2020 Game Recaps

Portage South Ends Regular Season with a Win

After tying with the Nordonia Renegades through 7 innings on Monday, Portage South would play the last regular season game of the year against the Tallmadge Knights.  The game started scoreless through the first 3 innings, but in the fourth Portage South was able to break through with a run.  Jesse Michel singled, then Ty Moorhead followed with a fielder's choice.  Moorhead stole second and scored on Tyler Mazzei's double.  It would remain 1-0 until the 6th when PS would add 4 runs in the inning, making it 5-0.  Moorhead would walk and Jacob Caruso followed with a single.  Kevin Haley walked to load the bases, then Phil Kaderle singled home Moorhead.  Alonzo Spears' RBI single plated Caruso.  Josh Salinas singled to left to score Kaderle and Spears was able to score on an error.  In the seventh, PS would extend the lead even more with 3 additional runs.  Moorhead and Caruso each singled to start the inning.  Mazzei would follow with a 3-run homerun to left center.  Robert Shepherd would throw his second complete game shutout of the year, allowing just 2 hits and striking out eight over seven innings.  Mazzei was 2-4 with a 2B, HR and 4 RBI.  Kaderle also went 3-4 for the Black Squirrels.  Portage South ended the regular season with a 19-4 record and were the #2 seed for the AA tournament.

Portage South Takes 2 from Akron Tigers

In the final doubleheader of the regular season, the Portage South Black Squirrels would take on the Akron Tigers.  In game one, PS would jump out to the early lead with a 4-run first inning.  Jesse Michel would walk, followed by a Ty Moorhead single.  Jacob Caruso would double home both, Michel and Moorhead.  Justin Nelson also had a RBI double that scored Caruso.  Mike Haney would follow with a single to plate Nelson for the 4th run of the inning.  Portage South would add another run in the third inning when Moorhead would led off the inning with a double, moved to third on a groundout and scored on an error.  The Tigers would make the score 5-1 with a run in the bottom of the third.  PS tacked on a run in the fifth.  Moorhead would reach on a fielder's choice, steal second and score on a Tyler Mazzei single, making it 6-1.  The Tigers once again came back with a run in the bottom of the fifth, cutting the lead to back to four.  Portage South would put the game away with a 3-run 6th inning.  Lucius Ivory walked to start the inning.  Josh Salinas followed with a walk and they both advanced on a passed ball.  Moorhead singled to left to score Ivory and Salinas.  Moorhead stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a ground out by Caruso.  The final was 9-2.  Kevin Haley went 7 innings on the mound for the complete game win.  Moorhead went 3-4 with a 2B, 4 runs, 2 RBI and 2 SB.

In game two, Portage South would take a lead in the first inning with a run.  Josh Salinas led off the inning with a single and scored.  PS got another run in the second inning, making it 2-0 early.  Mike Haney would single and score on a Salinas fielder's choice.  The game was broken open in the third inning when Portage South put up a 7-run frame.  Ty Moorhead would reach on an error and steal second base.  Moorhead scored on a Jacob Caruso single.  Tyler Mazzei was hit by a pitch, then Justin Nelson singled home Caruso.  Haney reached on a fielder's choice and Larry McCain singled to score Nelson.  Phil Kaderle would run for Haney, then he and McCain would double steal.  Lucius Ivory walked to load the bases.  Salinas singled to plate Kaderle.  Jesse Michel followed with a single that would score McCain and Ivory.  Salinas would then score as well on a throw to round out the scoring and give PS a 9-0 lead.  In the sixth, Salinas would triple and score on a sacrifice fly by Moorhead to end the game, 10-0.  Eric Schaffer threw a 6 inning shutout, allowing 4 hits and striking out seven.  Salinas went 3-4 with a 3B, 3 runs and 2 RBIs to lead the offense. 

