Creekside defeats Golden Spikes

July 15, 2017 at 12:10a.m.

STRUTHERS

T.J. DeShields tossed five solid innings to lead Creekside Fitness to Friday’s 6-2 victory over Cleveland Golden Spikes in opening-round action of the NABF senior division regional baseball tournament at Cene Park.

Eric Sapp had two hits and drove in a run while Pad O’Shaughnessy doubled and scored twice.

DeShields scattered five hits and struck out five to pick up the win. He admitted that he didn’t really find his groove until after the first inning despite not yielding a base hit until the fourth inning.

“I struggled in the first inning, especially with my slider,” DeShields said. “But once I got it to work, it got the batters to thinking and kept them off-balance.

“We had a nice game today offensively, just trying to manufacture runs any way that we could while playing smart, heads-up ball when we got runners on base and into scoring position.”

This is the 74th year for the senior division tournament and Youngstown Class B League has sent 14 teams to 13 national championship contests. They own a 6-7 mark overall.

Creekside has advanced to the national title tilt twice over the past four summers (2014 and 2013), and is looking to return after a two-year absence.

Friday’s win gets them one step closer to achieving their goal.

“We aren’t looking ahead and definitely taking it one game at a time, but the regional and the national championship is being played right here at Cene Park so the goal is to stay alive and advance,” Creekside manager Bubba Boughner said. “There is an advantage to playing at home because you get to sleep in your own bed and eat your own home cooked meals.”

Boughner was pleased with his team’s overall effort, calling their four-run fourth inning a big boost offensively.

“T.J. struggled with his command early on, but settled in and then pitched really well,” Boughner said. “Pad has come up big for us all year and it’s easy to see how he hit over .400 during the regular season.

“He’s a gamer while Eric has also done a great job for us as well. He played college ball at Gannon and has been mainstay for us all year.”

Creekside drew first blood in the third inning, taking advantage of two Golden Spikes infield errors, two run-scoring singles and a steal of home to forge a 4-0 advantage.

With one out, Alex Hernandez reached on an error by shortstop Chares Winans, stole second and then raced home when Braeden O’Shaughessy reached on a throwing error by third baseman Anthony Cesar for a 1-0 lead.

Run-scoring singles by Dom Pecchia and Dan Klase increased the margin to 3-0. Then with two away and runners at the corners, Golden Spikes pitcher Jimmie Clark attempted to pick-off Klase, which allowed Pecchia to race home.

The Golden Spikes cut Creekside’s lead in half in the fourth frame, with a double up the gap by Donny Watters that plated Cesar and Josh Gibson.

Creekside increased their lead in the fifth frame, adding a tally for a 5-2 lead after Sapp’s two-out single scored O’Shaughnessy.

“We like to run because it opens up more scoring opportunities,” O’Shaughnessy said. “Coach Boughner always puts us in position to score and it’s up to us to take advantage of those opportunities. It’s big to get that first win under your belt.”

Noah Suarez’s sacrifice fly produced another run in the sixth inning.

“Our mindset was to hit the ball, stay level and limit our pop-ups,” Sapp said. “All night the ball came into me and moved toward my knees, which is where I like it.”

Creekside will next meet Release Baseball today at 9 a.m. in second-round action, then will play Hurricanes Select at 5 p.m.