Niles, W. Reserve among the top seeds

May 1, 2017 at 12:00a.m.

Tournament play begins on May 8

STRUTHERS

The Struthers District high school baseball tournament will get under way on May 8 with Division II kicking off sectional play at host team sites.

Niles is the top seed in Division II. Kent Roosevelt (Division I), Canton Central Catholic (Division III) and Western Reserve (Division IV) round out the top divisional seeds, all earning first-round byes.

The Division II finals take place May 9 at sites of higher seeded teams. Division III action also commences on May 9 (finals are May 10); Division IV begins May 10 (finals are May 11); and Division I concludes the week with semifinals May 11 (finals May 12).

The Red Dragons (15-2) have won three straight and are undefeated in All-American Conference White Tier play. Last year in the district semifinals, they lost to Marlington 1-0 in eight innings. (Poland won the district title, 7-6).

Marlington is the number-six seed this year.

“We play team baseball and it’s just been a team concept for us all season,” Niles coach T.C, Guarnieri said. “They understand their roles and do what we have ask of them so it’s easy to understand our success thus far.”

Canfield (12-3) is the number-two seed with Poland three and West Branch four.

The Cardinals won the Mingo Bay Classic and split their two contests with the Bulldogs.

“Our team consists of mostly juniors,” Canfield coach Matt Koenig said.

Poland went undefeated on its spring trip and the momentum that was generated has spilled over to yet another successful regular season.

Canton Central Catholic defeated Cardinal Mooney (3-2) to win last year’s Division III district title. Columbiana (17-2 overall, 7-1 Inter-Tri County League White Division) enters as the number-two seed, riding a five game win streak.

South Range (14-4) also has won five consecutive games and is the number-three seed while Mooney is number four.

In Division IV, number-two Jackson-Milton will look for revenge against Western Reserve. Last year, the Blue Devils won the Bluejays, 3-2, in the district final.

Head coach Ed Anthony’s Blue Devils have won the last three district tiles, advancing to the state title game in 2014, the state Final Four in 2015 and the regional championship game last year.

“Our district is very competitive this year so it won’t be an easy path to the district,” Anthony said.

The Blue Jays also fell short in the district championship game two years ago. Head coach Kevin Hogue’s team is seeking the program’s first district crown.

The Bluejays (14-3, 8-0 Inter-Tri County League Bluie) will host the Blue Devils (16-3, 7-1) today. They’ll play again on Tuesday.

“This really is anybody’s district to win,” Hogue said.

Lisbon is the number-three seed and McDonald is four.

In Division I, Kent Roosevelt is looking to dethrone Stow-Munroe Falls, the sixth seed. The other top seeds are Howland at two, Boardman at three and Walsh Jesuit at four.

The Tigers (11-5, 7-1 AAC Red Tier) enter the week riding a four-game win streak. Boardman (11-11) recently defeated the state’s 13th-ranked team, Solon, by a 5-3 count.

“We’ve been playing better of late, but have been a little Jekyll and Hyde this season,” Spartans head coach Joe Gabriel said.

All sectional games begin at 4:30 p.m.