Portage South Gets Win Against Fury Baseball

The Portage South Black Squirrels faced the newes team to the league, Fury Baseball, at Roosevelt Park on Thursday.  PS would get out to a big lead in the first inning with 10 runs.  Josh Salinas led off the game with a double.  Tyler Mazzei singled home Sallinas.  Ty Moorhead followed with a single to move Mazzei to second.  Jacob Caruso would then double home both, Mazzei and Moorhead.  Jason Preising singled to make it first and third with Caruso.  Caruso would score on a wild pitch.  Prieising was able to score on misplayed ball in center field off the bat of Phil Kaderle.  Lyndon Rainey walked, the Lucius Ivory singled to score Kaderle.  Rainey was able to score on a wild pitch.  Salinas singled and then Mazzei was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Moorhead tripled to clear the bases, making it 10-0.  In the second, the Black Squirrels got another run.  Kevin Yelinek walked and Kaderle singled.  Rainey followed with a double to score Yelinek.  In the third, Portage South pushed the lead to 14-0 with a 3-run frame.  Salinas and Mazzei walked and Caruso woud single to load the bases.  Salinas scored on a wild pitch.  Matt Dile singled home Mazzei, then Mike Haney scored Caruso with a sacrifice fly.  The Fury got on the board in the bottom of the third with 1 run, making it 14-1.  PS added 2 more runs in the fourth.  Kaderle started the inning with a single and Rainey walked.  Salinas doubled to left, scoring Kaderle.  Rainey was able score the 16th run on a sacrifice fly by Michel.  The Fury added 2 runs in the bottom of the fifth but would not get any closer.  Kevin Haley went 2 scoreless innings to start the game.  Steve Swiger threw an inning of relief and picked up the win.  Salinas was 3-3 with 2 2Bs and 3 runs scored.

Black Squirrels Move in Second Place with Win Over A's

The Portage South Black Squirrels would face the Akron A's Tuesday night at Roosevelt Park, with the winner holding second place in the standings.  Portage South was able to grab the early lead with 4 runs in the second inning.  Jacob Caruso walked to lead off the inning and advance to second on a wild pitch.  Tyler Mazzei singled to score Caruso.  Phil Kaderle was hit by a pitch and Lucius Ivory walked to load the bases.  Josh Salinas followed with a single to score Mazzei.  Jesse Michel would also single, scoring Kaderle and Ivory.  PS added to the lead with another run in each of next two innings.  In the third, Caruso would again walk and advance to second on a wild pitch.  Mazzei doubled to left center to score Caruso.  Salinas tripled in the fourth and scored on a Michel sacrifice fly.  It would remain 6-0 through six innings.  In the seventh, the Black Squirrels extended the lead with 2 more runs.  Caruso, once again, started the inning with a walk.  Lyndon Rainey would follow with a walk of his own.  Mazzei singled past the thirdbaseman to plate Caruso.  Kaderle walked to load the bases and Ivory would walk to score Rainey.  The game would end 8-0.  Jonathan Kountis moved to 6-0 on the mound with the complete game shutout.  Kountis allowed 5 hits and struck out 11.  Mazzei led the offense, going 3-4 with a 2B and 3 RBI. 

Portage South Gets 500th Career Team Win

Portage South entered Monday night's game with the Tallmadge Knights with 499 career wins as an organization.  PS was able to score first in this one with a 3-run third inning.  Phil Kaderle was hit by a pitch and went to second on an infield single by Tyler Mazzei.  Jesse Michel singled home Kaderle for the first run of the game.  Ty Moorhead followed with a single to left field plating Mazzei.  Michel and Moorhead would advance a base on the throw.  Jacob Caruso would follow with an RBI groundout to make the game 3-0.  The Black Squirrels would add on to the lead with another big inning in the fifth.  Mazzei would start the inning with a single, then steal second and advance to third on a wild pitch.  Josh Salinas singled to score Mazzei.  Salinas stole second and Michel would single him home.  A Moorhead single gave Portage South runners on first and second, then Caruso would reach on a fielder's choice.  Michel advanced to third, Moorhead out at second.  Matt Dile would hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Michel for a six run lead.  Caruso stole second and scored on a RBI single by Jason Preising, making the game now 7-0.  Robert Shepherd would throw his first complete game shutout with Portage South, allowing just 3 hits and striking out 11.  Mazzei led the offense with 3 hits and 2 runs scored. 

