Creekside Crocs win title with coach on DL

By Greg Gulas

sports@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

In 36 years of postseason play, a Youngstown team had never advanced to the National Amateur Baseball Federation tournament’s championship round.

That all changed last weekend when Youngs-town’s Creekside Crocodiles, members of the eight-team Tri-State Collegiate league, went undefeated to capture the area’s first ever college World Series title.

Managed by local sandlot veteran and NABF hall of famer Bob Mingo, who had taken a team to each previous tournament, this year’s title seemed to be scripted straight out of a Hollywood movie.

“We checked into our hotel on Wednesday evening but on Thursday morning, about 5 a.m., I had lower abdominal pain that was, quite frankly, unbearable,” Mingo said. “With the tournament set to start at noon, I called down to Pad O’Shaughnessy, Nick Petrolla and Brandon Scheidenmantle’s room looking for help.

“They in turn called 911 and I was off to the hospital. I was thinking kidney stones, but it turned out that I had a ruptured appendix wrapped around my colon, ended up having emergency surgery and was sidelined for the tournament.”

Enter Petrolla and O’Shaughnessy, and Mingo’s longtime friend-manager Ed Mouch of the host Toledo Hawks, who made sure that the Crocodiles’ ship stayed the course by assuming the reins of the team.

All the players did was guide the team to five consecutive wins, ended up in the championship game and defeated Stark County’s Canton Terriers, 12-3, to claim the area’s first-ever title.

“When Nick and I went to coach’s room, we weren’t exactly worrying about our first game, which was just seven hours away,” O’Shaughnessy said. “We were worried about him and wanted to make sure that he would be alright.

The players and coaches wanted to give a team effort for Mingo while he was in the hospital. It was difficult at first, but players stepped up in their roles.

During the regular season, Mingo was assisted by Charlie White. White was unable to attend the tournament, however, whose direction then fell on the players’ shoulders.

To appreciate the Crocodiles’ run, one need only look at their scores as they defeated the Michigan Area Braves, 13-10 in 11 innings to open play, following that up with a 4-1 win over Maryland Bay Crabs and a 9-8 victory in 13 innings over the Terriers to remain undefeated in pool play.

In the semi-finals, they stopped Cleveland Blaze, 6-5, setting up a return meeting and showdown with the Terriers for the title.

No one appreciates their run more than Mingo.

“This was definitely a team of destiny,” Mingo said. “They were so special because of how they conducted themselves both on and off the field the entire tournament. I need to thank catcher Coleman Stauffer’s father, Dave, and Ed Mouch for also stepping in to make sure everything ran smoothly.”

Mouch said the approach the players took in Mingo’s absence was most professional.

“You never really know kids when you play against them so sitting on their bench when I was in the dugout, I got to know them and they were awesome,” Mouch said. “Truth be told, we’re all in this together and while I did this for Bob, if the shoe was on the other foot then I know he would do the same for me.”

On Sunday, the team left for Johnstown, Pa., where they will compete in the AAABA (All-American Amateur Baseball Association) Tournament. The tournament runs Aug. today through Monday.