Friday, May 20, 2011
By Pete Mollica
STRUTHERS
Boardman was in the position it wanted in the final inning of Thursday’s Division I district semifinal with Shaker Heights.
The Spartans were trailing 4-3, but had the bases loaded with just one out and their No. 5 and 6 hitters coming to the plate.
Unfortunately for the Spartans (13-7), Shaker Heights pitcher Spencer Byers retired those hitters and the Raiders held on for a 4-3 victory.
“We definitely had our opportunities,” said Boardman coach Bob Beam. “One run down, the bases loaded and two good hitters coming to the plate. It’s exactly the situation you want, but it just didn’t work out in our favor today.
“Our kids played hard and gave us a chance to get back in the game and that’s all you can really ask of them,” Beam added.
The Spartans, who out hit the Raiders 8-5, got on the scoreboard in the third inning.
Senior Mark Calautti led off with a double to left field and came around to score on Derek Pasquale’s single up the middle, but Byers retired the next three batters.
In the third the Raiders (13-9) took the lead for good, scoring three runs without getting a hit.
Byers walked to open the inning, then Mike Blatchford reached on an error and Mark Lewandwski reached on a fielder’s choice when the Spartans tried for the out at third and failed, loading the bases.
Byers scored on a sacrifice fly by Jacob Shick, Blatchford scored on an infield grounder, and Lewandwski scored on a wild pitch.
In the sixth, Boardman’s Dan Popio singled and David DiBernardi was hit by a pitch. Joe Markovich reached on an error to load the bases and Popio scored on a sac fly by Phil DiIanni.
In Boardman’s seventh two straight one-out singles by Nico DiIanni and Mark Leone gave the Spartans life and both runners advanced on an error.
Popio then ripped a double to deep right-center scoring DiIanni, but pinch runner Chris D’Apolito held up thinking Popio’s drive would be caught and only got to third. Byers then retired the next two batters to end the game.