Baird, Astro Falcons set for NABF World Series

July 20, 2016 at 12:08a.m.

11 visiting teams will be at Cene Park

STRUTHERS

The 73rd annual NABF 18-U World Series baseball tournament gets under way Thursday at Bob Cene Park with 13 teams beginning pool play.

Class B league champions Baird Brothers and runners-up Astro Falcons, who had the best overall regular season record, are the two local automatic qualifiers.

They join last week’s regional champion Brownlee Lookouts Black and runner-up Hurricanes Select, both members of the Cleveland Diamond League, as Northeast Ohio entries.

“It’s very exciting to once again serve as host of the 18-U World Series,” Scott Ruark, Class B president and tournament director said. “The best of the best go up against each other and it’s always a very competitive week.”

Rounding out the field is Bethlehem (N.Y.) Eagles, Crab (Md.) University, Diamond Hit Club, Michigan Bulls, Sayo (N.Y.) Grays, Spring Cove (Pa.) Dragons, Team Ontario, Troy American Legion Post #43 and West New York Tigers.

Baird Brothers (37-6) is guided by manager Don Pletcher in his first season with the league champions. This will be Pletcher’s third World Series appearance — he led Ohio Glaciers to the 2014 title while his Kuboff Insurance entry advanced to the semifinals in 2012.

“It’s a special feeling when you earn a spot in the World Series,” Pletcher said.

Pletcher’s roster includes seven players who have earned college scholarships: Alex Stobert (Tallahassee College), Casey Vincent (St. Bonaventure), John Mathews (Kent State), Sam Ireland (Calhoun College in Alabama), Christian Fetko (Connecticut), Colton Wilbur (Roane State Community College in Tennessee) and Mark Engle (Radford)

Three others have made verbal commitments for 2017.

Pitcher Sam Greenberg (4-0, 0.76 earned-run average) was this year’s Class B “Pitcher of the Year” and is expected to get the starting mound assignment on Thursday. He allowed just 12 hits and three earned runs in 27 2/3rds innings of work, also striking out 34 batters.

Ireland (.352, 23 runs) holds down first base, Engle second base, Mathews (.474) shortstop and Josh Anderson (.356, 16 runs) third base.

Matt DiDonato (.367, 23 runs), Dom Bucko (.493, seven doubles, seven triples and five home runs — all team bests) and Brandon Burkes (.317) roam the outfield from left to right.

Pletcher’s two tournament additions are Knightline Embroidery pitcher Mike Boswell (3-1, 2.86, 22 innings, 33 strikeouts) and catcher Jared Lyons (.465, 40 hits — second most in league) of Dura-Edge.

The Astro Falcons guided by Andy Timko won the Class B regular season with a 25-2 mark. The Falcons also won of the Bob Cene Memorial Tournament (7-1).

Timko and his staff (Brian Kubala and Mike Popio) have been together for 11 seasons and have won seven league titles — four of the last six while with the Astro Falcons.

They also won the 2012 NABF World Series crown when they posted a team record 51-5 overall mark.

The Falcons are led by league batting champion Matt Gibson (.517) whose 45 hits, 73 total bases and nine triples were league bests.

Other key players include Ball State University recruit Joe Gunn (.327); Jack Anderson (.464), who is headed to Northwestern; and Ohio State signee Michael McDonough (4-0, 1.88).

The team has three Mercyhurst recruits: Vinny Lucente (4-0, 1.33), Tyler Cannon (.386) and Jared Kapturasky (1-0, three saves, .247).

Other players are Baldwin-Wallace recruit Jacob Bonner (.383), Rich Serignese (1-0, three saves, 2.80, seven stolen bases) who is headed to California State University (Pa.); and Noah Laster (.384, 14 RBIs).

Tournament additions are: Jacob Reimold (.485, 33 hits) and Hank Clegg (3-1, 27 strikeouts in 28 innings) from Avalanche; Zach Senchak (.438) from Dura-Edge; Dylan Speicher (.333) from Knightline Embroidery; Tim Sumner (.310) from Roth Brothers; and Nick Petrolla (.350) of Southside Recycling.

Thursday’s schedule will be released later today.