Astro Falcons, Creekside back as Class B opens

May 24, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

STRUTHERS

The local Class B sandlot baseball league is considered one of the top wooden bat leagues in the state.

With a facility like Cene Park in which to play and 10 teams battling for the right to advance to notable postseason tournaments like the Connie Mack, NABF and CABA World Series, it’s easy to understand why the globe has become their recruiting base.

The league’s 27-game, Big B schedule begins today with five games. Scott Ruark, who enters his fifth season as league commissioner, called this perhaps the most balanced and competitive under his watch.

“This will be our 19th year at Cene Park and you have to go a long way to find a more beautiful amateur complex. In the past we’ve attracted some of the top baseball talent from not only our area, but from other states as well with the hope that they can showcase their talent on such a competitive stage,” Ruark said.

“This year, more so than in past years there is parity and that balance can only translate into a very competitive season. The talent level just keeps getting better and on any given day any team can win.”

Last season Astro Falcons won the Cene Division and their third consecutive league title, defeating Goldstone Division winner Creekside in a three-game playoff.

Both teams finished 25-2 in regular-season play.

In addition to those two aforementioned, others returning to the fold include Baird Brothers, Ohio Glaciers and Roth Brothers. Newcomers DuraEdge, Robbie Lee, OG Avalanche, Bel-Park and Rudzik Excavating round out this year’s sponsorships.

If there is to be a new champion then manager Andy Timko’s Astro Falcons will have to be dethroned and after leading six of the last eight teams that he’s coached to the league crown, it will be no easy task.

“We have the pitching but are a very young team. With the league as strong as it is projected to be this year every win will count,” Timko said.

Timko will rely on the arms of Nolan Lamont, Dustin Lander, Mark Gross, Max Augenstine and Cardinal Mooney alum, Kane Durkin.

Offensive punch will be provided by Girard’s Jim Standohar, Springfield Local’s Hunter Snyder and Boardman’s Ed Crump.

In addition to last year’s league runner-up finish, Creekside won the CABA (Continental Amateur Baseball Association) title while scoring runner-up finishes in the Connie Mack, NABF and Triple Crown tourneys.

“We should be solid but pitching will be a question mark. Our goal is to get back to the play-offs but with so many talented Division I prospects in the league, any team can be right there in the end,” manager Terry Landis said.

Creekside features Lakeview twirler Dave LeMasters and Tanner Stauz from Warren, Pa., with catcher Tyler Walters, first baseman/pitcher Stu Schaley and second baseman Ted Williams players to watch.

Baird Brothers finished second to Creekside in the Goldstone Division a year ago and manager Cliff Phillips is hoping for a second straight playoff appearance.

“Our goal remains the playoffs but more importantly, I’d like to get all of my seniors signed in order to play the game they love at the collegiate level or beyond,” Phillips said.

Billy Goodall, who helped South Range to the Division III district final, is a player to watch as are pitcher Jerry Nightengale and shortstop Bub Haddox.

Goodall, who is ranked No. 1 in the state in all divisions in batting (.621), slugging percentage and runs batted in (49) was ranked as high as ninth nationally in batting average while Nightengale is second statewide in strikeouts, having recorded 90 in 45 innings of work for Ravenna High School.

The Ohio Glaciers are looking to improve on their 10-17 finish last season while OG Avalanche is new to the league, but no stranger to league competition.

Local players Dion Felger and Joel Hake of Ursuline, and Scott Pierce and Zack Miller of Austintown Fitch dot the Glaciers’ roster while pitcher J.J. Matijevic of Norwin, Pa, an Arizona recruit, is projected as a third to fifth-round selection in the upcoming MLB Amateur Draft.

“We have eight Division-I signees and 12 total players who have already committed to colleges next year so we like our chances this season,” Glaciers manager Don Pletcher said.

OG Avalanche is the former Youngstown Express franchise and manager Ron Fagert’s 20-man roster features players from 15 different schools.

“Having coached the Ohio Glaciers travel team the past five years we’re excited about a step up in competition. It is great exposure and a chance for our players to go out and play against some of the best players from the area,” Fagert said.

Pitcher Nick Woloschak of Jackson-Milton is a member of the Avalanche roster.

Roth Brothers manager Matt McGivern is in his ninth season at the helm, looking to return to the playoffs after falling short for the first time in four years last season.

“We have a deep team; a squad that is hungry to get back to their familiar post-season spot and with a corps of local players we like our chances,” he said. “This is without a doubt one of the premier college prep leagues in the nation.”

The Roth Brothers roster includes Canfield’s Carter Rhoads and Jimmy Leone, Liberty’s Nick Byce and Cardinal Mooney pitcher-first baseman Andrew Armstrong.

Tom Otto enters his 21st year in the league with Rudzik Excavating and a revamped roster that has him cautiously optimistic about their chances this season.

“We’re 12-deep on the mound and while it is a revamped roster, we had a great recruiting effort this past off-season; everything just clicked. We feel all of the components are in place in order to make a nice run this season,” Otto said.

West Branch’s Jake Smith and Peyton Pacella comprise Otto’s catching tandem with Travis Brumbaugh, who led New Wilmington to the District 10 semifinals, a pitcher to watch.

Bel-Park will be managed by Bob Burke, Terry Dobson calls the shots for DuraEdge while Jim Foster takes over the new Robbie Lee franchise.

“I’ve been in Class B League a long time, dating back to 1987 when I was with Fabulous Goldstein’s and it has always been very competitive. This year should be no different,” Burke said.

Struthers mainstays Brandon Kish and John Mudrinich, as well as Nick Maillis of Poland are players to watch on Burke’s team.

Robbie Lee is the former Accrohealth franchise and Foster is hoping to make the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season.

“The playoffs remain our main objective and with local players like Luke Peterson and Austin Beartley of Austintown Fitch; Levi Reed of Newton Falls and the Poland trio of Dave Knodle, Jake Hawkins and Marty Malenic, it’s an exciting time for our franchise,” Foster said.

Another new entry is DuraEdge; a company from Slippery Rock, Pa., that treats the soil of no less than 20 of MLB’s 30 teams.

“We’re an unknown commodity but have a nice group of players that should make some noise this summer,” Dobson said. “On paper the league is shaping up as one of the most competitive in recent years.”

Poland’s Pat Carlozzi and Dom Lipari, Brookfield’s R.J. Leone, Canfield’s Edmond Pilolli and Mark Colella of West Middlesex are players to follow on DuraEdge.

Colella was the league leader in home runs a season ago with three homers.