Slow start, but fast finish as Spartans earn 1st win

March 29, 2019 at 12:05a.m.

STRUTHERS

Hungry for a first win, the Boardman High School baseball team’s first defensive inning against Ursuline delivered indigestion.

But the Spartans’ bats came to life in the third inning as they feasted for a 15-5, six-inning victory on Thursday at Cene Park.

First baseman Charlie Davis sparked Boardman (1-4) with three hits, three runs scored and five RBIs.

Davis credited head coach Joe Gabriel’s visit to the mound in the first frame for keeping the Spartans calm.

“He was talking about how it’s still a long game and we still have a whole bunch of time to battle back,” Davis said. “We just kept that attitude.”

Davis’ two-run double in the third inning scored Travis Harvey and Dylan Gurski to put Boardman ahead 5-4. Davis then scored on Ty Ventresco’s two-out single.

“I hit a first-pitch fastball,” said Davis, who sent the ball to center field where it bounced off the glove on Pat Donofrio’s outstretched arm.

Mike Fetsko scored three runs, had two hits and reached base four times.

“This is really nice for us,” Fetsko said. “We’re coming off a four-game skid and our offense was really struggling.”

The Irish (0-4) also were seeking a first win and appeared to be well on their way when they scored three runs on one hit in their first at-bat.

“We are not doing the mental things to win,” Ursuline head Matt Weymer said. “It’s real disappointing because we have a lot of experience.”

Two errors and a balk contributed to the early 3-0 lead. After Vince Armeni came home on a wild pitch, Jeremy Kreuzwieser reached on an error then scored on Brady Shannon’s two-out single.

Fetsko said the Spartans weren’t frustrated.

“It was only the first inning and I knew our team could get the bats going,” the second baseman said.

The Spartans scored twice in the second inning without the benefit of a hit. Davis scored on a groundout and Luke Stauffer came home on a balk.

The tide then turned after Mason Smith relieved Jason Triveri.

“His pitching held us in until we got the bats going,” Gabriel said. “He kind of kept [Ursuline] at bay for us and allowed our offense to get going.

“He did a really nice job after we scored.”

Fetsko’s lead-off triple against reliever Dan Yoder helped the Spartans extend the lead to 8-4.

“He threw me a fastball right down the middle,” Fetsko said, adding that an earlier fastball was high. “It was a 1-1 count and I knew if I saw another [fastball] I had to mash it.”

Ursuline’s other run came in the fourth inning when Colin Balas doubled and scored on Kreuzwieser’s hit.