BY GREG GULAS
      Boardman News Sports
      bnews@zoominternet.net
      With wins over Norton (2-0) and Canton Central Catholic (5-4) in regional play safely tucked away, head coach Ed Reese’s Cardinal Mooney Cardinal baseball team will now set their sights on the largest prize of all in Division IV, a state championship.
      Last week, the Cards (24-3) won the first ever regional title in program history with a 2-0 whitewash of the Norton Panthers (20-7), on June 2) in the Division IV regional semi-finals at Canton’s Thurman Munson Stadium, capturing the division crown two days later when they topped Canton Central Catholic, 5-4, to avenge one of their three losses – they lost to the Crusaders, 10-9, back on May 13 at CCCHS – that they had suffered this year.
      Mooney, winners of eight straight games, will now take on the Sandusky Perkins Pirates (24-5-1) this Saturday at 10 a.m. at Akron’s 7 17 Credit Union Park in the state semi-finals with the winner advancing to the Division IV state championship tilt on Sunday at 10 a.m., meeting the winner of the Lancaster Fairfield Union Falcons (25-6) versus Franklin Bishop Fenwick (19-7) contest.
      In their game against Norton, the Cardinals’ Ben Oddis tossed a four-hit, complete game shutout, striking out 10 Panthers batters and allowing just seven total baserunners to remain perfect at 7-0 on the campaign.
      Mooney took a 1-0 lead in their half of the third inning when Luke Kollar led off with a single, stole second base, advanced to third on a wild pitch then scored the game’s first tally on the second wild pitch of the frame.
      The Cards added what turned out to be an insurance marker in the fifth stanza when Kden Reese led off with a single to right field, advancing to third on an Andrew Bushey single to place runners at the corners.
      Bushey then stole second base with Reese racing home for a 2-0 CMHS advantage on Johnny Brenner’s sacrifice fly to left field.
      That would be all the scoring in the game.
      Mooney rapped out 10 safeties with Reese, Bushey (double), Vince Gentile (double) and Ryan Reese each ripping two hits, and Taco Verroco and Kollar a single apiece.
      Collin Davis had two of the Panthers’ four hits while Caeden DeDomenic was saddled with the loss, going six innings, allowing two earned runs and scattering 10 hits while striking out eight Mooney batters.
      The Cardinals then avenged the 10-9 loss that they suffered at the hands of the Crusaders (22-6-1) back on May 13 – it was the last time that Mooney has lost a game – with a 5-4, come from behind win over Canton Central Catholic in the regional championship game.
      Ford Stacy (4.1 innings, six hits, four earned runs, three strikeouts, four walks) picked up the win with relief help from Jacob Gugliotta (1.2 innings, three hits, one walk) and Bushey (one inning, one walk) while Gavin McCune absorbed the loss, going four innings, allowing all five earned runs and scattering eight hits while walking two and striking out two Cards’ batters.
      Each team notched nine hits with Brenner’s (double) three safeties leading the way for Mooney.
      Gentile (triple) and Stacy (triple) added two hits with Kollar (triple) and Verroco responsible for the other two hits for Cardinal Mooney.
      McCune also led the Crusaders’ offensive attack with three hits.
      Cardinal Mooney will begin their state semi-final contest with Perkins having outscored opponents by a 220 (8.2 runs per game) to 80 (2.96) count, nearly 6.3 runs better than their opposition.
      Game time will have been exactly one month since their last loss.
      The Pirates have won 11 straight contests with their last loss also coming back on May 13, a 4-0 shutout suffered at the hands of the University School (26-6) Preppers, one of two shutouts that they suffered this season.
      Cardinal Mooney has not been shutout this year, registering five victories via the shutout route while allowing two runs or less in 16 of 27 games played.
     
      PICTURED: REGIONAL CHAMPIONS: Cardinal Mooney’s baseball team earned a berth in state championship lay last week with a 5-4 win over Canton Central Catholic. Members of this year’s team, under the direction of Head Coach Eddie Reese, are in front, from left to right, Alek Rudiak, Michael Schiraldi, Kaden Reese, Dom Italiano, Ryan Reese, Rocco Haas and Kli Lyras. In middle, from left to right, Luke Kollar, Carson Gross, Jacob Gugliotta, Todd Jones, Andrew Bushey,
      Taco Verroco, Danny Weir and Christian Bonacci. Standing, from left to right, Ben Malaska, Vince Gentile, Will Petty, Johnny Brenner, Mason McClure, Gavin Sentner, Ben Oddis, Tyler Wilson and Ford Stacy. Missing, Noah Owens. Mooney brings a 24-3 record into state championship play.