Fitch-Mooney scoreless before rain falls

May 5, 2012 at 12:10a.m.

NOTHING DECIDED

AUSTINTOWN

While Friday’s baseball game against Cardinal Mooney was a wash-out, Austintown Fitch High coach Wally Ford’s plans for the upcoming tournament remain intact.

Play was halted in the top of the seventh due to rain, with Fitch and Mooney deadlocked in a 0-0 tie. No date has been set for resuming the game, nor is it likely.

Afterwards, Ford talked about his plans for the tournament, which begins next week for all area teams. Fitch (12-10) is seeded third in the Division I sectional-district tournament and scheduled to open with a home game against East on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.

“You can’t take anybody too lightly, but East is struggling. I don’t know if they’ve even played a whole lot of varsity-caliber games,” said Ford. “Their coach is trying to build the program back up, and they’ve been playing mostly junior varsity and freshmen teams.”

Ford plans to send left-handed pitcher Ron Sayers, a junior, to the mound against East, saving his two aces for later tournament games.

If they get past East, the Falcons’ next opponent will at Howland (19-5) on Thursday.

The starter against Howland will be junior Austin Cooper, one of Fitch’s top two pitchers. Ford said his other ace, sophomore Scott Pierce, will pitch the next tournament game. Pierce also plays shortstop

The Tigers will present a challenge for the Falcons, Ford said.

“They’re one of the better teams in the area.”

Howland is seeded second in the tournament, with Boardman holding the top seed. The Falcons have split a pair of games with the Tigers this season, losing to Howland 9-8 on April 16 and defeating Howland 13-12 the next day.

“This rubber match will be a challenge,” Ford said. “In tournaments it’s who’s playing better that particular day. We’ll see how it goes.”

Against Mooney, freshman Noah Sochera (3-1) started for the Falcons.

“The kid’s only a freshman, but he’s pitched some great games,” Ford said. “He beat Boardman last weekend.”

Offensively, Ford said outfielder Anthony Paris, a senior, junior center fielder Kevin Sierra, and sophomore third baseman Zach Miller have been the Falcons’ top hitters.

“It’s been nice because we haven’t had to rely on one guy,” he said. “We’ve got pretty good hitting all the way through the lineup.”

Friday, Fitch outhit Mooney 5-1, including doubles by Miller, Sierra and Paris. Twice, Falcons were thrown out in close plays at home plate, first on a long, accurate throw by Cardinals center fielder Harrison Wagner.

Mooney catcher Drew Delsignore recovered a wild pitch to tag out another Falcon trying to score.

“That’s the way the ball bounces sometimes,” Ford said. “We were still making contact, but they just weren’t falling in.”