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Knightline hopes to stitch together another title
By Greg Gulas
YOUNGSTOWN
The PONY Palomino World Series begins Thursday with East Zone champion and local Class B entry Knightline Embroidery one of eight teams in the field competing for the title.
Knightline, managed by Tommy “Juice” Otto, qualified by defeating Worthington-Kittanning Sunday to capture the East Zone championship at Bob Cene Park in Struthers.
They will kick off tournament play at noon when they go up against Caguas, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean Zone representative.
Knightline, which won all four of its Zone decisions, including three by one run, will carry 18 players on its roster, an even mix of regular-season players and roster additions.
“It has been a couple of whirlwind weeks for us, playing in other tournaments and traveling but this will be the furthest that we will have traveled as a team,” Otto said. “It’s exciting because the kids and games make it all worthwhile. Every team is unique in its own special way and this team has been very special from the very first day.”
Dotting Otto’s regular-season roster were just five 18-year-olds with more than 60 percent of its players eligible to play for its 16-U league entry.
They struggled at the outset with a variety players still committed to their high school teams due to the OHSAA and PIAA tournaments.
When they had a full complement of players, it didn’t take long for them to become a formidable unit.
“We started 6-7, but went 16-8 the rest of the way and played well down the stretch,” Otto said. “I would be remiss if I didn’t mention our coaching staff because Jerry Hunter, Mike Veres, Chris Constantino and Tom Tedesco share in the success of this team as well.”
Knightline’s regular-season unit included Timmy Herberger (catcher), Marcus Masters (pitcher, infielder and outfielder), J.T. Wolke (pitcher, first baseman), Anthony Cinicola (infielder), Jake Gherardi (infielder), Jake Kaschak (outfielder), Zach Campbell (second base, outfielder), Aaron Erimias (pitcher) and Mike Massucci (pitcher).
Tournament additions include Dominic Michael (pitcher, infielder), Hank Clegg (pitcher) and Mike Soots (third baseman, DH) from Avalanche, Tyler Srbinovich (pitcher, infielder) and Mike Grazier (catcher) of Roth Brothers, Laz Lebron (pitcher) of Southside Recycling, Bryce Ritchie (shortstop) of Creekside Fitness, Mark Herron (outfielder) of Roby Lee’s and Andy Sodergren (pitcher, outfielder) of DuraEdge.
“Eight of our team members were named to the all-Class B league team, so we feel like have a nice blend of talent that can make a run at a World Series title,” Otto said. “Every coach tells you that in order to win you have to play good defense, limit opponent scoring opportunities, execute offensively and have productive innings. You cannot beat yourself and must take advantage when you have runners in scoring position. You also cannot afford to come up empty with runners on base.”
Massucci will get the opening-game start with Wolke, Clegg, Srbinovich, Masters, Erimias, Lebron, and Ritchie ready for mound duty.
Michael is the closer while Sodergren’s resume lists two saves during East Zone play.
Herberger, Grazier and Masters will call the signals, Wolke and Masters are the first basemen with Cinicola, Michael and Srbinovich holding down second.
Ritchie and Cinicola are the shortstops with Gherardi and Soots rounding out the left side of the infield at third base.
Campbell (left field), Kaschak (centerfield) and the platoon of Herron and Masters in right completes the outfield.
“Having been in baseball for over 25 years, this is the first time that I will be facing an international team so that makes this World Series that much more exciting,” Otto said.
In addition to Knightline and Caguas, Puerto Rico, also included in their division play will be San Jose, Calif. (Asia Pacific Zone champion) and Santa Clara (West Zone champions).
Comprising the other division will be Sinaba, Mazatlan (Mexico Zone champion), Mount Pleasant, Mich. (North Zone champion), Lafayette, La. (South Zone champion) and Santa Clara, the host team.