Crestview tattoos Lisbon

Michael Burich
COLUMBIANA — Having struggled with plenty of one- and two-run losses all season, Crestview’s baseball team had a lot of pent of hits and runs that were just screaming to get out.

Tuesday it all came together.

Bashing out 12 hits and taking advantage of nearly all of their scoring opportunities, the Rebels had no trouble in gaining a 20-1 victory over Lisbon in five innings in a Division III sectional opener.

Crestview (8-16) advances to meet Campbell Memorial today at Roosevelt Park.

“We’ve been real inconsistent at times,” Crestview coach Rick Gates said. “Our record is deceiving. We lost seven or eight games by one run and two or three more by two runs, but the kids have stuck with it and it’s turning around.”

Crestview delivered the knockout blow early when the Rebels got to Lisbon starter Lucas Rambo for six runs in the second inning. Senior Mike Cervone led the Rebel attack with four hits, including a double and two RBIs.

“I knew we could do something like this,” Cervone said. “All year long it was a struggle. We really wanted to come out and pick it up today going into the tournament. I think all of those close games have made us believe we can compete and go far.”

Cervone wasn’t about to take all of the credit though.

“It doesn’t really matter how I did, I just try to help the team as much as I can,” Cervone said. “A couple of the other guys had a few hits as well, so it really wasn’t that big of a deal.”

Winning pitcher Corey Hill had two single and three RBIs at the plate, while Josh Orr added two hits and two RBIs. Brian Peppel had a three-run double, which busted open the game in the second inning. Brian Bechtel, Greg Bing and Carter Hill each had a hit and an RBI.

Lisbon (5-17) had a lot of success on its home field this season beating all Inter-Tri County League upper tier teams but Mineral Ridge and Springfield on its home turf. On the road it has been a different story.

“If we had them on our home field it might have been a little different,” Lisbon coach Matt Giambattista said. “We have just been off and on all season.”

Crestview ended any chance of a Lisbon comeback bid by slapping 11 runs off Lisbon pitcher Josh Jackson in the fourth.

“Teamwise everybody put the bat on the ball,” Gates said. “That was the key.”

The big win also set up an ideal situation for the Rebels today as Gates only had to use their top pitcher, Corey Hill, for four innings.

“It worked out for us being a shorter game,” Gates said. “We can possibly bring back (Corey) Hill today if we need him. I also think by us hitting the ball that it gives us some momentum.”

As far as Campbell is concerned, Gates doesn’t know what to expect.

“We know very little about Campbell other than they play an excellent schedule and they have some very athletic players,” Gates said.

Dustin Borg led the Devils with an RBI double. Aaron Sweeney also had a double.



L: 1-0-0- 0-0— 1- 3-6

C: 1-6-2-11-x—20-12-1

C—Corey Hill, wp (4IP, 6K, 1BB, 1HBP), Greg Bing (1IP, 2BB) and Carter Hill.

L—Lucas Rambo, lp (3IP, 1BB, 0K, 9H, 10R, 1HBP), Josh Jackson (2/3IP, 2K, 3R, 11R, 3HBP), Russell McCullough (1/3IP, 1BB, 1H) and Lucas Rambo.