Loaded Canfield team seeks state title

July 31, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

Locals take talents

to Hamilton tourney

CANFIELD

The Canfield Baseball Club has won all three District 2 Little League titles this summer.

After winning three district crowns and two state championships with the club’s 11-12 all-stars, manager George Beck is now hoping that his 9-10 team can work the same magic.

The 9-10 state tournament begins Saturday in Hamilton with 11 teams set to vie for the title.

Canfield drew a first-round bye, will go up against the winner of the Bellevue (District 7) and Mount Vernon (District 5) game on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Beck, a stickler when it comes to fundamentals and game-day preparation, said his team has pitching depth, can swing the bat and is solid defensively — key components in order to make a run at a state title.

“We’re six-deep on the mound with 11 players that we can call upon to pitch, if necessary. Everyone on the team, one thru 14 can swing the bat and I firmly believe that no matter who I send up to the plate, they’re going to put the ball in play and hit it hard,” Beck said. “This team is big and strong and also has plenty of power.”

Canfield rolled through district play, going 4-0 while outscoring opponents by a 28-5 count. Pitchers recorded a shutout and allowed just one run in two other contests.

“They say that you have to be strong up the middle and that’s definitely one of our strengths,” Beck said. “The key now will be timely hitting and limiting our mistakes. You can have a bad day at the plate and still win with good pitching and strong defense. Winning two of those three areas each game is always the goal.”

Beck is expected to start either Ben Slanker or A.J. Havrilla in the tourney opener.

Slanker, who hits for both average and power, was the winning pitcher in the district title game while Havrilla, also a five-tool player, pitched four shutout innings in the same game.

“All teams in the tournament will have excellent pitching, so we’ll have to pitch well, play good defense and continue to put the ball in play,” Havrilla said.

Broc Lowry, one of four players hitting over .400, will call the signals behind the plate with Jake Schneider, the only 9-year-old selected to the district team, the starting first baseman who is considered one of the team’s best baserunners.

Luca Ricchiuti is the team’s lead-off hitter and second baseman while Slanker and Connor Daggett share shortstop duties, and Havrilla and Daggett third-base chores, depending on who draws the mound assignment.

Ricchiuti led off their first district game against Boardman with a home run while Daggett, known as “Mr. Utility,” laced a triple to break a scoreless tie in the championship game.

“I’ve never had an opportunity to play for something this big so it’s a very special time for me,” Daggett said. “We’re all good friends that just work together as a team. When we do that, good things happen.”

Outfield speed is sometimes the exception and not the rule and this year’s Canfield team is blessed to have that commodity as eight players cover plenty of ground from foul pole to foul pole.

Ty Stricko, Logan Cayavec and Connor Miller are the left fielders while Jameson Beck and Jack Davis share centerfield duties.

Stricko has emerged as one of the better defensive outfielders while his speed keeps pressure on an opponent’s defense.

Cayavec hits the ball hard consistently, Miller also pitches and Davis possesses great speed and power for his size.

As for Beck, son of the manager, he made the transition from infield to outfield this year and is the quarterback of the outfield. He wasn’t called upon to pitch during district play, but has an active arm and was one of the team leaders in both strikeouts and earned run average.

“We’re an excellent hitting team with power, so cashing in when runners are on base is the goal,” Beck said. “We’re a team that is there for each other so when someone is down, someone else is right there to pick him up.”

Dominic Marzano, Ryan Schneider and Peyton Ahlquist are the right fielders.

Marzano, like Beck, made the transition this year from the infield, Schneider possesses one of the strongest arms while Ahlquist is considered one of the fastest players.

In addition to Slanker and Havrilla, other pitchers include Ricchuiti, Beck, Daggett and Miller.

The tournament concludes on Aug. 8.