at the school. Cannizzaro said he can’t remember ever having fewer than 20 wins in a season until this one. “They’re in la-la land right now,” he said of his players. “I don’t think the tension is really building on them. Everybody’s real loosey-goosey right now.”

League pride: This was the second straight year an Inter Tri-County League Tier One team played in the Division IV state semifinals. Springfield lost to Hamler Patrick Henry 5-3 in the championship game last spring after beating Newark Catholic in the state semifinals. They are the only two Tier One schools with state appearances. McDonald is the lone Tier Two team to qualify.

Local umpires: Several Mahoning Valley umpires are working this weekend’s state tournament. Youngstown’s Anthony Swindler worked first base in Thursday’s first game, a Division IV state semifinal. An all-local crew worked Thursday’s first Div. III state semifinal, with Poland’s Harry Groner at the plate, Youngstown’s Michael Lowry at first, New Middletown’s Gary Jennings at second and Salem’s Thomas Stelts at third. Warren’s Jerome Teringo worked second base in the late game. Saturday’s Division I state final will feature an all local crew, with Kenneth Mills (Poland) working the plate, Michael O’Neil (Girard) at first, Thomas Karabin (Youngstown) at second and Dan Dankovich (Boardman) at third.

Joe Scalzo