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Boardman tops Canfield for 8-10 district title
Boardman wins
District 2 title
BOARDMAN
Despite being the visiting team on the scoreboard, Boardman cracked the community whip and took an early 3-0 lead, then held off Canfield, 8-4, to prevail as the 8-10-year-old District 2 champions.
Saturday’s game that began at noon with Anthony Triveri’s first-pitch groundout under an overcast sky, ended around 1:45 p.m. with teammate Max Switka’s leaping catch in center field in the sun.
Boardman’s 10-year-olds will open state-tournament play in Englewood — near Dayton — on July 23 at 2 p.m. against the District 8/District 9 game winner.
After Boardman took a three-run lead in the second inning, Canfield came as close 3-2 in the bottom of the second before falling behind again in the fourth inning, 6-2, and by 7-2 in the fifth.
Despite being out-hit, 5-4, manager Dom Triveri’s Little League team put together several components of baseball to survive.
“Pitchers threw strikes, defense played great and we had some timely hitting,” Dom Triveri said, “so they worked hard these last couple weeks, especially in this tournament. Hats off to my kids.”
Over the course of the game, Boardman, whose record was 4-0 during its District 2 run, benefited from nine wild pitches, eight walks, three stolen bases and a passed ball.
Anthony Triveri pitched 41/3 innings, allowed three hits and struck out five before his pitch count of 75 gave way to Ryan Neifer.
“Anthony’s record was 2-0 in the tournament, including no-hit ball for 41/3 innings against Howland,” said his father-manager.
Triveri had one of Boardman’s four hits, with Grayson Eicher and Neifer also adding singles. Teammate and catcher Kaden Mayhew was the game’s lone extra-base hitter with a double in the three-run fourth.
“He’s one of the best in the area,” Dom Triveri said of Mayhew, who had several critical stops behind the plate in the bottom of the sixth before Canfield loaded the bases and scored two runs during a potentially dangerous uprising.
“He’s fast, he’s quick, so he’s an athlete and he’s a great second baseman, too,” the manager said of Mayhew.
Third baseman Mason Nawrocki made some nice plays via assists in the first and third innings. “He pitches, but is good at the corners, too,” Triveri said of Nawrocki’s play as both third baseman and first baseman.
Switka, however, got the biggest cheers for his game-ending catch of Quinn Gaca’s fly ball while running to his right.
“Max developed into a center fielder last year and, ever since then, he’s been great. He’s been lights-out for us. He covers a lot of ground, so that’s why we have him out there.”
Canfield manager Dan Anzevino chalked up the loss to a less-than-perfect performance, especially on defense:
“Missing a few here and there,” Anzevino said of his team’s defensive execution that included two errors to Boardman’s one. “But it’s just fuel for next year. We’ll work harder in the offseason and we’ll see these guys again; they’re a very good team, so we’ll get a chance to play again.”
Canfield lost its first game of the tournament, then fought back to win three straight before Saturday.
“I’m proud of what they’ve been able to accomplish and how much better they’ve been able to get from last year to this year,” Anzevino said.
Canfield’s five hits were by Noah Anzevino, Nicholas Lavanty, Angelo Delucia, Drew Snyder and Enzo Cocca.
Defensively, Delucia’s third-base play in the first three innings was as sharp as Nawrocki — his counterpart from Boardman.
Losing pitcher Noah Anzevino allowed two hits and struck out two over four innings before his pitch count of 76 brought on David Murphy.