Salinas Leads 9 Black Squirrels Earning League Honors

The Greater Akron AA League Awards were announced with 9 Portage South Black Squirrels earning league all star honors.  The 5 individual league awards were also announced and Josh Salinas won his second straight Frank Garcia League MVP.  Jonathan Kountis won the Dave Layton Tournament MVP award for the American Division of the Greater Akron AA League.  Justin Nelson and Ty Moorhead were, both, nominated for Frank Garcia League MVP and George Sisler Hitter of the Year.  Kountis was also nominated for Dave Young Pitcher of the Year.  In addition to the above mentioned Black Squirrels, Matt Dile, Kevin Haley, Mike Haney, Lucius Ivory and Eric Schaffer were named to the Greater Akron AA All Star team.

Portage South Announces 2023 Team Awards

With the 2023 season completed, the Portage South Black Squirrels announce the annual team awards. The PS MVP was presented to Josh Salinas. Salinas had 40 hits, 34 runs scored, 6 doubles, 4 triples, 3 homeruns, 32 runs batted in, and stole 9 bases. Salinas' .519 average was the highest single season average in team history and good enough also to earn the PS Stan Musial Batting Title. The PS Cy Young was awarded to Jonathan Kountis. Kountis went 5-0 with a save, 63 strikeouts and a 1.37 ERA while throwing 41 innings. PS Golden Glove Award for the Black Squirrels was awarded to Zach Lewis. The final award given out is known as the "Herb".  Josh Salinas also took home the 2023 Herb.

Portage South Honored by Greater Akron Baseball Hall of Fame

The Greater Akron Baseball Hall of Fame announced the Induction Class of 2023 and Special Awards.  The Portage South Black Squirrels were awarded the Team Award, which is presented to a team that has excelled for many years on the field.

In 1997, Bob Paradise, his son, Robert, and Marc Korogi formed the Portage South Baseball Team with local players from Summit and Portage County.  They joined the Hot Stove D League, which then became the NEO AAA and NEO Class A League.  Portage South would then join the rebuilt Greater Akron AA League in 2005 and helped carry it over to combine with the NEO Roy Hobbs 18+ Division.

Portage South won 3 NEO AAA division titles (1998, 99, 01) and made 2 State Final Four appearances (1998, 00) from 1997-2004.  Portage South then won 2 regular season titles (2007, 11), League Tournament ('05), AABC District title ('06) and AA League title ('11) in AA League (2005-11).  In the NEO Roy Hobbs Greater Akron AA Division, Portage South won 3 AA League title ('20, '22, '23), the Wood Bat Classic ('14) and were the 2016 regular season champions and won the NABA Labor Day Tournament in Rochester, NY.

Portage South founders, Bob Paradise, Robert Paradise and Marc Korogi also played an important role, with Ted Hardy to revive the Greater Akron AA League in 2005 and worked with other area leagues in NE Ohio to showcase local talent in All Star Games, playing against players in the Canton and Warren leagues.  They also have had 6 former/current players inducted into the Greater Akron Baseball Hall of Fame.