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Youngstown Cene one win from earning California trip
By Greg Gulas
STRUTHERS
Prior to the start of the PONY Palomino East Zone Tournament, Youngstown Cene manager Andy Timko felt like he had a team, at least on paper that could make a run at the championship and a spot in next week’s World Series in Compton, Calif.
Three games, 17 runs scored, two shutouts and just two runs allowed later, his work in progress is coming together.
Dustin Lander tossed a complete-game, four-hit shutout while Riley Campbell went 4 for 4 with two runs batted in to pace Youngstown to a 6-0 victory over Chartiers Valley Friday at Bob Cene Park.
The win vaulted Youngstown (3-0) into today’s championship game at 5:30 p.m. where it will meet the winner of the Chartiers Valley-Greenbriar (Va.) game.
Lander, a native of Hookstown, Pa., who will play baseball at Charleston Southern University in the fall, used his off-speed pitch to prevent hitters from getting to comfortable.
“I was able to throw my off-speed pitch for strikes and while my ball tails a lot, it has also bailed me out quite a bit. I throw to miss their bats,” Lander said. “Our lineup hits from top to bottom and that’s a nice feeling for a pitcher because you know that they are going to score runs.”
Youngstown’s offense caught fire in the third inning when they scored three times to forge a 3-0 advantage.
After Kyle Benyo reached first on a dropped third strike, Jared Houser then followed with a single and when Campbell doubled up the centerfield gap, Youngstown opened a 2-0 lead.
Mitch Wood then followed with a single that scored Campbell.
“You can put this all-star line-up sideways or upside down and you’d still get the same results. We came into this tournament to win it all and we’re right where we want to be on the final day,” Campbell said. “It’s easy when you play with guys that want to play baseball. We showed it, but have to continue proving it.”
Youngstown added three insurance runs in the sixth, sending nine batters to the plate for a 6-0 lead.
Run scoring singles by both Joe Campagna and Dalton Davis accounted for the first two tallies and a sacrifice fly by Jared Kapturasky ended the scoring on the evening.
Greg Popatak, who laced a double, triple and also scored a run, said Lander’s curve ball also kept opposing batters at bay.
“Tonight was the first time that I met Dustin and I must say that he made a great first impression,” Popatak noted. “At first we were just getting used to playing together, but each game we’re swinging our bats better and working as a unit.”
Timko, whose team has outscored opponents 17-2 in the tournament, said the team is slowly, but surely coming together.
“Dustin struggled with his control at the end of the season, but tonight he brought his ‘A’ game and showed you why he’s a Division I pitcher,” Timko said. “We’re still a work in progress, but we’re getting there.”
If necessary, a game will immediately follow the championship contest.