Black Squirrels Sweep a DH with the Pirates

Portage South Black Squirrels would face the Cleveland Pirates, one of the 5 new teams in the league, on Sunda at Roosevelt Park.  In game one, PS jumped out to the early lead with 3 runs in the top of the first inning.  Josh Salinas would walk to lead off the game.  An errant throw on a pickoff move would allow Salinas to advance to second and a bobble backing up the throw moves him to third.  Jesse Michel would then score Salinas with a sacrifice fly to center.  Ty Moorhead singled to left and stole second.  He scored on the Jacob Caruso single.  Matt Dile followed with a double to right center that plated Caruso, making it 3-0.  Portage South would keep the offense going with 2 more runs in the second inning.  Phil Kaderle reached base after being hit by a pitch.  Tyler Mazzei would then single to make it first and second with no outs.  After advancing on a ground out, Kaderle scored on a single by Michel.  Mazzei was able to score as throw got away at first on Michel's single.  The Black Squirrels made it 6-0 in the fourth on a solo homerun by Moorhead.  PS would get 2 more runs in the fifth inning to make it 8-0.  Lyndon Rainey would walk with 2 outs in the inning, then Robert Shepherd reached on an error by the right fielder.  Shepherd stole second and Mazzei followed with a double to score both runners.  Kevin Haley would go 5 innings for the victory on the mound, allowing 2 hits and striking out eight.  Steve Swiger and Phil Kaderle each threw one inning of scoreless relief.

In game two, Portage South once again grabbed the early lead with another 3-run first inning.  Josh Salinas walked again to lead off.  Jesse Michel followed with a single, moving Salinas to third.  Ty Moorhead would score Salinas with a sacrifice fly to center.  Jacob Caruso singled to right and advancing to third was Michel.  Caruso stole second, then Matt Dile scored Michel with another sacrifice fly in the inning.  Jason Preising rounded out the scoring with a single to plate Caruso.  The Black Squirrels added to the lead in the second when Phil Kaderle singled to right field and stole second.  He would score on a Tyler Mazzei single.  PS made the game 5-0 in the fourth with another run.  Robert Shepherd would single to right center.  Shepherd would steal second and advance to third when Kevin Yelinek reached on a error.  Shepherd would score on a passed ball after a third strike.  Eric Schaffer went 6 innings on the mound for the win, allowing no runs and striking out six.  Jonathan Kountis threw one inning of scoreless relief.  Kaderle was 2-2 to lead the PS offense.

Portage South Drops a Close One to Nordonia

Portage South Black Squirrels would face the Nordonia Renegades at Logan Park on Thursday.  Nordonia would get a run in the first inning to grab the early lead.  The Renegades would follow that with 3 more in the second inning to make it 4-0.  In the bottom of the second, PS would cut the lead in half with a 2-run frame.  Matt Dile, Jesse Michel and Jason Preising would reach on consecutive walks, loading the bases.  Tyler Mazzei would follow with a single to left, scoring Dile and Michel.  Nordonia would stretch the lead out to three with another run in the third inning.  PS would come right back with a run in the bottom of the third to make it 5-3.  Josh Salinas would single and Ty Moorhead would move Salinas to second with a single of his own.  Then a double steal would move both runners up.  Jacob Caruso lined out to center, scoring Salinas with a sacrifice fly.  Neither team would score again and the final was 5-3.  Robert Shepherd would strike out 4 in his 2 innings of relief.  Kevin Haley also struck out the side in his one inning on the mound.  Moorhead would go 3-3 with a stolen base to lead the offense.  Salinas also had 2 singles. 

