Niles drops Poland in 8th

By Ryan Buck

sports@vindy.com

niles

Runs were at a premium in Thursday night’s game between the Niles and Poland High baseball teams at Waddell Park.

Niles’ starting pitcher Jake Foster matched Poland’s Mark Passarello pitch- for- pitch until the game was finally decided in extra innings.

Niles catcher Ryan Ifft’s single up the middle scored teammate Pat Barrett from second base and broke a scoreless tie to give the Red Dragons a 1-0 victory over the Bulldog. Ifft’s hit concluded what had been a classic pitcher’s duel and a well-played contest. “That’s the way you want a baseball game to be,” Niles coach Mike Guarnieri, whose team improved to 14-5 and 6-1 in the All-American Conference American Division. “Two pitchers going out there giving everything they had, guys making plays behind them.” With two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, the teams were looking at more extra innings as Ifft stepped in against Passarello, who had allowed only three hits all game. “I walked up there a little nervous,” Ifft said. “He put a fastball right down the middle. I tried to hit back up the middle and get that run in. It felt great.” It was one of Passarello’s rare mistakes. “His breaking ball was great all day and we didn’t figure it out,” Guarnieri said. “But he threw a fastball down the middle that we actually hit.” Barrett rounded third without hesitation and beat the throw of Poland center fielder Colin Reardon. His teammates poured out of the dugout to greet him. Passarello, a freshman right-hander, was dominant for the Bulldogs (9-7, 3-3). He struck out seven Red Dragons in a complete effort and didn’t allow a Niles baserunner past second base through the first seven innings. “He just did a great job,” said Poland coach Rich Murray. “His curveball’s really nice and we’re looking forward to having him on the staff for another three years.” Not to be outdone was Foster. The junior threw a complete game, eight-inning gem, with seven strikeouts. “Unbelievable performance,” Guarnieri said. “He gutted it out with eight solid innings.”

Niles catcher Ryan Ifft’s single up the middle scored teammate Pat Barrett from second base and broke a scoreless tie to give the Red Dragons a 1-0 victory over the Bulldog. Ifft’s hit concluded what had been a classic pitcher’s duel and a well-played contest. “That’s the way you want a baseball game to be,” Niles coach Mike Guarnieri, whose team improved to 14-5 and 6-1 in the All-American Conference American Division. “Two pitchers going out there giving everything they had, guys making plays behind them.” With two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, the teams were looking at more extra innings as Ifft stepped in against Passarello, who had allowed only three hits all game. “I walked up there a little nervous,” Ifft said. “He put a fastball right down the middle. I tried to hit back up the middle and get that run in. It felt great.” It was one of Passarello’s rare mistakes. “His breaking ball was great all day and we didn’t figure it out,” Guarnieri said. “But he threw a fastball down the middle that we actually hit.” Barrett rounded third without hesitation and beat the throw of Poland center fielder Colin Reardon. His teammates poured out of the dugout to greet him. Passarello, a freshman right-hander, was dominant for the Bulldogs (9-7, 3-3). He struck out seven Red Dragons in a complete effort and didn’t allow a Niles baserunner past second base through the first seven innings. “He just did a great job,” said Poland coach Rich Murray. “His curveball’s really nice and we’re looking forward to having him on the staff for another three years.” Not to be outdone was Foster. The junior threw a complete game, eight-inning gem, with seven strikeouts. “Unbelievable performance,” Guarnieri said. “He gutted it out with eight solid innings.”