Ohio Spotlight Games: D-II Struthers District

May 16, 2017

By Jake Budyka
PBR Ohio NE Scout/Intern

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Ohio Spotlight Game: D-II Struthers District - Niles McKinley vs West Branch

STRUTHERS - Marco DeFalco was seeking his fourth no-hitter on the year, but a seventh inning hit ruined that as he and Niles McKinley came away with the victory, 3-0 in the Division II Struthers District Semifinals.

DeFalco and the Red Dragons of Niles McKinley advanced to the district finals to face Canfield, after an impressive outing saw the southpaw walk the leadoff hitter, then retired 13 straight batters, 8 of which came via the strikeout. DeFalco finished with 2 walks given up and just one hit which came off the bat of Tyler DeShields to leadoff the seventh inning.

West Branch’s pitcher was also a lefty on the hill, Brant Azalaus (Uncommitted junior) started off just as hot retiring 9 of the first 10 he faced.

In the fourth inning, Marco DeFalco led off the inning beating out a bunt single to help his cause. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runner into scoring position, clean up hitter Damion Coleman was due up. Coleman hit a sharp two hop ground ball to the third baseman that was fielded cleanly, but the third baseman looked the runner back at second, as he should have, and hesitated just enough to allow Coleman to beat the throw at first for an infield single. Joe Proper then drove a double to the gap in right centerfield that scored DeFalco and moved Coleman over to third. Nick Guarnieri was the other half of the Red Dragon’s battery, calling pitches behind the dish, and drove in the second run with an RBI sacrifice fly to right field.

Niles McKinley added another run in the sixth, again starting with Marco DeFalco, who this time tripled over the head of the right fielder. West Branch brought the infield in. Tyler Srbinovich grounded one to the second baseman, who misplayed the hop allowing the ball to trickle into right field, scoring DeFalco, making the score 3-0.

Another fielding error put runners on first and second with just one out, but West Branch was able to avoid any further damage by inducing a 4-6-3 double play.

DeFalco entered the seventh inning still not allowing a hit. Three-hole hitter Tyler DeShields got West Branch in the hit column with a leadoff double down the left field line, but was erased on a double play. It looked like West Branch would collect two straight hits off of DeFalco to start the inning, but centerfielder Tre Martin went to a slide to snag a sinking line drive, and double off DeShields who got caught leaning a little too far towards third.

Top Performers of the Day:

Niles McKinley LHP Marco DeFalco - The junior stood out in all phases of the game, pitching a complete game, allowing just 1 hit, 2 walks, and striking out 12. He also went 2-3 at the plate with 2 runs scored and a triple
Niles McKinley INF Tyler Srbinovich - Went 1-2 with a single in the first, a sac bunt to help score the first run, and reaching on an error that scored a run in the seventh to extend the lead
West Branch LHP Brant Alazaus - Went 6 innings striking out 4 while walking none, allowed 5 hits and 3 runs, 2 of them earned

Linescore

West Branch 000 000 0 - 0 1 2
Niles McKinley 000 201 x - 3 5 0

Records: Niles McKinley 19-4, West Branch 19-9

Winning Pitcher: Marco DeFalco (7 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, 2 walks, 12 strikeouts)

Losing Pitcher: Brant Alazaus (6 innings, 5 hits, 3 runs, 2 earned runs, 0 walks, 4 strikeouts)

Ohio Spotlight Game: D-II Struthers District - Canfield vs Poland Seminary

STRUTHERS - The nightcap of the Division II Struthers District Semifinals was no different than game 1. Dominant pitching for both teams once again led to few hits and runs, but the second seeded Canfield Cardinals defeated Poland Seminary, 2-0, to advance to the district finals.

Similar situations came about in the first inning for both teams. Poland Seminary was the away team batting first, and after getting a quick 2 outs, Padraig O’Shaughnessy singled to right field. The cleanup hitter Tony Chiaro was then hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second with two outs. Dan Klase hit a ball up the middle that looked like it could get through but the shortstop made a great ball fielding the ball and stepping on second to end the threat.

In the bottom of the first, Canfield’s first two hitters were out on a combined 6 pitches. Spencer Wolley reached first on a fielding error by the second baseman, and Ian McGraw worked the count to draw a walk and put runners at first and second with two outs. Poland Seminary was able to escape the threat, ending the inning with a fly ball to right field.

For Canfield, Jack Rafoth (Uncommitted junior) started on the hill and was able to keep Poland off balance with a three pitch mix. After the first inning, Rafoth went on to retire the next 11 batters he faced.

In the bottom of the third, Poland Seminary’s pitcher Don Drummond ran into a bit of trouble. Drummond was able to strike out the lead off hitter, the nine hole hitter, but the ball squeezed under the catcher’s legs and Angelo Petracci was safe at first.

Alex Hernandez grounded a ball to the first baseman who threw to the shortstop covering the bag, but threw the ball away trying to double up the speedy Hernandez, and he advanced to second standing up. Three straight hits gave Canfield the two run advantage after Dominic Pilolli’s infield single advanced Hernandez to third, Spencer Woolley then drove in Hernandez with an RBI single to left field. Ian McGraw stepped to the plate and drove a double to the gap in right centerfield, scoring Piolli. With runners on second and third with just one out, Drummond got a huge strikeout and ended the threat by getting a lineout to center.

Canfield had the opportunity to bust the game wide open in the bottom of the fourth inning. Drummond started the inning hitting a batter, then getting a groundout that would move him over to second. Drummond then hit the #9 hitter, and walked the leadoff man before exiting leaving the bases loaded with one out.

Enter Vince Garayua who kept the game close for Poland Seminary, escaping trouble getting Pilloli to fly out to the shortstop, and getting Woolley to fly out to right field. Garayua faced 8 batters, retiring all 8 via 3 flyouts and 5 groundouts.

After a quick two outs in the sixth inning, Poland Seminary was looking for some late inning magic. Padraig O’Shaughnessy started the rally with a single to left field, followed by a Tony Chiaro single to center. Dan Klase hit a sharp groundball to the first baseman who had the ball ricochet off his glove and away from the bag, giving the Bulldogs bases loaded with two outs. Poland Seminary wasn’t able to push a run across as Jack Rafoth got Reed McCreery to flyout to right field.

Canfield went on to win the district title, defeating top-seeded Niles McKinley 9-2.

Top Performers of the Day:

Canfield RHP/OF Jack Rafoth - Went 7 innings, giving up just 4 hits, striking out 5, hitting one batter, and allowing no runs
Poland Seminary 1B Padraig O’Shaughnessy - Went 2-3 with three hard hit balls, 2 of them singles, and one being a line out to left field
Poland Seminary RHP Vince Garayua - Pitched in relief throwing 2.2 innings, retiring all 8 batters he faced, escaping a 1 out, bases loaded jam
Canfield INF Ian McGraw - Went 1-2 with an RBI double to extend the lead for the Cardinals, also walked

Linescore

Poland Seminary 000 000 0 - 0 4 2
Canfield 002 000 x - 2 3 1

Records: Canfield 19-4, Poland Seminary 17-7

Winning Pitcher: Jack Rafoth (7 innings, 4 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 1 HBP, 5 strikeouts)

Losing Pitcher: Don Drummond (3.1 innings, 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 2 HBP, 3 strikeouts). Others: Vince Garayua

A Look Back At 2016 Preseason Articles:

To view the 2016 Team Previews, click here.
To view the 2016 Preseason All-State Teams, click below.

A Look Back At 2015 Preseason Articles:

To view the 2015 Team Previews, click here.
To view the 2015 Preseason All-State Teams, click below.