Portage South Moves Into 2nd Place with Win Over Akron A's

Portage South Black Squirrels entered Tuesday's game a half game back of the Akron A's for the 2nd spot in the standings.  PS jumped out to the early lead with 3 runs in the bottom of the first inning.  Lucius Ivory, Josh Salinas and Ty Moorhead all received walks to load the bases.  Jacob Caruso would then single to left, scoring Ivory and Salinas.  Matt Dile would follow with a sacrifice fly to right that plated Moorhead.  The A's scored 2 runs in the fourth to cut into the lead and make it 3-2.  The Black Squirrels would add a run in the fifth to move the lead back to 2 at 4-2.  Phil Kaderle singled and moved to second on a ground out by Ivory.  Salinas would follow with a single to score Kaderle.  The A's again got within one with a run in the sixth.  Portage South got an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, making the score 5-3.  Caruso singled to start to the inning.  He moved to second on a groundout and to third on a wild pitch.  Jesse Michel's single scored Caruso.  Jonathan Kountis would throw a complete game for his 5th win of the season, striking out 11.  Salinas was 2-2 with a run, 2 stolen bases and 1 RBI to lead the Black Squirrels offense.  Kaderle was also 2-2 with a run.  Caruso had 2 hits and 2 RBI. 

Big First Inning Leads to Portage South's 10th Victory

Portage South Black Squirrels were back at Roosevelt Park for a Thursday night game against the Akron Aviators.  PS would take the lead early with a 7-run first inning.  Lucius Ivory would lead off the game with a walk and move to second on a wild pitch.  Jesse Michel would follow with a walk and Ivory moved to third on another wild pitch.  With Ty Moorhead at the plate, Ivory would score on a wild pitch with Michel moving to second, then Michel would steal third.  Moorhead would walk and steal second.  Jacob Caruso, back from the Texas Coastal League, was the fourth walk of the inning to load the bases.  Matt Dile would follow with a ball that was misplayed and everyone was safe, with Michel scoring.  Jason Preising would follow with a sacrifice fly to center scoring Moorhead.  Caruso would come home on another wild pitch before Phil Kaderle walked.  Tyler Mazzei would get the first hit of the inning with a single down the third base line to score Dile.  Mazzei stole second and move to third on a wild pitch that would plate Kaderle.  Ivory would walk for the second time in the inning and errant pickoff throw would allow him to move to second and score Mazzei.  In the fourth, Portage South would add to the lead with another run.  Ivory walked for the third time in the game and stole second base.  Moorhead would single and move Ivory to third.  Caruso followed with a sacrifice fly scoring Ivory.  The game remained 8-0 until the top of the seventh when PS added 2 more runs.  Moorhead started the inning with a single and stole second.  Caruso walked, followed by another walk by Larry McCain.  Preising would single to right, scoring Moorhead and Caruso.  Alonzo Spears started the game, going 3 innings allowing 1 hit.  Steve Swiger went the next 3 innings also allowing only the one hit and striking out three to pick up the win.  Robert Shepherd struck out the side in the seventh to complete the shutout.

Portage South Comes Away with a Split Against the Gamecocks

Portage South Black Squirrels would face the undefeated Ohio Gamecocks in a doubleheader at Roosevelt Park on Sunday.  In game one, the Gamecocks grabbed the early lead with 2 runs in the first inning.  It would remain 2-0 until the fourth inning, when the Gamecocks added 2 more runs.  Portage South would get on the board in the fifth with a run to make it 4-1.  Matt Dile would get hit by a pitch with one out in the inning.  After picking up the second out, Jason Preising would also be hit by a pitch moving Dile to second.  Mike Haney would follow with a single to right center to score Dile.  Robert Shepherd made is PS debut, going 3 innings and allowing just 2 hits and struck out three.  Alonzo Spears and Phil Kaderle threw 3 hitless and scoreless innings of relief combined.  Jesse Michel led the offense with 2 hits.

Game two started better for Portage South with 2 runs in the bottom of the first inning.  Matt Dile singled with one out and stole second base.  Dile scored on a single to right center by Mike Haney.  Haney moved to second on the throw.  Justin Nelson would single to move Haney to third and Jason Preising brought him home with a single to right field.  In the fourth inning, Jesse Michel hit a homerun to left field, making the game 3-0.  The Gamecocks would get a run in the fifth, but that is as close as they would get and PS won 3-1.  Kevin Haley threw a complete game for the win, striking out five.  Nelson had 2 hits to lead the Black Squirrels offense. 

