Astro Falcons dominate in Bob Cene Memorial

June 23, 2017 at 12:05a.m.

STRUTHERS

Scoring nine runs in the top of the first inning in the first game of what could be a four-day tournament is a luxury any manager would embrace.

“Kids came out swinging the bats,” Astro Falcons manager Andy Timko said following Thursday’s 15-0 victory over Steel City Select from Pittsburgh in the first day of the Bob Cene Memorial Tournament for players ages 17-18. “They did what they had to do to put the game out of reach and we were able to get the younger kids in.”

Matt Gibson of New Castle, Pa., struck one of the early blows with a two-out, two-run triple to deep center field to make it 7-0. Jack Anderson from Mars, Pa., later doubled as Gibson and Nick Zona scored for the 9-0 lead.

“I knew our team is good coming in to this,” said first baseman Noah Laster, a recent graduate of Jackson-Milton High School. “I know if we play our game, we’ll win this tournament.”

Thirty-two teams — seven from the Mahoning Valley — are participating in the four-day event. Other Class B teams are Baird Brothers, Dura Edge, Creekside, Roth Brothers, Avalanche and Knightline.

The combatants, which include entries from Illinois and Michigan, are divided into eight groups. Each squad plays the other three teams in its pool, with the two doing the best advancing to a single-elimination round.

Because so many teams are entered, games are being played at Bob Cene Park’s three fields as well as at Pemberton Park, South Range High School, Springfield High School, Salem, Niles and Warren.

The 16 teams who qualify for the elimination round are scheduled to play twice on Saturday. The four teams winning twice in that round will move on to Sunday play.

But with Mother Nature on deck with a rainy forecast, the schedule could be revised.

Laster isn’t positive the threatening rain will materialize.

“We’re in Ohio, you never know,” Laster said. “It could say 100 percent chance of rain and then not rain a drop. Or it can say 20 percent chance and start pouring.”

Astro Falcons are scheduled to play today at South Range at 10 a.m. (Golden Spikes from Ohio) and 3 p.m. (Lansing Post 205 from Michigan).

“If it rains and rains and rains, they have a backup schedule,” Timko said. “They do a pretty good job of running this tournament.”

Three games on Saturday is a possibility because of the forecast, which is why resting starting pitchers can produce a big advantage.

Big leads favor the scoring teams — if a squad goes up by at least 15 after three innings, the game is called on a run-rule. The same is true for a 10-run lead after four innings and an eight-run advantage after five.

Timko had starting pitcher James Kontour pitch the first inning, then replaced him with Aaron Eramus to finish the four-inning contest.

Gibson had three hits and scored three times while Anderson scored twice and also had an RBI triple.

“They hit all year,” Timko said.

Laster and Anderson said the Class B players are fortunate to call home the ballpark Cene created in 1995.

“It’s a beautiful baseball field and it’s an honor to have a place like this to play every day,” Laster said.

Anderson said: “It’s awesome top be able to play at this nice field every day.”