Carolina on Creekside’s mind
By Greg Gulas
STRUTHERS
As Creekside Fitness swept through the recent PONY Baseball, Colt super regional at Bob Cene Park, eight-time defending champion Greensboro Green was preparing to host this week’s Colt Zone championship in Greensboro, N.C.
If Creekside (31-14) expects to dethrone the host team that has made numerous World Series appearances and punch their first ever ticket, then it’s going to take three more wins starting today against a five-team field that shares that same dream.
Last Sunday, Creekside defeated the Cleveland Longhorns, 11-3 to advance to this week’s zone championship, outscoring opponents by a 39-13 count.
They never scored less than eight runs in a game and allowed three runs or less in three of four contests played.
It’s that recent four-game surge that gives manager Bob “Bubba” Boughner a cautious optimism heading into this week’s action.
“We started the season 15-1 and then lost seven of our next 10 games, which left everyone a little puzzled. We had to tweak the line-up, made some minor changes to our approach and eliminated costly mental and physical errors,” Boughner said. “We got back to the basics and started playing fundamental baseball and that was the key to our resurgence.”
Boughner’s squad will square off against Wednesday’s Northeast Section-Greensboro Green winner today at 6 p.m.
“It’s an old clich , but the key to advancing to the World Series will be doing the little things while executing and taking advantage of opportunities with which you are presented,” Boughner said. “We have an excellent pitching staff; we’re swinging the bats really well and defensively we’re back to our old form. It should be an action-packed, interesting three days of play.”
Boughner is expected to start Antonio Viviano (4-1) in their opening game, relying on his stingy 2.21 ERA to keep their opponent in check.
Viviano, who threw a complete game in last week’s super regional, also smacked two doubles, scored twice and drove in two runs in their championship game against the Longhorns.
Lake Sankey gets the call behind the plate with Pad O’Shaughnessy, who leads the team with a .420 batting average, penciled in at first base.
Gino Beato and Bryce Richey draw the call at second base and shortstop, however, Alex Harrison was unable to make trip leaving a void at third base.
If Beato ends up guarding the line in place of Harrison, Noah Suarez will then be inserted at the keystone sack.
The outfield includes Donald Drummond in left, Jaydon Johnson in center and Devin Curd in right field.
Also expected to see playing time will be catcher Cameron Carson, outfielder Dom Drummond and Dylan McAvoy, who tossed six strong innings to pick up the win in their super regional championship game.
While Creekside played with 15 players during the regional, they will be limited to just 12 players in Colt Zone play this week.
“I am really pleased that a Youngtown team will represent the West Region this week in Greensboro. Greensboro Green is the team to beat for a reason and it sure would be great to see Creekside unseat them and advance to World Series play next week,” said Bob Richards, Colt/Palomino West Region director.
Depending on today’s outcome, Creekside will play either the winner or loser of the Greensboro White-New York contest with the championship game slated for Saturday at 11 a.m.
If necessary, a 1 p.m. game will follow.