The Black Squirrels Pick Up Eighth Victory of Season

The Portage South Black Squirrels would face another new team to the league on Wednesday night at Old Forge.  PS would able to jump out to a 5-0 lead after one inning.  Lucius Ivory would walk to start the inning and steal second base.  Josh Salinas would follow with a walk and they both would move up a base on a wild pitch.  Ty Moorhead would double to left center, bringing home Ivory and Salinas.  Moorhead would steal third and then score on a RBI groundout by Matt Dile.  Jesse Michel singled to left and move to second on a wild pitch.  Jason Preising followed with an infield single that moved Michel to third.  Preising then stole second base and Mike Haney doubled home both, Michel and Preising.  Portage South would break the game open with a 6-run second inning, making the score 11-0.  Salinas would single and score on another Moorhead double.  Dile singled to right, moving Moorhead to third.  After a stolen base by Dile, Michel would double to left field to score both runners.  Michel advanced to third on a passed ball and score on a single by Preising.  Advancing to second on an error then moving to third on a fielder's choice by Phil Kaderle, Preising would score on a throwing error that move Kaderle to second.  Tyler Mazzei would double to left center and plate Kaderle.  The Black Squirrel pitching staff allowed just one hit for the game and the final score was 11-0.  Jonathan Kountis threw the first 3 innings to pick up the victory on the mound, striking out seven.  Eric Schaffer and Alonzo Spears allowed no hits over the final 2 innings to preserve the shutout.  Moorhead led the offense with 2 2Bs and 3 RBI.  Michel and Preising also had 2 hits apiece.

Portage South Splits with the Cobras

Portage South Black Squirrels would face one of the 4 new teams in the league for 2021, Cleveland Cobras on Sunday at Roosevelt Park.  PS jumped out the lead with a run in the third innings.  Josh Salinas walked and stole second base.  He would move to third on a throwing error.  Kevin Haley would follow with a walk and then Ty Moorhead would single to score Salinas.  The Cobras would get 2 runs in the top of the fifth inning to take the lead, 2-1.  The Black Squirrels would tie the game in the bottom half of the inning.  Lyndon Rainey would single to start the inning, followed by a Salinas single.  A bunt single by Haley would load the bases.  Rainey would then score on a wild pitch.  The Cobras came right back in the top of the sixth with 3 runs to take the lead again at 5-2.  Portage South was not able to push anymore runs across and lost.  Eric Schaffer threw 7 innings in the lost and became the second player in Portage South history to reach the 500 innings pitched plateau.  Rainey led the offense with 2 hits.

In game two, the Cobras would jump out the early lead with 2 runs in the bottom of the first inning.  PS would cut the lead in half with a run in the second inning.  Tyler Mazzei would single with 2 outs and steal second base.  Mazzei would move to third when Kevin Yelinek reached on an error and score on a passed ball.  The Black Squirrels would take the lead in the 3rd inning with a 3-run frame.  Josh Salinas would reach on a bunt single then steal second and third.  A Kevin Haley sacrifice fly would score Salinas to tie the game.  Jesse Michel would walk with 2 outs and move to third after a throwing error on a ground ball hit by Jason Preising.  Michel would score on a wild pitch.  Ty Moorhead would courtesy run for Preising and steal second base.  Moorhead would score on a Phil Kaderle single.  The Cobras would get a run in the bottom of the third, but Portage South would add another run in the fourth to make it 5-3.  Salinas would walk and steal second.  He moved to third when the throw went into center field.  The center fielder came up throwing to third and threw it away to score Salinas.  The Cobras kept fighting and score another run in the fifth, making it 5-4.  It would remain that score until the top of the seventh when Michel homered to left, adding an insurance run.  PS went on to win 6-4.  Steve Swiger went 4 1/3 on the mound for the win.  Salinas came in and threw the final 8 outs for the save.  Michel led the offense with a HR and 1B.

