Friday, July 25, 2014
Photo
Creekside’s Gino Devincenzo (3) congratulates Jerry Nightingale after he stole home during Thursday’s 5-0 win over Rudzik Excavating at the NABF World Series at Cene Park in Struthers. In the background is Rudzik’s catcher Peyton Pacella.
By Greg Gulas
STRUTHERS
By winning their first two games of the NABF World Series, the Maryland Monarchs have asserted themselves as the odds-on favorite to defend their Senior Division championship.
But two wins on Thursday by Class B champion and last year’s runner-up Creekside Fitness have the defending champions looking over their shoulders.
Mike Stryffler scattered four hits, striking out six while Nick Longo added a two-run single during a four-run sixth inning to pace Creekside to a 5-0 victory over Class B’s Rudzik Excavating at Bob Cene Park.
Earlier in the day, John Schreiber tossed a complete game as the Creekside defeated the Electric City Charge, 4-1.
“Prior to the game, the coaches taught me a better grip on my curveball and it really helped me out,” Stryffler said. “My fastball was working but staying ahead in the count was the key.”
Stryffler credited his catcher, Tyler Walters.
“[We] were pretty much on the same page,” Stryffler said.
Creekside got on the board first in the fourth frame when Cal Miller led off with a single, stole second base and then raced home when Walters doubled to the center-field gap.
The score stayed that way until the sixth inning when four singles and an intentional walk stretched the lead to 5-0. The key hit was a two-run single by Nick Longo.
“Their pitcher, Adam Knight, had an excellent slider today and it took us five innings to figure him out,” Longo said. “He kept us off-balance.”
Longo said Schreiber and Stryffler came up big.
“With both pitchers throwing a complete game, we were able to rest our other arms,” Longo said. ”That can be big as the tourney progresses.”
With two wins, manager Terry Landis’ squad moved to 50-5 overall.
“We’re off to a great start, but then so are some other [strong] teams,” Landis said. “Our pitching is definitely there; defense has also stepped up.
“{But] our hitting is still trying to play catch-up.”
Of the 12 games played, five were shutouts. The other seven games produced a total of 13 runs by the losing squads.