Local Sports

Regional Final: Newton Falls vs. Orrville, 3/20

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:53:57 GMT

2010 OHSAA Division III Boys' Basketball Regional Final Preview
Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 7:30 PM at Canton Memorial Fieldhouse
Newton Falls (20-5) vs. Orrville (19-5)

Newton Falls Tigers
2009-10 Record: 20-5
Head Coach: Roy Sembach
State Championships: None
State Finalists: None
State Semifinalists: 1 (1931)
Road to the Elite Eight
Regional Semifinals: Newton Falls 60 East Canton 48
District Championship: Newton Falls 50 LaBrae 45 OT
District Semifinals: Newton Falls 60 Cardinal 44
Sectional Championship: Newton Falls 66 Garrettsville Garfield 44
Sectional Semifinals: Newton Falls 63 Liberty 50
Notes: The Tigers advanced to the Regional Finals by defeating East Canton, 60-48, behind 22 points from Brian Sole on Wednesday. Since losing back to back games to end the regular season against Campbell and Brookfield, Newton Falls has ran five consecutive wins to reach the Elite Eight.

Orrville Red Raiders
2009-10 Record: 19-5
Head Coach: Sly Slaughter
State Championships: 3 (II-1996, III-1995, III-1992)
State Finalists: None
State Semifinalists: 1 (1980)
Road to the Elite Eight
Regional Semifinals: Orrville 65 Cleveland Central Catholic 59
District Championship: Orrville 69 Wooster Triway 65
District Semifinals: Orrville 61 Hillsdale 48
Sectional Championship: Orrville 74 Black River 45
Notes: Orrville reached their first Regional Final game since 1996 by defeating the defending Division III champion Cleveland Central Catholic, 65-59, in the Regional Semifinals on Wednesday. The Red Raiders have won 11 of their last 13 games. A couple Orrville alums are former Indiana & Texas Tech head basketball coach Bob Knight and current Illinois football head coach Ron Zook.

The Winner will play in the State Semifinals on March 25 at 2:00 PM at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus versus the winner of Columbus Bishop Ready and Cincinnati Taft.

Here's a listing of the schools that have advanced to the State Tournament:

OHSAA State Tournament

Mahoning Valley Participants

Bold – indicates State Championship

School	App.	Years
1. Rayen	8	1986, 1985, 1982, 1981, 1941, 1934, 1924, 1923
2. East Liverpool	5	1999, 1947, 1946, 1928, 1923
3. Canfield	4	1953, 1941, 1940, 1938
Poland	4	2008, 2007, 2002, 1972
5. Columbiana	3	1947, 1945, 1923
Salem	3	1959, 1937, 1927
7. Boardman	2	1970, 1929
Bristol	2	2002, 1994
Fitch	2	1931, 1930
Girard	2	1993, 1953
Liberty	2	1990, 1961
Lowellville	2	1936, 1934
Warren Harding	2	2009, 1966
14. Badger	1	1981
Brookfield	1	1976
Campbell	1	1993
Champion	1	1971
East	1	1938
Hubbard	1	1924
Mathews	1	1955
Newton Falls	1	1931
Niles	1	1949
North Lima	1	1952
South	1	1927
Struthers	1	1923
Ursuline	1	1994
Warren Western Reserve	1	1989
Western Reserve	1	1989

Red Flash Baffle Penguins in Sweep

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:26:00 GMT

Youngstown State had a rough day at the plate collecting just four hits in the opener and three hits in the night cap and dropped a pair of games to Saint Francis (Pa.), 3-1, 4-3, on Thursday afternoon at McCune Park.

The Penguins fall to 5-10 while the Red Flash improve to 5-9.

The Penguins also receive solid pitching performances from freshman Hana Somogyi, who scattered eight hits with four strikeouts in a complete-game effort in the opener, and junior Danielle Chase pitched 4.2 innings of relief with four strikeouts and allowed just one earned run.

In the opener, the Penguins fell behind 3-0 before Haley Thomas cranked her first home run of the sesaon - a solo shot to right-center field - in the bottom of the sixth inning for YSU's lone run.

The Penguins fell behind early in the night cap allowing the Red Flash to score in the top of the first inning.

