Trumbull County wins All Star classic

By DAN HINES

dhiner@vindy.com

NILES

Some fans weren’t pleased when the announcer said the 2019 High School Valley All Star Classic wouldn’t go into extra innings at Eastwood Field. The game was only scheduled to go nine innings and could have ended in a tie.

However, Girard’s Austin Claussell drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth, giving Trumbull County a 4-3 win over Mahoning on Friday.

Champion’s Andrew Russell reached on a error and Hubbard’s Jamie Thomson entered as a pinch runner. Thomson advanced to second base on a wild pitch by Poland’s Braden Olson and Claussell drove the next pitch to right-center field.

“I had a lot of pressure on myself, but I had to come through and help our team win,” Claussell said.

Olson took the loss in the exhibition. He allowed one walk and struck out two in two-plus innings of work.

Springfield’s Shane Eynon got the start on the mound. He allowed three runs – two earned – on three hits. Austintown Fitch’s Brett Porter pitched three scoreless innings of relief, allowing one walk and one hit with two strikeouts.

Russell was the starting pitcher for Trumbull. He struck out two in an inning of work. Trumbull used nine pitchers in the game with Hubbard’s Lukas Mosora earning the win.

Thomson set up Trumbull’s first score in the first inning. He reached on an infield single and stole second and third. Niles’ Nick Guarnieri hit a sacrifice fly later in the inning.

Mosora hit a lead-off triple in the second and scored on a groundout by Warren Harding’s Matt Williams.

“It’s great. Me and Luke, both Hubbard guys, felt great to come out here and help the team out,” Thomson said. “I got on in the first, stole second, stole third and scored. In the second inning, he probably blasted one – probably two-hopped it off the fence – got a triple.

“It felt great. [Came] out here and representing Hubbard the way we wanted to.”

Trumbull scored for the third straight inning after Claussell reached on a two-base throwing error in the third. He scored on an RBI single to right-center by Bristol’s Gage Elza.

Mahoning scored all three of its runs in the top of the fifth.

Ursuline’s Pat Donofrio was hit by a pitch and South Range’s Jared Bajerski reached on a fielder’s choice. Donofrio scored on a single by Lowellville’s Micah Mamula-Zarlingo, who advanced to second on a throwing error from the outfield.

Chaney’s Valar Blair hit a two-run double to center field to tie the game at 3.

“It was a little stressful because this is my first time playing with all these people,” Blair said of his double. “We played against almost every team here. I had fun. I had a blast.”

Mahoning had a chance to take the lead in the top of the ninth with runners at the corners. But Mosora got Springfield’s Jarrett Orbin to bounce into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

“It feels great to win the last game in high school, especially to win in walk-off fashion like that, it was great,” Thomson said.

Girard went 7-15 during the 2019 season, so the game-winner was a nice way for Claussell to cap his senior season.

“It’s amazing. I get to play with my best friends,” Claussell said. “I’ve known these guys forever. It’s amazing.”