On area diamonds | Youth baseball and softball roundup

BASEBALL

NABF 14-U REGIONAL

Creekside Fitness 3, Cleveland Ice 2

STRUTHERS

Creekside Fitness scored twice in the bottom of the seventh inning on Sunday to defeat Cleveland Ice and win the championship of the NABF 14-under regional tournament at Cene Park. Creekside will play in the NABF 14-under World Series from Thursday through Sunday at Altavista, Va. They also will play in the USSSA World Series in Canton, Mich., from July 25-28, by virtue of winning the USSSA state title in Columbus in late June. “This group is a very close group, they are very confident, they’ve been in these kinds of situations all year,” Creekside manager Steve Leslie said. “That experience has helped them but they also have a great approach to the game and great confidence in one another.” In the decisive seventh inning, Dan Klase singled and Mike Maillis walked, then the tying run scored on an error after Jimmy Kerrigan put the ball in play. One out later, with runners on second and third, Daniel Leslie reached first safely on an error as the winning run crossed the plate. Joe Lawman pitched five innings and Hudson Widrig two for Creekside, 41-9 overall on the season. All three of Creekside’s teams (18U, 16U and 14U), sponsored by Ed Reese, are scheduled to play in World Series competition in the coming weeks.

BABE RUTH STATE CHAMPIONSHIP 14U

Warren Athletic Club 7, Zanesville Americans 5

Winning pitcher Dylan McAvoy struck out five batters and gave up three hits in five innings in the game in Fairfield. Justin Humphrey threw two scoreless innings for the save. J.J. Nicholas had two hites including a double. Nathan Hendryx also doubled while Humphrey and Nicholas each scored two runs.

Warren Athletic Club 9, Newark Moundbuilders 4

In a quarterfinal, Josh Walters pitched four innings for the win, striking out five batters. Hendryx threw three scoreless innings for the save and contributed two hits. Hayden Sherwood doubled and scored twice while Shawnel Ferebee II also scored two runs.

Warren Athletic Club 16, Portage County All-Stars 0

McAvoy pitched three innings for the win, striking out four batters and allowing two hits. Humphrey and Hendryx each threw a scoreless inning. Ferebee, Jeffrey Hosey, Damian Coleman Jr. and Cody Helmuth each had two hits. Helmuth and Nicholas doubled. Nicholas, Sherwood, Hosey, Damian Coleman Jr. and Helmuth each scored twice. Portage had been unbeaten before the semifinal.Warren Athletic Club will play in today’s state title game.

SOFTBALL

LITTLE LEAGUE STATE TOURNAMENT

Poland 7, Coal Grove 6

ENGLEWOOD

Olivia Morgan, Jessica Ferrick and Julia Ferrick combined to pitch for Poland who advance to the championship round to face Elyria. In the sixth inning, Poland trailed 6-5 when Lauren Sienkiewicz singled and pinch-runner Payton Slaina scored of Julia Ferrick’s double. After Ally Nittoli doubled and stole third, Coal Grove intentionally loaded the bases. Galena Lopuchovsky drew a walk to bring in the winning run. Nittoli, Julia Ferrick and Sienkiewicz each had two hits. Caitlin Perry,m Bella Herdman and Gabby Romano also had hits.

If Poland defeats Elyria today at 3:30 p.m., they’ll play again for the state title.

Staff report