Black Squirrels Over the Flying Squirrels

Portage South Black Squirrels would travel to Logan Park to face the Fairlawn Flying Squirrels on Tuesday night.  PS would explode in the second inning for 5 runs.  Justin Nelson singled to start the inning, followed by a Jason Preising single.  Kevin Haley would sacrifice bunt to move the runners up.  Tyler Mazzei would then walk to load the bases.  Alonzo Spears would double down the right field line to score Nelson and Preising.  Lucius Ivory doubled home Mazzei and Spears, then advanced to third on an error.  Ty Moorhead singled to scored Ivory, making it 5-0.  In the third inning, the Black Squirrels blew the game wide open with a 6-run stanza.  Once again, the inning was started with singles by Nelson and Preising.  Mazzei would single and score Nelson.  Lyndon Rainey followed with a single, scoring Preising.  Ivory would walk to load the bases and Moorhead would double to plate Mazzei and Rainey.  Ivory would score and Moorhead moved to third on a fielding error.  Matt Dile singled to score Moorhead.  Portage South would add one more run in the fourth inning, pushing the lead to 12-0.  Robert Shepherd would reach on an error, move to second on a Mazzei walk and reach third after a fielder's choice by Spears.  Steve Swiger would score Shepherd with a RBI fielder's choice.  Jonathan Kountis went all 5 innings on the mound for the victory, allowing just 3 hits and striking out nine.  Nelson went 3-3 to lead the offense.  Moorhead and Preising also had 2 hits each.

Portage South Splits Doubleheader with Akron Rays

Portage South Black Squirrels played the Akron Rays in a doubleheader at Roosevelt Park on Sunday.  The Rays would grab the early lead with 2 runs in the second inning.  PS would tie the game in the top of the third at 2-2.  Ty Moorhead led off the inning with a double and scored on a single by Matt Dile.  Dile advanced to second on an error.  Tyler Mazzei would then single home Dile to tie the game.  The Rays followed with another run in the third, making the score 3-2.  In the fifth, the Black Squirrels would get 2 more runs to go up, 4-3.  Josh Salinas would double to start the inning and Moorhead would follow with a monster homerun to left.  Akron got a run in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game again.  Portage South came right back in the 6th inning with 2 more runs.  Lucius Ivory walked and scored on a Salinas triple.  Moorhead followed with an RBI single.  The Rays were able to get 5 runs in the bottom of the sixth to go up, 9-6 and then the game was called due to time limit.  Moorhead led the offense, going 3-4 with a 2B, HR and 3 RBI.  Salinas was 2-3 with a 2B, 3B and 2 runs scored.  Kevin Haley went 5 innings for the tough loss.  Haley also became the first pitcher in PS history with 500 career innings pitched.

In game 2, Portage South was able to grab the early lead in this one with a run in the bottom of the first.  Josh Salinas walked and moved to second on a fielder's choice, then scored on a Matt Dile single.  The Rays matched that with a run in the top of the second to tie it, but PS put up a 5-run frame in the bottom half of the inning.  Jason Preising would double to start the inning and move to third on a Phil Kaderle single.  Preising would score on a wild pitch, moving Kaderle to second.  Kevin Haley would walk and Lucius Ivory was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Salinas would then hit a bases clearing double.  Ty Moorhead followed with a single to score Salinas and make the score 6-1.  Rays cut into the lead with a run in the third and the fourth to make it 6-3.  In the bottom of the fourth, the Black Squirrels opened up the lead with another 5-run inning.  Moorhead and Dile would each single.  Justin Nelson then singled home Moorhead, followed by an RBI single from Preising.  Kaderle singled to load the bases and then Nelson and Preising would each score on a wild pitch, moving Kaderle to third.  Haley would score Kaderle on a sacrifice fly.  This game was also called after 6 innings due to time limit with Portage South winning 11-3.  Eric Schaffer went 5 innings for the win.  Preising and Dile each went 3-4 at the plate with Preising adding a double.

