Mustangs, Rams, Tigers advance to B2 semis
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Key players in today’s Section VI Class B2 quarterfinals included Medina’s Joe Cecchini, left, and Zach Fike and Roy-Hart’s Thomas Russo.
Medina and Roy-Hart both romped to road victories this afternoon in the quarterfinal round of the Section VI Class B2 baseball playoffs.
No. 6 seed Medina downed No. 3 Eden 10-1 and No. 5 Roy-Hart bested No. 4 Fredonia 12-1 in a five inning run rule contest.
Roy-Hart will next host Niagara-Orleans League foe Akron in the semifinals at 5 p.m. Thursday. No. 8 Akron posted a 12-0 victory over top seeded Alden in another five inning run rule game.
Medina will next visit No. 2 Southwestern game in the semifinals at 5 p.m. Thursday. Southwestern downed No. 10 Allegany/Limestone 7-4.
Medina 10, Eden 1
Zach Fike hurled a 3 hitter with 15 strikeouts, including fanning 9 of the final 10 batters he faced, to lead the way for Medina.
Breaking away from an early 1-1 tie, Medina took the lead for good by scoring twice in the third inning on an RBI single by Fike and a fielders choice play as a leadoff double by Xander Payne set up the threat.
The Mustangs then broke the contest open in the fourth inning on a grand slam home run by Joe Cecchini with two out upping the lead to 7-1. A hit batter, an error and a walk loaded the bases for Cecchini.
Now at 18-3 on the season, Medina tacked on three more runs in the fifth on a passed ball, an RBI single by Hayden Woodroe and a bases loaded walk. Aidan Paul started the uprising with a leadoff triple.
Roy-Hart 12, Fredonia 1
Roy-Hart took charge at the outset erupting for five runs in the first inning highlighted by a two-run double by winning pitcher Thomas Russo and an RBI double by Brayden Hy.
Hy also had an RBI double in the third inning while Jake Gould had a two-run double and Ryan Mettler an RBI double in the fourth.
The Rams pounded out a total of 16 hits on the day including 3 by Ethan Kuzma and 2 each by John Conley, Mettler, Hy, Russo, Remington Albee and Gould.
On the mound, Russo gave up only 2 hits and struck out 7 over the five innings for the Rams which improve to 18-4.
Akron 12, Alden 0
Jack Klodzinski, Jeff Owen, winning pitcher Drew Romesser, River White and Dawson Stone each banged out a pair of hits to lead Akron past Alden.