In the bottom of the second, sophomore Jordan Ingalls singled up the middle to lead off the inning, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a Red Flash fielding error.

The Red Flash regained the lead in the top half of the third on a run-scoring single by Karlie Miller. Chase enter the game with the bases loaded and one out, but squelched the threat with a strikeout and ground out to second.

The Red Flash added runs in the top of the fourth and seventh innings to take a 4-1 lead. The Penguins mounted a comeback in the bottom half of the seventh when sophomore Kristen Philen drilled a two-run home run to center field scoring Autumn Grove, who doubled, to bring the score to 4-3.

The Penguins visit Dayton in a doubleheader, Saturday, March 20, at 1 p.m.

Courtesy: YSU Sports Information

Poland's Run Ends in Sweet 16

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 01:43:00 GMT

Poland eliminated Akron SVSM in the first round of the football playoffs this past fall.

On Thursday, the Irish got revenge on the basketball court.

The Irish erased a 15 point deficit in the 3rd quarter and rallied past the Bulldogs, 74-60 in the Division II regional semifinals in Canton. Poland held a 45-29 lead when St. Vincent St. Mary went on a 45-16 tear the rest of the way.

Ben Donlow led the Bulldogs with 16 points, while Niko Fatimus pumped in 14. Luke Wollet netted 12 while David Baker finished with a double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds.

Lorenzo Cugini led the Irish with 18 points. Dominique Mitchell contributed 15 points toward the win and Jakarr Sampson chipped-in 10 points.

The Bulldogs ended the season with a 22-2 record.

Poland's Baker Earns SATW Honors

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:44:00 GMT

David Baker is generally a laid-back guy, until he gets near the rim.

The 6-foot-6-inch senior leads Poland in dunks, but there is so much more to his game.

"To be a big man in this offense, you have to be able to run a lot," Baker said. "You have to have some guard skills and also some post up skills because you have to slow things down every once in a while. And get some easy buckets."

Baker has been the big man in the middle during the Bulldog's run to the Sweet 16. The forward has broken all of the school records for blocks in a game (8), season (73),
and career (172).

Baker is averaging 14 points, seven rebounds and three blocks a game while shooting 67 percent from the field.

Baker has earned All-Conference and All-NE Ohio Inland honors in both of his seasons as a starter, and he was a contributor on the 2007-08 Poland team which advanced to the State Tournament.

Baker is in charge of denying easy buckets at the other end. He's the key to the Bulldogs' defense, and is known for his blocks, which are like dunks.

"They're actually very similar," Baker said. "Both are big momentum swings, the crowd gets into it. And me being in the back of the press, I get a lot of opportunities to get them. Because I'm always left two on one or one on one."

Both Bakers' parents are local hall-of-famers in basketball. David Baker Sr. at Boardman and his mother, Ursula Baker, at Campbell, so athletics comes to Baker naturally.

Academics are the priority, however, and Baker is a 3.7 student as well as a member of National Honor Society.

"My mom, being a teacher, that helps a lot," Baker said. "My dad, being a great basketball player when he was younger, both it just helps. My dad's proud of what I do on the basketball court, my mom in the class room."

All of Poland should be proud of David Baker, who is our Student Athlete of the Week.

NC Girls Fall to Indiana After 2 OTs

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:15:00 GMT

The New Castle Lady 'Canes fell to Indiana, 68-67, during Wednesday's second round of the PIAA AAA Girls Baskebtall Championships.

Indiana got off to an early start, leading the game 17-15 at the end of the first quarter. New Castle managed to take over as leader in the second, and the first half ended with the 'Canes on top, 26-25.

New Castle maintained the one-point lead at the end of the third, however, Indiana tied it up 54-54 at the end of regulation.

LaShauna Brothers led New Castle with 24 points. Kaylynn Waters netted 18 for the 'Canes and Christina Talbert contributed 13 points.

Pitt Scores Final 13 Runs to Snatch Victory from YSU

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:07:00 GMT

Pittsburgh scored 13 runs in the final two innings to overcome an 11-2 deficit and steal a 15-11 victory from the Youngstown State baseball team on Wednesday at Trees Field.

The Penguins led 11-2 through the top of the seventh inning, but Pittsburgh scored 10 runs in the seventh and three times in the eighth.

