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Canfield falls to Tuscarawas in state title game
Two big innings were difference
in 10-U Little League championship
By BOB ETTINGER
JEFFERSON
In the immediate aftermath of a 12-2 loss to Tuscarawas County in the championship game of the 10-U Little League State Tournament at Lehotsky Field in Jefferson, Canfield manager Pete Patellis and his assistant coaches accepted their pins from District 1 board members and turned toward their players.
Patellis walked down the line, followed by his assistants, and, while trying to keep his emotions in check, hugged each and every player while sharing a few words of encouragement.
“I’m just proud of the way they’ve grown from the first day of practice at the beginning of June,” Patellis said. “We’ve had a lot of fun in practices and during games. They play for each other. They’re all for each other. That means more than what the scoreboard says. They made memories they will never forget.”
Canfield surrendered five runs in the second and five more in the fourth while giving up a run each in the first and third. The team surrendered just five hits but walked 10 and committed four errors.
“It’s frustrating the way it’s ending,” Patellis said. “We picked a bad day to have an off day defensively. We swung the bat well, but we were just hitting the ball right at them. I’m proud of every single kid, the effort they’ve given and the teamwork. We’ve focused on the teamwork. That’s what’s gotten us here.
“It’s not the way we wanted it to end, but we were one of the last two teams in the state standing. I want to thank my assistant coaches, Matt Campbell and Rob Dovich, the parents and the families. Their support has been tremendous. Only one team can win at the end of the day and today was not our day.”
Those two long innings snowballed out of control before the Canfield players could right the ship.
“We had trouble throwing strikes and the innings got a little longer,” Patellis said. “Then we had some miscues in the field. That tends to happen in baseball. Again, if we throw strikes and have some quick innings, we can get the momentum. It was just an off day for the defense and that happens.”
Compounding those struggles, the Canfield players were making solid contact and had runners on base. They just couldn’t get the ball through any holes in the Tuscarawas County defense.
“That’s the frustrating part,” Patellis said. “At the plate, we were getting good swings. We just hit it at them and they made the plays. Give Tuscarawas County credit. They’re a very solid team. Sometimes, that’s the way baseball goes. You hit it well and don’t get the results and the other team doesn’t hit and scores runs. At the end of the day, you do your best and see how it all shakes out.”
Canfield plated two runs in the third when Jake Dovich singled, but was erased on a fielder’s choice from Louie Zorella. Zorella took second on an error and went al the way around to score on another as Tyce Bair reached and went all the way to second. Bair moved up on a wild pitch and scored on a groundout from Ryan Weibling.
“I’m most proud, from Day 1 until now, of the growth they’ve shown, both as a team and on the field with each other,” Patellis said. “Today wasn’t our day, but I’m proud of the class they showed after losing. Being a coach in a youth sport, from beginning to end seeing the growth and the smiles, is the reason why we do it. It’s great to win, but even more, it’s about the kids and their experiences.”
Logan Patellis singled twice to lead the Canfield offense while Dovich also singled.
The Canfield players didn’t just create memories for themselves, but also for their manager, who struggled to keep his emotions together while discussing his boys.
“It’s just them getting along,” Patellis said. “A lot of them were friends before they were teammates here. All three of us, as coaches, preach team and playing together. We set goals. You can’t be successful if you don’t have goals. The kids bought in and it drew them closer and us as coaches closer. Our results were due to that teamwork.”