NDCL tops Poland 4-1, in Div. II title contest

By Tom Williams

HUDSON — Poland pitcher Sean Gabriel dodged two jams in the first three innings of Saturday’s Division II regional title game against defending champion Notre Dame Cathedral Latin.

But the Lions tagged Gabriel for two runs in the fourth following a leadoff double by Mike Szabo and a triple on the next pitch by Matt Bencic. Josh Schuette’s groundout brought Bencic home for a 2-0 lead in the Lions’ 4-1 victory that earned them their second straight trip to state.

“The season was great but we wanted to move past the regional,” Poland coach Rich Murray said. “With the seniors we have on this team, we were hoping to do a little better.”

Poland was hoping to make its first state appearance since 1983.

“We just didn’t string any hits together,” Murray said, crediting NDCL starter Bill Turosky who scattered three hits and allowed an unearned run in the five-plus innings he pitched. “We didn’t hit him like we should have, but he pitched a heckuva game.

“That’s a good team,” Murray said. “We have nothing to hang our heads about — it just didn’t work out for us today.”

Murray was pleased with the start Gabriel (9-2) produced.

“He did a great job for us all year,” Murray said. “He was working high a little all day but he kept us in the game. If you had told me before the game that we would have held them to four [runs], I would have thought that we would have won.”

The Lions quickly had Gabriel in trouble in their first at-bat. Nick Cappelo and Rob Searles singled then moved up when Alex Toth walked.

Gabriel regained control, striking out David Medve and Szabo then retiring Bencic with a flyout.

Toth’s two-out single in the third inning produced the Lions’ next chance. But from deep in the hole, Bulldogs shortstop Matt Pitzulo fired a strike to Drew Petro at first base to end the inning.

Pitzulo hit a two-out double but was stranded in the first inning. Rovnak led off the third with a double but couldn’t advance past third.

Ryan Rovnak’s leadoff walk in the fifth inning led to Poland’s run. Rovnak moved up to third on shortstop Toth’s throwing error then scored when Gabriel grounded into a double play.

Consecutive doubles by Toth and Medve led to the Lions’ other two runs and chased Gabriel.

Medve later scored on a wild pitch.

In addition to Petro, Pitzulo and Rovnak, Poland’s other seniors include outfielder Trent Vallinger, catcher Ross Lopez, outfielder Nick Elliott, Matt Dimuzio and Earl Neff.

“The seniors are a great group of kids,” Murray said. ““I hate to see it end for them here, I really would have liked to have seen them make it down to state. But they’ve accomplished so much.”

williams@vindy.com