By Shawn Ellwood
MASSILLON OH- Poland would find its spark late in the game and break through in a big way, able to pull away with a 8-1 victory over NE8 foe Lakeview in the Division 5 Regional Semifinals at Massillon Washington High School on Wednesday.
It was a pitchers’ duel to start the night, as Poland’s Grady Pitzulo and Lakeview’s Jacob Shaker were dealing back and forth through the first half of the game. Lakeview would be able to break through with Eli Gough scoring on a sacrifice fly from Nicolas Aho, giving them an early 1-0 lead. That lead would work its way into the 5th inning, as Poland’s offense searched to find its spark.
And in the top of the 5th, they would do exactly that. Kelley Memo and Carmine Tukalo would deliver back-to-back RBI singles, bringing 3 runs across with Memo’s hit tying the game before Tukalo’s knock would give Poland its first lead. Tukalo would later score on an RBI single from Zach Marantis as Poland stormed out to a 4-1 lead.
But their barrage would not stop. Owen Mckenzie would bring 2 runs home on a 2-run triple before coming around to score on an error, a little league “inside-the-parker” to stretch Poland’s lead to 7-1.
Grady Pitzulo would provide an extra insurance run in the 7th on an RBI single before tallying a 1-2-3 bottom of the 7th on the mound to slam the door shut and earn a complete-game victory. Pitzulo would finish the night having only surrendered 2 hits while striking out 4 batters.
With the win, Poland (19-6) will play for the Division 5 Region 17 Championship on Thursday night, as the #5 Bulldogs will return to Massillon Washington for a title matchup with the #1 Waynedale Golden Bears.