Mustangs extend Section VI Class B championship reign with shutout victory

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Aidan Papaj banged out a pair of hits and hurled a shutout on the mound to help Medina captire the Section VI Class B title with a 3-0 win over JFK this afternoon at Frontier High School.

Capturing a sectional title for the third straight year and the sixth time in the last seven seasons, No. 2 seed Medina shutout No. 1 JFK 3-0 in the Section VI Class B baseball tournament championship game this afternoon at Frontier High School.

Aidan Papaj hurled the shutout on the mound and Preston Woodworth drove in all three runs to lead the way as the Mustangs advance to the state tournament with a 19-2 record.

Preston Woodworth celebrates after banging out a two-run double in the first inning.

Papaj scattered 5 hits and struck out 11. He worked out of trouble several times in the early going as JFK left runners stranded in scoring position in each of the first three innings.

He allowed only 2 hits over the final four innings and finished strong notching three strikeouts in the seventh to close out the win.

“I just tried to stay within myself,” said Papaj. “It means so much” he added of winning the sectional title.

Woodworth banged out a two-run double in the first inning and an RBI ingle in the third for the only scoring the Mustangs would need.

A single by Papaj and a bunt single by Vinny Gray set up the first inning scoring opportunity. Another single by Papaj and a walk to Gray then set up the third inning scoring chance.

Medina, which had only three scattered hits over the final four innings was stymied a bit by hitting into a pair of double plays and having three runners thrown out on base.

“We battled through it,” said Woodworth. “Aidan did a fantastic job pitching.”

The Mustangs other hits included a double by Cam Fike and singles by Hadrian Batista and Carlos Doval.

Medina will next begin state playoff competition by taking on the Section V Class B champion (either Bath Haverling or Wellsville) in the Sub Regional at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Frontier High School.

Note: Additional photos are now posted on the Hub’s Facebook pages.

Medina first baseman Cam Fike awaits the throw on a pickoff attmept on JFK’s Matthew DeSilva.

Medina’s Vinny Gray lays down a bunt.

Medona’s Jimmy Dieter steals second ahead of the throw to JFK’s Victor Borowick.