Crestview's Eli Cope is caught stealing at third in the first inning by Poland's Grady Pitzulo on Friday at Cene Park. (Photo by Michael Burich)

Crestview centerfielder Grant Snyder throws the ball against Poland on Friday at Cene Park. (Photo by Michael Burich)

STRUTHERS — Crestview was the only Columbiana County baseball team to make it to a district final this season and the Rebels had only one senior.

While the future looks bright for Rebel baseball the present belonged solely to the No. 5 seed Poland Bulldogs in a 14-0 no-hit win in five innings on Friday in a Div. V district final at Cene Park.

“They won in all aspects of the game,” Crestview coach Todd Kibby said. “All credit goes to them. They were prepared and they earned it.”

Crestview starter Kyle Booth lasted nine batters and only recorded one out as Poland had seven runs in the first inning to set the pace. Booth walked three, gave up six hits and seven earned runs in the brief stint for the 10th seeded Rebels, 17-11.

“We had not been here since 2017 and there were a lot of nerves,” Kibby said. “And everything in between. We gave the ball to our only senior and even he was a little nervous.”

The inning was not without drama however as Poland’s ace Joe Zuccaro appeared to injure his hamstring coming home on a Grady Pitzulo single. Stephen Kopkash replaced Zuccaro in the second inning.

“I love Joe and he played for me in the summer,” Kibby said. “I hate to see anyone go down with anything especially him.”

Crestview’s only threat came in the first as lead-off hitter Eli Cope reached on a walk and stole second to set up a man at second with only one out. Zuccaro was able to work out of the jam and Cope was caught stealing at third to end the inning.

Kopkash was the Bulldogs top hitter at the plate as he had a double, triple and two RBIs. Zac Marantis added two hits and two RBIs, while Kelly Memo, who hits ninth in the order, had two hits and three RBIs. Gavin Seifert had two hits and an RBI as well.

After Grant Snyder pitched a scoreless second for the Rebels, the floodgates opened in the third as the Bulldogs tagged Snyder and Caleb Booth for seven more runs.

Zuccaro earned the win for the Bulldogs as he walked one and struck out one in the first. Kopkash had six strikeouts and two walks over three innings, while Owen McKenzie finished the game by striking out all three Rebels in the fifth.

The district title was Poland’s first since 2019. The Northeast 8 champion Bulldogs (18-6) will meet league member Lakeview at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at Massillon Washington High School in a regional semifinal.

The Rebels will try to use this experience to make a run at the last year of the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Gray Division next season.

“All the coaches love (what we have coming back),” Kibby said. “That was our message out there. Our senior led by example and they have big shoes to fill coming up. It’s hard to look at the future when you lose, but we’re excited for it. The coaches are ready to put in the work.”

Notes

– Crestview scrimmaged Poland on March 24 with Poland winning 7-1.

CR: 0-0-0-0-0 — 0-0-1

PO: 7-0-7-0-x — 14-13-1