Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes. Boardman’s 12U team poses with their banner following a 7-2 victory over Poland on Tuesday at the Field of Dreams complex.

BOARDMAN — On a picturesque evening at the Field of Dreams complex, a large crowd from Poland and Boardman gathered to see the 12U Little League District 2 baseball champion crowned during a televised broadcast.

For the second consecutive summer, Boardman earned the prized banner, winning 7-2 after taking an early first inning lead over Poland.

Joyous celebration erupted as the Boardman squad ran around the outfield fence holding the well-earned championship banner, happy for the opportunity to host the state round on July 19 at the Field of Dreams complex.

Boardman coach Donald Powell was more than proud of the effort his team displayed Tuesday evening, especially with a few members of last year’s team bringing state experience to the plate.

“They’ve been working hard, coming out in the heat in the last two weeks and practiced, did everything I asked them to do, never complained, never asked why,” Powell said. “The results kind of speak for themselves. We went down to state last year and we didn’t win, but we had a good experience and we’re excited to be at home and have another chance at it.”

As the visiting team, Boardman stepped in the batter’s box first, plating a trio of runs in the top of the first inning, highlighted with a three-run homerun blast over the right field fence by starting pitcher AJ Limongi. On the mound, Limongi fanned nine Poland batters in four and two-thirds innings of work.

“(Limongi) is a horse, he’s our guy that we rely on, and the boys look up to him,” Powell said. “When he comes out and hits that homerun, all the energy is on our side, and after he hit that, I knew we were good. He comes out on the mound and gives us four and two-thirds of shutout baseball. You can’t ask for anything else from that kid, he’s a monster.”

Later on in the evening, as the sun began to set, Boardman added insurance runs. An RBI double in the top of the third off the bat of Ryan Sutch extended the lead to four, which was followed by an RBI single from Grady Gozur in the following frame to increase the advantage to five runs.

Playing with a lead took some of the pressure off during the championship contest.

“You can take a breath actually,” Powell said. “You get that first run across, you see it on the scoreboard, you get the confidence and the boys, they follow the lead.”

Sutch and Michael Mills scored Boardman’s sixth and seventh runs during the top of the sixth inning, with Sutch coming in to relieve Limongi of pitching duties in the fifth inning.

Poland wasn’t ready to go out without a fight, however.

Maceo Banner drew a walk to kick-start the bottom of the sixth inning, which was followed up with a single from starting pitcher Luke Bushey. Nico Pitzulo cashed in with one out and two runners on by swatting a double to center field, breaking the shutout to plate Poland’s first run. Bushey would score on a wild pitch, cutting the deficit down to 7-2, but the Boardman defense held on.

“They’re dedicated to what they’re doing. These boys have been together for the last four years, they play basketball together, they play baseball together, they really love each other,” Powell said. “They get along. We do something outside of baseball, it’s the same group. They’re friends, actual friends. They’re always pulling for each other. If someone strikes out, they’re rooting for the next one to get a hit. They don’t sulk or dwell on the negatives. They’re a positive group, which makes it fun to coach.”

With a well-deserved day off in store for Boardman, the preparation for state competition next week begins. After making the four-hour trek to Cincinnati last summer for the state tournament, the prospect of playing on its home turf is one that Boardman is more than excited for.

“It’s a big advantage actually,” Powell said. “Last year we were in a hotel, the boys were staying up late. There’s a lot of idle time for them to not focus, so here we can keep them on their schedule, their regimen, get their grandparents out here, family, and I think it’s going to help us a lot.”