YSU scored five runs in both the third and fifth innings, and Armani Johnson added a solo homer in the seventh. Healey's three-run shot, his sixth in 12 games this season, gave the Penguins their first lead at 3-2.

The Penguins went up 10-2 in the fifth, and Johnson's solo blast in the seventh put YSU ahead 11-2.

Freshman starter Blake Aquadro allowed one run in each of the first two innings, but he settled down to hold the Panthers scoreless until the seventh. He ended up allowing five runs on five hits and two walks in 6.1 innings.

After Aquadro struck out the first batter in the seventh, the next eight hitters reached base. The Panthers had eight hits in the inning, walked three times and reached on a hit batsman.

Kevan Smith and Phillip Konieczny scored on a one-out single to chase Aquadro from the contest with the score 11-4, and YSU's relievers allowed eight more runs. David Chester's three-run double off Eric Marzec with two outs put the Panthers ahead 12-11. Pitt added three runs in the eighth for the final tally.

Kevin McCulloh suffered the loss, allowing four unearned runs one one hit and two walks in the seventh.

Cole Taylor earned the win for Pittsburgh, allowing a run in two innings of relief.

Healey was one of five Penguins with two hits, joining Johnson, Marzec, Iacobucci and Derek Carr.

The Penguins will play three games in the Philadelphia area this weekend against three different teams. They'll open the stretch on Friday at La Salle at 3 p.m.

Courtesy: YSU Sports Information

Newton Falls Dumps E. Canton; Advances to Regional Finals

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 01:44:00 GMT

The Newton Falls boys team defeated the unbeaten Canton East Wednsday, 60-48, during the Division III regional semifinal at Canton Memorial Fieldhouse.

The victory was the 300th career win for Tigers' Head Coach Roy Sembach.

The Tigers jumped to an early start, leading 16-13 at the end of the first and 37-26 at the half. The matchup didn't get close until the Hornets rallied in the third quarter, narrowing the score. 44-40.

Brian Sole scored the game-high 22 points for the Tigers, while Cody Dillon netted 14 and Mitchell Czerniak scored 10. Newton Falls improved to 20-5.

The Tigers will face Orrville in the regional finals at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Canton Fieldhouse. If they win this game they head to the state tournament.

Farrell Falls in Second Round PIAA

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:11:00 GMT

The Farrell girls basketball team fell to Quigley Catholic, 58-54, Wednesday during the second round of the PIAA A Girls Basketball Championships.

D'Asia Chambers led the Steelers with 26 points, while Marissa Carry netted 23 points. Quigley's Jen Deltondo led her team with 16 points, followed by Angela Curcio and Allison Brooks with 12 each.

Farrell ended the season with a 20-5 record.

Redemption's Key for Poland in Regional Semifinals

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:10:00 GMT

The Poland Bulldogs are getting ready to face Akron St. Vincent St. Mary Thursday night in the Division II regional semifinals.

The Dogs are 22-1, thanks to some extra motivation. As sophomores, this group reached the State Final Four, but last year, Poland was upset in the district finals on a last second shot.

"Last year was pretty intense," said senior Matt Mrozek. "We lost on a last second shot. It was pretty heart breaking. I'll never forget that feeling. I actually broke the medal we won."

Beating Cardinal Mooney in the District Finals this past weekend was a win a year in the making.

"We've had so much success in basketball throughout grade school and the beginning part of high school," senior Luke Wollet said. "The loss in the district title game really fueled us."

Senior John Price agreed: "Just to get this far is good. Obviously, we've done it before twice, but last year, our junior year, we lost in a heartbreaker on a buzzer beater. Just to get here now and get over the hump is amazing."

The Bulldogs will take on the Irish at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Canton Memorial Civic Center. The last time these two teams met in 2002, The Irish outscored the Bulldogs, 38-14, in the final half of the game enroute to a 76-36 victory.

Maplewood Boys Fall to Chanel in Overtime

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 02:27:00 GMT

The Maplewood boys fell to St. Peter Chanel, 65-55 in overtime, Tuesday during the Division IV regional semifinal in Canton.

Tom Bottorff and Dan Wagner led the Rockets with nine points each.

Maplewood ended its season with an 18-6 record after winning its first district title in 25 years.