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Canfield rallies to beat rival Poland on first game at renamed Bova Field
By Tom Williams
CANFIELD
The four rabbit’s feet buried under home plate can still provide luck for the Canfield High baseball team.
After Poland rallied to take a 3-2 lead with a three-run seventh inning, the Cardinals scored twice for a 4-3 victory Thursday on the newly-named Bova Field.
Before the All-American Conference Red Tier showdown, the Cardinals (12-6, 5-1) paid tribute to Phil Bova, Canfield’s first baseball coach, by renaming their renovated field in his honor. During the ceremony, Bova told about how two of his 1972 players buried a rabbit under home plate.
“He started this program and he means a lot to us,” said Canfield’s Josh Midgley whose sacrifice fly scored Brad Smith for the winning run. “We knew it meant a lot to get [this] win.”
Smith took a three-hit shutout into the seventh inning but needed nine pitches to retire Poland’s leadoff batter, Chris Elliott. Alex Marni and Chris Lipari drew walks and pinch-hitter Austin Beil’s bloop hit into shallow center field loaded the bases.
After getting Nick Andrews to hit into a fielder’s choice, Smith walked Dave Bobby to produce Poland’s first run on the 27th pitch of the frame.
Canfield coach Matt Koenig sent Tony Mehle to the mound. Poland’s C.J. Nocera hit a 1-2 pitch into left-center field to give the Bulldogs 3-2 lead.
“Very hard,” is how Koenig described of his decision to switch pitchers. “[Smith] got up over 100 pitches, he didn’t have the pop that he had.
“Tony comes in and throws strikes and [Nocera] did a great job of driving in those two runs,” Koenig said.
Ben Angelo drew a leadoff walk in the Cardinals’ seventh inning and took third on a bunt single and an error. Smith reached on an error that allowed Angelo to score and Anthony Ross’ bunt loaded the bases, setting the table for Midgley.
“We did a great job of battling back,” Poland (5-9, 2-3) coach Rich Murray said. “But we walked the first guy and a couple of errors gave them the momentum back.”
Canfield’s Tim Cheslik produced two-out RBI singles in the first and third innings to put the Cardinals ahead, 2-0.
“He’s in that five-slot so he can drive in runs,” Koenig said of Cheslik. “Today, it was perfect for him. We stress two-out RBIs — the kids know that’s a big deal.”
Cheslik said, “Two-out RBIs are crucial — we knew this would be a close game.”
The field was renovated thanks to a $50,000 donation by Anthony Vross, owner of Simon Roofing and one of Bova’s players from 1976-79.