Poland, Canfield win big in state openers

Tournaments continue today

Staff report

The Poland 9-10 year-old softball team scored more than enough runs to win its state tournament opener on Saturday in Cuyahoga Falls.

Twenty-five runs later, the team is one win from the state title game.

“We really played well,” Poland manager David Wolfe said of his team’s 25-1 win over Ashtabula. “We did all we could to keep the score in the respectable range.”

Alaina Scavina, Paige Ogden and Emma Wolfe combined to throw a four-inning no-hitter. Scavina also had a inside-the-park home run to give the offense a kick start.

Maria Fire added a triple at the plate for Poland.

They advance in the winners bracket to play Tallmadge, which was a 7-0 winner over Wheelersburg on Saturday.

“They have a nice left-handed pitcher who throws well,” Wolfe said of Tallmadge. “She pitched a complete game and they played some good small ball to help her.”

Wolfe was happy to see most of his girls keeping a close eye on their next opponent even after a lopsided victory.

“They’ve played this game long enough to know what a good team looks like and they know that Tallmadge team is a good team,” Wolfe said.

First pitch is scheduled for noon today.

10-11 BASEBALL

CANFIELD 11, GALION 0

Canfield pitcher Ryan Petro didn’t need the run support, but his manager, Kevin Burdette, was happy to see his team clicking in their 10-11 state baseball tournament opener.

Petro struck out seven and allowed only one hit over three innings in a 11-0 win over Galion in Ashtabula. Jake Grdic pitched a clean fourth for Canfield.

“Great start,” Burdette said. “Offensively, the bats were alive and the pitchers totally shut down the opposition.

“It’s as good a start as we could’ve hoped for.”

Canfield had 12 hits as a team. Gianni Gaetano hit a two-run home run and Drew Carrocce added a solo homer to lead the way.

Canfield advances in the winners bracket to play New Albany at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

9-10 BASEBALL

The Canfield 9-10 year-old baseball team begins its tournament run today at 1 p.m. in Hamilton.

They face the winner of Mount Vernon and Bellevue.

COLT-15 EAST ZONE

YOUNGSTOWN 3, ERIE WARHAWKS 1

In the tournament opener for Youngstown, Brandon Myers threw a complete game three-hitter, allowing just one run in a 3-1 victory over the Erie Warhawks.

Brandon Myers, Garrison Wieland and Kevin Pollock had Youngtown’s three hits with Anthony Cinicola, Coleman Stauffer and Jack Rafoth scoring its three runs.

Dustin Urban absorbed the loss for the Warhawks.

HURRICANE SELECT 10, YOUNGSTOWN 3

Youngstown dropped to the loser’s bracket by falling to Hurricane Select, 10-8.

Select opened a 10-0 lead after four innings, scoring five times in both the first and fourth frames.

Cinicola had two of Youngtown’s nine hits, but stranded seven runners on the basepaths.

Tyler Faught had three hits for Hurricane Select with Chris Wisniewski picking up the win.