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From the Bleachers A look at the week’s top performances on the diamond from around the Mahoning Valley:
Laser show: McDonald’s baseball team had the bats going in the opening week, scoring 27 runs in two games. Tommy Rebraca and Mike Schuller each accounted for seven hits, while Mike Soots hit safely five times and knocked in two runs. Despite the offensive outburst, the Blue Devils went 1-1 to start the season and are 1-0 in the ITCL.
Big hitters: A couple of other batters collected multi-hit games in a rain-shortened opening week. Billy Goodall of South Range had four hits and four RBIs for the Raiders. Jackson-Milton’s Nate Clark had four hits and three RBIs, as well as Niles’ James Tate. Girard’s Standohar brothers each got four hits. Jimmy earned four RBIs in the Indians second game while he and Evan accounted for nine total over the first week.
Plenty of runs: The Canfield High softball team matched the McDonald baseball team with 27 runs in two games to start the season. The Cardinals were led by six hits and two RBIs from Kara Rothbauer and four hits and four RBIs from Rachel Tinkey. Ursuline split a pair of games, but McKenzie Stimpert collected five hits for the Irish. A trio of LaBrae girls led the Vikings to a 2-0 start, scoring 27 runs. Lauren Rutherford and Morgan Meyer are at the top with four hits, with Haley Davies and Kasey Rininger not far behind with three a pice. Rininger also hit a two-run home run in the team’s second win.
On the mound: Cheyenne Titus threw two three-hitters and struck out 26, earning a win and a loss for McDonald. Haylee Gardiner struck out 22 batters over two starts in two Champion wins. Makayla Shore gave up eight hits, striking out 20, in a win and a loss for Ursuline. Hannah Michaels picked up the win, striking out 16 over nine innings in Campbell’s 11-10 extra inning win on Wednesday. James Hillyer threw 110 pitches, 74 for strikes, and struck out 14 batters in Springfield’s opening day win. Tyler Baird threw a one-hitter, fanning 10 for South Range. Christian Bellow tossed a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts in a win for Girard. Eric Ostrowski struck out 10 over four innings for Jackson-Milton.
Twin killings: Taylor Miokovic homered and drove in three runs for Poland, while also picking up the win throwing two innings in a 9-8 win over Boardman. Jimmy Leone pitched five innings and struck out six, and helped his own cause with a three-run homer in Canfield 13-3 win over Harding.
Speedster: Stephan Elash stole four bases and scored four runs in Campbell’s 15-5 win over East on Wednesday.
Going yard: Lauren Hawley, Brookfield, 2, including a grand slam;
Miyah Mitchum, Boardman, 1;
Jimmy Leone, Canfield, 1;
Rachel Tinkey, Canfield, 1;
Brittany Allen, Champion, 1;
Nicholette Zordich, Fitch, 1;
McKenzie Wilber, Jefferson, 1;
Kasey Rininger, LaBrae, 1;
Alex Romano, Lakeview, 1;
Jenna Ballas, Newton Falls, 1;
Stevie Taylor, South Range, 1;
D.J. Wilson, West Branch, 1.
On deck: Baseball: Canfield at Poland, Thursday, 5 p.m.; Softball: Ursuline at Cardinal Mooney, Tuesday, 4:30 p.m.