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Canfield falls to Dover twice
Canfield falls twice to finish state runner-up
By Greg Gulas
ASHTABULA
Heading into Saturday’s state title game, Canfield’s Little League 10-11 boys team had won 14 straight district or state contests dating to its state championship run a season ago.
The only team standing between them and a second consecutive title was District 4 representative Dover, the team that Canfield defeated 16-3 for last year’s 9-10 crown.
Dover avenged that loss with a doubleheader sweep, beating Canfield 10-0 and 6-3 to capture the 10-11 state crown at Cederquist Park.
“We didn’t have a chip on our shoulder after last year’s loss, but did look to better manage our pitchers after falling to Hamilton and the loser’s bracket earlier in the week,” Dover manager Jason Hall said. “We worked with Mason [Soldt] on his mechanics and the mental part of the game during the offseason and you can see the fruits of our labor.
“He showed great composure and continuously pounded the strike zone today.”
Soldt also had three hits, two RBIs and scored a run in the opening game win as Dover built a 6-0 advantage after four frames, then sent 10 batters to the plate to score four runs in the fifth.
In the finale, Canfield took a 3-0 lead on Colin Burdette’s run-scoring single and a two-run homer by Drew Carrocce.
“I was just looking to put my bat on the ball and hit a line drive somewhere,” Carrocce said. “It was a curveball that I was able to get under and lift.”
Burdette said his team fought right to the end.
“Jake [Grdic] was excellent on the hill for us today, but the big thing was that we never quit,” Burdette said.
Grdic was lifted with a 3-2 lead and a runner on first in the fifth frame after reaching his mandatory 85-pitch count.
Grdic wished he hadn’t thrown 38 pitches in the first inning.
“I had a hard time finding the plate in the first inning and wished I had a few of those pitches back,” he said. “My curve was working best for me.”
After Grdic was lifted, Dover scored three more times in the inning to put the game out of reach.
“We knew coming in that it would be a dogfight,” Canfield manager Kevin Burdette said. “We came within five outs of back-to-back state titles so needless to say I am really proud of this team.
“I’m proud of the fact that they won 14 consecutive postseason games yet never quit fighting,” Burdette said. “I don’t know of any team, anywhere, that can go undefeated and win every game.
“We gave it our very best the entire tournament.”
Dover finished 6-1 at state while Canfield was 3-2.
Little league Ages 9-10
HAMILTON
Ben Slanker’s two-out single in the bottom of the eighth inning brought home Connor Miller with the winning run as Canfield defeated Tuscarawas, 9-8.
Miller led off the second extra inning with a single and advanced to second on a throwing error. With one out, Luca Ricchiuti flew out to right field, allowing Miller to tag up and go to third.
Slanker’s three hits included a double and he was the winning pitcher, allowing no runs in two-and-two-third innings.
AJ Havrilla’s two hits included a three-run homer. Ricchiuti also had two hits.
Today at 10 a.m., Canfield will play Olentangy Liberty for the state Little League title.
Because Canfield lost to Olentangy Liberty, 7-3, on Friday, it must win twice to claim the title.
NABF CLASS B PONY
COMPTON, CALIF.
In the Pony Palomino World Series, Youngstown Cene knocked Michigan, the North Region champion, out of the tournament with Saturday’s 7-6 victory.
Youngstown scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to win the game.
Mitch Wood’s three hits included the game-winner that scored Greg Popatak.
Popatak had two hits while Scott Sada contributed a two-run triple.
Riley Cambell scored three runs for Youngstown Cene, which trailed 6-0 after four innings. Josh Greggs earned the win in relief.
Tonight, Youngstown Cene will play host team Urban Youth Academy.