By Chris Check
PBR Ohio Northeast Scout

MAYFIELD VILLAGE, OH - Mayfield high school proved to be a formidable opponent for #1 ranked Walsh Jesuit but eventually fell to the Warriors thanks to a sixth inning rally giving Walsh a 2-0 victory.

Starting pitchers, Nico Ferreri (LHP, Mayfield) and Dominic Canzone (RHP, Walsh Jesuit) provided outstanding starts as the game stayed scoreless going into fifth inning. 

Mayfield threatened in the bottom of the fifth when junior second baseman Joe Caporale led off with an opposite field double.  Ferreri then helped himself by executing a sacrifice bunt, moving Caporale to third with one out. 

Walsh Jesuit coach Kaczmar then turned to hard throwing  Senior Tim Benner in hopes he would shut the door.  Benner induced a fly ball by sophomore catcher Daniel Evans that was knocked down by the strong wind, forcing Caporale to hold on third base instead of challenging the strong arm of Walsh Jesuit center fielder Blake Jenkins.  Benner went on to strike out the next batter to get Walsh out of trouble and end the Wildcat uprising without a run.

In the sixth Junior left fielder Azim Qadri (pictured) got things started for the Warriors as he stroked a leadoff single.  After reaching, Qadri promptly stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Ohio State Commit, Nate Romans.   Qadri scored the winning run on a balk, when Mayfield pitcher Nico Ferreri didn’t come to a complete stop in the set position. 

Walsh added one more insurance run thanks to a Blake Jenkins single followed by a stolen base, wild pitch, and error by the Mayfield defense. 

Tim Benner then closed out the game giving up a leadoff hit in the sixth and seventh inning but bearing down to not allow a run in either inning.

Benner got the win with 2+ innings of relief work, while Ferreri took a tough loss going the distance for Mayfield.

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