Poland bounces back vs. Canfield

Poland vs Canfield

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By DAN HINER

sports@vindy.com

CANFIELD

The Poland baseball team lost its first matchup against Canfield on Monday, but the Bulldogs took care of business in the rematch on Tuesday afternoon.

After losing 4-1 in the previous meeting, Poland beat Canfield 9-1 due to quality situation hitting and pitching.

After leading 1-0 in the first, Braeden O’Shaunghnessy found himself on third base and two outs. While the Canfield infield was discussing what to do with two outs, O’Shaunghnessy stole home to extend the lead to 2-0.

Photo Gallery: Poland vs Canfield

The Bulldogs (12-4) were aggressive in the top of the first inning. Poland jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first and never looked back.

Poland pitcher Don Drummond threw a complete game, allowing one hit, two walks and seven strikeouts.

Canfield’s only run was scored thanks to a single and a stolen base from designated hitter Jimmy Fitzgerald. He came around to score on back-to-back wild pitches.

Canfield (11-3) didn’t record its only hit of the game until the bottom of the third inning. Canfield coach Matt Koenig said his players needed to be more aggressive at the plate. The early lead allowed Poland to relax.

“He pounded the zone all day long,” Koenig said. “When your given a four-run lead in the top of the first, he did exactly what their coach wants them to do and that’s pound the strike zone and make the other team swing the bats and unfortunately, we didn’t do that very well.”

Koenig said that’s how baseball works. He said his players played well on Monday, but Poland got the upper hand in the rematch.

Drummond said his first few starts of the season “were shaky” but he had command of his fastball on Tuesday. He said his coach wanted him to be aggressive and he told his teammates to get him an early lead.

“We’ve been struggling hitting and I just wanted to throw strikes for my team,” Drummond said. “I told them before the game, ‘Put up a few runs and I’ll shut them down.’”

After the Cardinals cut the lead to 4-1 in the third, the Bulldogs put the nail in the coffin by scoring at least one run in each of the final four innings.

The Bulldogs knocked Canfield starting pitcher Ian McGraw out of the game after four innings. In McGraw’s final inning, Poland centerfielder Tony Chiaro hit a two-run double to deep center field to push the lead to 6-1.

Chiaro went 1-2 and led the Bulldogs with three RBIs. Poland second baseman Vince Garayua was second on the team with two RBIs.

Poland shortstop Braeden O’Shaunghnessy finished the game 5-for-5, with three runs scored and an RBI — four singles and an RBI double.

“He started off a little bit rough this year. Obviously he’s come alive…we need his bat,” Poland head coach Rich Murray said. “He really stepped up big today.

“It was big getting a couple runs early. We put a little pressure on them and we haven’t been doing that recently. We were able to relax.”