PONY Palomino teams hoping to get to California by way of Struthers

July 30, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

STRUTHERS

For the first time, the local Class B League will field a team in the PONY Palomino East Zone Tournament, which begins at 3 p.m. today at Bob Cene Park.

Seven teams are looking to advance to World Series play, which takes place Aug. 6-10 in Compton, Calif., and Youngstown Cene manager Andy Timko feels that his team has as good a chance as any in the field to get to the title game.

“This is a first for us as a league in assembling an all-star team for any tournament, so we’re excited about the possibilities that lie ahead,” he said. “Like the other six teams, we feel as if we have all of the components in place to make a run and hope to be there on the final day.”

In addition to Youngstown Cene, there are two other Ohio teams in the four-day event — Cleveland’s T-3 Rays and the Ohio Stealers from its Diamond League.

Kiski and Chartiers Valley will represent Pennsylvania. Greenbriar is the lone Virginia entry. Clinton Park (N.Y.) rounds out the field.

“This has always been a highly competitive tournament and this year should be no different,” said Bob Burke, a Class B veteran coach, official and tourney director. “This is one of the very best amateur baseball tournaments around. With the winner set to earn a trip to the World Series next week in California, you can expect to see plenty of hustle and excitement.”

Six players from Class B regular season and tournament champion, and NABF Senior Division semi-finalist Astro Falcons dot the all-star roster with Creekside Fitness and Rudzik Excavating each represented with three players.

Millwood, Baird Brothers, Ohio Glaciers and Roth Brothers are also represented with a player.

The six Astro Falcons players include Riley Campbell (.394 with a league-best 39 hits, 50 total bases and 117 plate appearance); Jared Houser (.383, 36 hits, 44 total bases and league-best 117 plate appearances); Jared Kapturasky (.321, 2.05 earned run average); Kyle Benyo (.267); Dustin Landers (0.92 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings) and Mark Gross (0.85 with 27 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings).

Billy Krull (.426, 21 runs batted in), Mitch Wood (.338, 1-0, 3.07) and Scott Sada (.391, league-leading 11 doubles, 4-0, 1.56) are the Creekside Fitness representatives while Mike Boswell (5-1, two saves, 2.07 e.r.a., league-leading 43 strikeouts in 50 2/3/ innings, .308), Jake Smith (.283) and Joe Campagna (.486) represent Rudzik Excavating.

“I don’t see any weak spots on this all-star team,” Wood said. “We know what each player brings to the table and after playing an entire summer, either with or against one another, we’re ready to play together with the hopes of moving on. We’re definitely clicking and playing our best baseball at the right time.”

For Sada, a chance to go to yet another World Series is very appealing.

“This is a great opportunity for everyone,” he said. “We’re solid, well-rounded and I cannot think of a weak link on the team. Playing in a highly competitive league also helps.”

Rounding out the roster are Greg Popatak (.356, three triples, 30 total bases) of Millwood; Joshua Greggs (3-2, 3.16, 33 strikeouts in 31 innings, .312) of Baird Brothers; Dalton Davis (.389) of Ohio Glaciers and Jon Pingree (.270) of Roth Brothers.

Boswell, Campagna, Campbell, Gross, Houser, Krull, Landers, Popatak and Sada were all-league selections this past season.

Bob Richards of Poland is the PONY West Region Director.

“We’re thankful once again to the local Class B League for stepping up and hosting this fine event,” Richards said. “Anyone who would like to get one last look at some outstanding 17- and 18 year-old sandlot talent needs to get to the park. This is the last tournament of the year and the rosters are just loaded with future stars.”

Action begins today with two games at 3 p.m. while Youngstown Cene is set to take on Kiski at 5:30 p.m.