Mathew Lee

CANTON- In the Canton region played at Thurman Munson Stadium, No. 14 Chardon High School (25-3) and No. 17 Mayfield High School (23-4) was to battle in the 1^st semi-final game.

Both teams were handing the ball to their aces on the mound. Chardon was sending senior John Martillotta, a Toledo recruit and Mayfield was sending senior Matt Iosue, coming in with a 0.31 ERA.

The game was explosive from an offensive point of view from the beginning. Mayfield got it started in the top of the 1^st; senior Cory Nager started the game with a single to center. He advanced to third very rapidly on two passed balls and scored on the senior Justin Bonchek’s ground out to first.

Chardon, trying to win the inning, answered right back taking advantage of a little wildness from Iosue. Senior Tanner Dovsek walked to start the inning. After a strikeout Martillotta helped his own cause with a double to the fence in left that scored Dovsek. Senior Jake Happ then doubled off the wall in left but Martillotta read it incorrectly and only advanced to 3^rd. Iosue still struggling walked two consecutive batters to force in Martillotta and allow Chardon to take a 2-1 lead.

Mayfield struck right back in the top of the 2^nd. Junior Mike Regalbuto drew a leadoff walk and scored on a double by senior CJ Tighe.  After Martillotta retired the next two batters, he walked Nager and gave up back to back RBI singles to Banchek and junior Mitch Longo to put Mayfield up 4-2.

Chardon evened the score at 4-4 in the bottom of the inning.  Senior Matt Leskovec led off with a single and stole 2^nd right away. Junior Reilly Hawkins singled him in and advanced to 2^nd on the throw home. After moving to 3^rd on a passed ball, he scored on a shallow fly to right that was caught by the second baseman.

In the top of the 3^rd, Senor Ray Guerrini reached on an error. Senior Larry Pinto followed with a single and Regalbuto sacrificed to move the runners. Iosue then laced a single to put Mayfield back on top 6-4.

In the top of the 4^th, Mayfield added another run to make it 7-4. Longo singled and Guerini doubled to drive him in from first.

In the bottom of the inning, Leskovec led off with his 2^nd hit of the game. Dovsek then singled to put runners on the corner. Hawkins then hit a ground ball to third that scored Leskovec and make it a 7-5 game.

Trailing 7-5 in the bottom of the 5^th, Chardon finally knocked Iosue from the game. Senior Brady Lawrence led the inning off with a singled. Back to back singles from juniors Brandon LeScoezec and Ben Furlich drove in Lawrence. After a walk to Dovsec, Hawkins singled to drive in two, Happ doubled in two more and Jake Kirsh hit a sac fly. By the time the dust settled, Chardon had scored 7 runs to go ahead 12-7.

In the 6^th, Mayfield put the first two hitters on as Martillotta issued two walks. Chardon went to the bullpen and brought in senior Jeff Seufer. Longo greeted him with a triple to drive in two runs. Guerini followed that with a sac fly to center to make it 12-10.

That was the way the game ended with Chardon on top and advancing to the finals to play Perry, who advanced by beating Hudson 2-1. The championship game is Friday at 5 p.m.