Astro Falcons win big in Bob Cene Memorial

June 27, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

STRUTHERS

It’s nice to have won three of the last four league titles and to be atop the division again with playoffs looming, but the Astro Falcons still feel winning the tournament named after their late sponsor is one goal that must be achieved in order to call it a successful summer season.

By winning their first three tournament games, Astros manager Andy Timko added that the tournament is also a way to get pitchers some much-needed work with the Class B regular season winding down.

Jared Burkert threw a one-hitter and struck out eight to lead the Astros to an 11-0 win over the Ohio Rebels in five innings in the Bob Cene Memorial Tournament at Cene Park.

Lou Cardona added two hits, including a double and three RBIs, and Jared Houser laced three hits and scored three runs to pace the Astros.

For Burkert, it was the first time that he was asked to go more than an inning since pitching for Poland High School in this year’s state tournament.

“I just wanted to locate my fastball and didn’t throw many off-speed pitches, pretty much working the outside of the plate,” Burkert said. “Today was as complete a game that we’ve played all season and while we’re still a work in progress, I believe we’re hitting our stride as a team.”

It didn’t take the Astros long to get on the board as they sent 10 batters to the plate in the opening frame, scored four runs courtesy of three walks, an error and two hits for the early 4-0 advantage.

The first three hitters — Riley Campbell, Jared Houser and Jared Kapturasky — each scored with the big blow a sacrifice fly off the bat of Kyle Benyo for a 3-0 lead.

A double steal then made it 4-0 when Jim Standohar crossed the plate.

They increased their lead to 5-0 in the third when Matt Campbell’s sacrifice fly plated Ed Crump.

The Astros sent eight more batters to the plate in the fourth inning, scoring four more times for a 9-0 lead.

Cardona’s three-run double and a run-scoring double by Benyo highlighted the inning.

“It was a 3-2 count and I was thinking fast ball. The ball was up in the zone and I was able to drive it into the gap,” Cardona said. “We needed a win like this going into the final two days of the tournament.”

The Astros continued the offensive onslaught in the fifth inning, adding the game’s final two runs with Houser’s double and Kapturasky’s two-run single the highlights.

“With a lefty coming in, his ball was moving away from me so I wanted to stay on it and drive it down the line,” Houser said. “Our pitching has been excellent all season long and today our bats came alive as well.”

Timko, who has managed six the last eight league champions, said the tournament is a chance to get his pitchers some much-needed work.

“We still have a few banged up players and they are ready to return on Monday. We have eight regular-season games left plus the playoffs ,so any time you can play baseball it only helps,” Timko said. “We have arms that need work and this tournament is an opportunity for them to get them some work.”

Today, the top 16 teams will advance to the single-elimination championship bracket while the other eight teams will advance to the consolation bracket.

Two championship rounds and one consolation round comprise today’s action.

On Sunday, the semifinals and finals of each bracket will be played in order to determine a champion.