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NABF Senior World Series begins today at Cene Park
NABF
By Greg Gulas
STRUTHERS
The NABF Senior World Series gets under way today at Bob Cene Park with Class B champion Astro Falcons and league runner-up Roth Brothers, both automatic qualifiers among this year’s 15-team field.
The Astro Falcons (37-5) won the 2012 World Series title and return under the tutelage of Andy Timko, manager of seven of the last 10 league champions.
Roth Brothers (23-16) is making its first World Series foray under the direction of Matt McGivern, now in his 11th season.
In addition to two local entries, other Ohio teams include Ohio Hawks (Toledo), Boys of Summer (Akron, regional runners-up), Brownlee Lookouts (Akron) and Troy American Legion Post No. 43.
There are eight teams from out of state including Sayo Grays, Brooklyn Cougars and Albany Devil Cats from New York; the Michigan Bulls, Vandemark, regional champions and Michigan Bulls, Gallagher from the Great Lake State; the Monarchs and HBYP Raiders from Maryland and Altoona Spring Cove Dragons from Pennsylvania.
Canada’s Team Ontario rounds out the field.
“The biggest thing about the NABF is that it is league baseball. While some of the teams go to tournaments over the course of the season, they’re part of a league and not just showcase teams,” Class B president and tournament director Scott Ruark said. “The players now get a chance to compete at the highest level of play. Everyone in the area will recognize our local teams, but the teams coming in also have solid reputations and anyone can walk off with the title.”
The Astro Falcons enter play after waltzing through the playoffs where they’ve posted an unblemished 7-0 mark.
They’ve won the league four of the past five years.
“This team is very young team with three starters 18 years of age; two starters that are 16 years old and another that is just 15 years old,” Timko said.
“We’re sparked by the leadership of shortstop Riley Campbell, who is heading to the University of Toledo this fall and outfielder Jared Houser, who intends to play at Walsh University. Both players are from Wadsworth High School and while we’ve used various lineups over the course of the season due to injuries and loss of players, the two constants in the lineup at one-two all season have been Campbell and Houser. They also finished one-two in the league in hits.”
Since the start of the season, injuries have claimed their starting first, second and third basemen and while the middle of the order has suffered a reshuffling, Lou Cordona, Jared Kapturasky (who finished third overall in hits), Kyle Benyo, Hunter Snyder and Noah Laster have handled the bulk of the work offensively.
Timko added that 15-year-old Matt Gibson and Laster, who is just 16, have done an outstanding job as replacements.
The success that the Astro Falcons have enjoyed this season can be directly attributed to its mound staff where they are eight-deep and boast the league’s earned-run average leader in Dalton Donachee (0.90).
They also count on Tyler Garbee, Michael McDonough, Dustin Landers, Mark Gross, Jared Burkert, Jared Kapturasky and Vinny Lucente.
Their tournament additions include Joe Campagna of Rudzik Excavating, Greg Popatak of Millwood and Dura Edge’s Zach Senchak.
“All three additions will be counted on if we expect to make a run at a World Series title,” Timko said.
Roth Brothers defeated Creekside Fitness in this year’s league semifinals, but were swept by the Astro Falcons in their best-of-five series for the title.
Earning an automatic bid to this year’s World Series has been both a positive and negative, according to McGivern.
“The upside to having a week off is that our guys got a break that they really needed. At the same time we didn’t get to see that regional competition, which is a step up from both the regular season and play-offs,” McGivern said.
“It’s an exciting time for everyone, especially when you’re playing on your home field. Anytime World Series is attached it’s always exciting.”
Like the Astro Falcons, McGivern’s pitching staff is solid with Mike “Soup” Jones (2.60 ERA), Luke Kelty (1.62), Tyler Barone (1.07) and Phil Bell set to carry the load.
Parker Janosko and Jon Lochiatto are the catchers.
First base is occupied by Andrew Armstrong with the middle infield comprised of Dan Kiester, Josh Fristik (.292, 11 stolen bases) and Nick Dastoli.
Fristik and Armstrong are also available for mound duty when needed.
Ray Belchick occupies third base while the outfield boasts Jon Pingree (.295, .614 slugging percentage), Conner Perry (.500, .625 on-base average), John Medvec (.348) and Matt Pappas (.355, .459 on-base average).
The designated hitters are Pete Hernandez (.355) and Kyle Kovach. Tournament additions include Jake Smith and Mike Boswell of Rudzik Excavating; Ryan Cheslik and Alex Thompson of Dura Edge; Craig Lewis of Roby Lee’s and Jake Reimold of Baird Brothers.
Pool play gets underway at 9 a.m.