By Chris Check                                                                                                                              NE Regional Scout

STRONGSVILLE, OH- North Royalton erupted for a big 7-run sixth inning to stun Strongsville in the district semi-finals last night 7-2. 

The game started as a pitcher’s duel between North Royalton’s senior Noah Sasse and Strongsville’s junior Alex Barnes. Strongsville’s right fielder Ryan Frank scored the game’s first run after he singled with two outs in the inning. 

Senior first baseman Tony Machnik followed suit scoring another run, after leading off the fifth inning with a single, moving to second on left fielder Brady Fine’s hit. Machnik moved to third base on a fielder’s choice then scored on a well-executed safety squeeze by sophomore second baseman Zach Kahn.

Sasse finished the inning before his teammates erupted to turn a 2-0 deficit into a 7-2 lead.

Royalton’s big inning started with one out in the sixth when the Bears got five consecutive singles off Barnes. Junior centerfielder Garret Strom starting things off with a hit into center field. He was followed by seniors, second baseman Nate Kocan, shortstop Bryan Bielak (2-rbi’s), third baseman Frank Frate and pinch hitter Branden Walsh (1-rbi).

Barnes issued an intentional walk to catcher Evan Willman, before departing after 5 1/3 innings.

Reliever Mike Jones was greeted by senior right fielder Jack Marousek (2-rbi), followed by junior left fielder Reese Albright’s RBI single. DH Lucas Krysler knocked in the game’s final run with a sacrifice fly to left field.

Senior Frank Frate moved from third base to the mound for North Royalton and got the last six outs of the game for North Royalton. 

Noah Sasse gets the win for the Bears who play St. Ignatius in the District Championship game at 5 pm in Strongsville.

LINESCORE

NORTH ROYALTON                000 007 00 -- 7  
STRONGSVILLE VARSITY          000 110 0x -- 2