Portage South Takes Two from the Irish

Portage South Black Squirrels played a doubleheader with the Akron Irish on Sunday.  Game one was a pitcher's duel with both teams being held scoreless for the first 4 innings.  In the top of the fifth, the Irish got a solo homerun to take a 1-0 lead.  PS would come right back in the bottom of the innings with 3 runs of their own.  Phil Kaderle would reach on an error with one out and move to second on a single by Lucius Ivory.  Ty Moorhead would single home Kaderle.  Moorhead would steal second and a throwing error would allow Ivory to score.  Moorhead would then score on a wild pitch.  In the sixth, Portage South would add another run to stretch the lead to 4-1.  Tyler Mazzei would single and score on a Mike Haney double.  The Irish picked up a run in the seventh, but PS held on for the 4-2 win.  Eric Schaffer went 6 innings for the win, alllowing just the one run.  Steve Swiger would pick up the save in relief.

In game 2, Portage South got on the board early with a 2-run first inning.  Josh Salinas would single, followed by a Ty Moorhead double.  Justin Nelson would then single home both, Salinas and Moorhead.  PS added 2 more runs in the third inning.  Lucius Ivory would double and move to third on a wild pitch.  Salinas would score Ivory on a RBI groundout.  Moorhead would single and steal second base.  He would then score on a Nelson single to make it 4-0.  The Irish cut into the lead with a run in the fourth, but PS would add a run in the fifth and another in the sixth.  Ivory would single, steal second and score on a RBI single by Moorhead in the 5th inning and Jesse Michel manufactured a run in the 6th.  He walked, moved to second on a groundout, stole third and scored on a wild pitch.  The Irish got a run back in the sixth to make it 6-2.  In the seventh, Portage South would open the game up with a 3-run frame.  Moorhead would get hit by a pitch and move to second on a wild pitch.  Nelson would single home Moorhead.  Mike Haney would walk and Michel was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Jason Preising would single and score Nelson and Larry McCain (courtesy running for Haney).  Akron Irish added a run in the seventh to make the final score 9-3.  Jonathan Kountis went 4 innings, striking out 8 for the win.  Kevin Haley threw 3 innings in relief to pick up his 9 career save.

Haley Throws No-hitter in Season Opener, PS Sweeps Doubleheader

Portage South opened the 2021 season with the Canton Outlaws and in game one the story was pitching.  Portage South got on the board first with a run in the bottom of the first inning.  Lucius Ivory singled to start the inning.  Kevin Haley would follow with a single, moving Ivory to second.  Jesse Michel would move both runners up with a sacrifice bunt and Ivory would then score on a Matt Dile RBI groundout.  The score would remain 1-0 until the 6th inning when PS would add 2 more runs, pushing the lead to 3-0.  Haley would get hit by a pitch to lead off the inning.  Michel followed with a walk.  Dile moved the runners with a sacrifice bunt, then Jacob Caruso walked to load the bases.  Haley would score on the Josh Salinas fielder's choice and Caruso scored on a Jonathan Kountis pinch hit single.  This is all Portage South would need as Kevin Haley threw a complete game no-hitter.  Haley struck out 11 batters in the victory.  This was Haley's second no-hitter and the first for Portage South since 2010 (Mike Darrah).  It was also Haley's 8th career shutout. 

In game two, the Black Squirrels got on the scoreboard early with 2 runs in the top of the first inning.  Lucius Ivory was hit by a pitch and stole second base.  Kevin Haley would walk and both runners would advance on a wild pitch, then Ivory scored the first run on a second wild pitch.  Matt Dile would then single home Haley for a 2-0 lead.  PS then added 3 more runs in the second inning.  Jason Preising and Kevin Yelinek would each walk and score on the Ivory double.  Haley would again walk and score on a Dile single to round out the scoring.  In the 3rd inning, Portage South broke the game open with a 5-run frame.  Josh Salinas would triple to leadoff the inning and score on a single by Yelinek.  Ivory would reach on an error and Haley walked for the third consecutive at-bat to load the bases.  Jesse Michel would double and clear the bases.  Dile followed with his 3rd RBI single of the game, scoring Michel to make the score 10-0.  Jonathan Kountis threw 3 innings for the win, allowing just one hit and striking out six.  Alonzo Spears and Eric Schaffer would each throw a scoreless inning in relief.