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Harding baseball rallies to sting Boardman
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Warren Harding’s Adam Butler, left, celebrates with teammate Marcus Masters after scoring the tying run in the seventh inning of their Division I sectional semifinal against Boardman on Tuesday in Boardman. The Raiders rallied in the seventh, scoring three runs to oust the Spartans, 3-2.
By Tom Williams
BOARDMAN
When teams with a combined five wins open the tournament against each other, the last thing anyone expects is a pitcher’s duel and solid defense.
But for six innings in Tuesday’s Division I showdown between Warren Harding and Boardman, only two runs were scored and one error committed.
Then in the seventh inning, the Spartans stumbled, committing two errors and allowing three unearned runs as the unseeded Raiders rallied for a 3-2 victory that advances to them to today’s sectional final against top-seeded Austintown Fitch.
“It feels good knowing we get to play such a great ballclub,” said senior Alex Fitzgerald, Harding’s starting pitcher. ”They are great hitters, solid defensively. It’s great to get another chance at them.”
The fourth-seeded Spartans (3-21) entered the seventh inning poised to be the team advancing. Boardman scored twice in the fourth inning to stake starter Danny Boerio to a 2-0 lead. He needed only 75 pitches to get through six innings.
“Both guys pitched well,” Boardman head coach Joe Gabriel said of Boerio (0-4) and Fitzgerald. “Both were throwing first strikes and stayed ahead in the count.
“Both teams played pretty solid defense,” Gabriel said. “The last inning, we kind of coughed it up. They put the ball in play and we didn’t make enough plays.”
Tyler Gadzalski started the Raiders’ seventh at-bat by smacking the ball hard off the chest of Spartans first baseman Eddie Crump for a single.
After Adam Butler drew a four-pitch walk, Jake Mikesell was retired on a foul pop-up. Boerio then fielded Kyle Saunders’ comebacker to the mound but threw wildly, allowing the first run to score.
After Doug Painter grounded out, Fitzgerald hit a sharp ground ball that second baseman Ben Statler knocked down but couldn’t come up with as Butler tied the game.
“I wasn’t trying to think,” Fitzgerald said after taking an 0-2 count to 2-2 on five pitches. “When I think, that’s when bad things happen.”
Marcus Masters singled to left field to score Saunders to put the Raiders (3-14) ahead, 3-2.
“He was 0-for-3 but roped one,” Harding head coach Ed Shaker said. “We were fortunate, but we didn’t quit all year.
“Things just did not bounce our way this year, but today they did.”
The Spartans did not go quietly. With one out against reliever Tyler Jackson, Brian Fryda singled and Scott Lendak walked. After a pop-up for the second out, Crump worked the count to 2-1.
Jackson’s next pitch bounced but catcher Mikesell retrieved it and fired a strike to third baseman Butler who tagged Fryda trying to advance.
“You can’t make the last out at third base,” Gabriel said. “We had our opportunities throughout the game to do other things so I don’t think it rides on one play.”
In the fourth inning, Fitzgerald hit lead-off batter Lendak and Phil Diianni hit the ball just short of center fielder Ethan Wright. After a groundout advanced the runners, Lou Cardona grounded out to score Lendak.
Diianni came home on Evan Croutch’s two-out single for a 2-0 lead.
In the fifth inning, the Spartans loaded the bases against Fitzgerald, who is recovering from strep throat.
“He didn’t want to come out — he’s a battler,” said Shaker of Fitzgerald. “Alex has been our leader all year long, not only on the mound but on the field and in the dugout.”
Jackson relieved him and ended the threat by inducing a groundout.