Black Squirrels WIn Big Over Akron A's

The Portage South Black Squirrels would face the Akron A's in a game that started June 10th and, after being suspended for weather, finished July 14th.  Before the weather, the A's scored first with 3 runs in the first inning.  Portage South answered with 6 runs in the top of the second.  Ryan Schromm reaches on an infield single, then Jason Preising singled to make it first and second.  Both would advance on a wild pitch before Caleb Shovestull reached on a dropped third strike that scored Schromm.  Mike Haney III bunted for a single and scored Preising for the second run.  Lucius Ivory was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Mike Darrah singled to left field, scoring Shovestull and Haney III.  Justin Nelson hits a line drive single to right field to score Ivory and Darrah, making it 6-3.  PS opened up the game with 4 more runs in the top of the third.  Shovestull walked to start the inning followed by Ivory being hit by a ptich.  Charlie Drumm singled to load the bases.  Darrah singled to right to plate Shovestull.  Nelson scored Iovry on a fielder's choice, then Schromm doubled home Drumm and Nelson for the 10-3 lead.  The game would be suspended for weather in the bottom half of the third and resume in July.  The Black Squirrels kept the offense rolling with 5 more runs in the fourth.  Mike Haney walked to open the frame and Ryan Kitay reached on an infield single.  Harley Barmen singled on a hard ground ball to left that scored Haney.  Ivory walked to load the bases and Josh Salinas followed with a RBI walk to score Barmen.  Nelson singled to left field to plate Ivory and Drumm.  Salinas stole home for the fifth run of the inning to make the score 15-3.  Portage South put the game away with another 5 runs in the fifth.  Preising and Jesse Michel were each hit by a pitch, then Barmen reached on an error to load the bases.  Ivory drove in Preising with a single to left field.  Salinas walks again with the bases loaded to bring home Michel.  Nelson singled on a line drive to right that scored Barmen and Ivory.  Tristyn Page walked to load the bases again and Presing walked to plate Salinas for the 20-3 lead.  The A's would get 2 runs in the bottom of the fifth, but the final would be a 20-5 Black Squirrel victory.  Page got the win in relief, throwing 1.2 scoreless innings.  Nelson led the way on offense, going 3-5 with 7 RBIs.  Schromm and Darrah, each, went 3-3 in the game.

Moorhead Leads the Way in the Doubleheader Sweep for Portage South

The Portage South Black Squirrels would head to Aurora High School on Saturday for a doubleheader against Steve's Sports.  The offense was quiet for both teams for the first 4 innings of game one.  In the fifth, Portage South broke through with 2 runs.  Logan Poole doubled to left center and Mike Haney III singled to right, bringing home Poole for the first run of the game.  Pat McQuaide came in to courtesy run for Haney III.  Ryan Kitay singled to make it first and second with 2 outs.  Matt Dile singled to center to plate McQuaide, making it 2-0.  Steve's Sports scored a run in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead in half.  PS pushed the lead to 5-1 in the seventh with a 3-run frame.  McQuaide singled up the middle and advanced to second on a balk.  He then moved to third on an throwing error in a pick off attempt.  Kitay singled to score McQuaide and Dile followed with a walk.  After Kitay stole third, Ty Moorhead reached on an infield single to score Kitay and advanced to second on an throwing error.  Justin Nelson brought home Dile on a RBI groundout for the third run in the inning.  Steve's cut the lead back to 1 with a 3-run inning of their oun, the Black Squirrels held on for the 5-4 win.  Jonathan Kountis went the distance on the mound for the win, striking out eight.  Moorhead had 3 hits to lead the offense.  Kitay and Poole, each, added 2 hits for Portage South.

In game two, PS got on the board quickly with a run in the bottom of the first inning.  Charlie Drumm singled to lead off the inning, then stole second and advanced to third on the throwing error.  Ty Moorhead singled to right, scoring Drumm.  The Black Squirrels would get 4 more runs to open the lead to 5-0 in the third inning.  Pat McQuaide and Mike Haney III walk to start the inning and Moorhead singles to left, scoring McQuaide.  Justin Nelson singles to right to bring home Haney III for the second run of the inning.  Matt Dile walked to load the bases and Logan Poole followed with a single to left, scoring Moorhead and Nelson.  Steve's Sports got a run in the top of the fourth, but Portage South increase the lead with another 4-run inning in the bottom half.  McQuaide and Drumm walk to make it first and second.  Ryan Kitay doubles to right center to plate McQuaide.  Moorhead followed with a double to score Drumm and Kitay for an 8-1 lead.  PS got the final run of the inning on a triple by Nelson to score Moorhead.  Steve's tried to chip away at the lead scoring 2 runs in the fifth and 1 in each of the final 2 innings, but the Black Squirrels completed the sweep with the 9-5 victory.  Eric Schaffer picked up the win on the mound going 5.1 innings.  Moorhead again led the offense with 3 hits and 4 RBI.  Nelson added 2 hits, 2 RBI and a 3B for Portage South.

Nelson and the Black Squirrel Offense Shines in Win over the Tigers

The Portage South Black Squirrels faced the Akron Tigers at Roosevelt Park on Thursday night.  Portage South offense got started right away with Charlie Drumm hitting a triple to lead off the game.  Ty Moorhead singled to score Drumm.  Justin Nelson followed with a single and Matt Dile walked to load the bases, then Ryan Kitay would score Moorhead on a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.  PS kept the offense going in the second with 3 more runs.  Pat McQuaide singled to start the inning and then stole second.  Josh Salinas singled to left to score McQuaide and advanced to second on a bobble in left field.  Moorhead singled to center bringing home Salinas then Nelson tripled to score Moorhead.  The Black Squirrels added another run in the third inning.  After McQuaide tripled to right, Mike Haney III singles to plate McQuaide to make the score 6-0.  In the fourth inning, Portage South pushed the lead to 8-0.  Nelson homers to left center field for the first run in the inning.  Dile followed with a double and was moved to third on a Kitay single.  Mike Haney scored Dile on a RBI groundout.  PS added 3 more runs in the fifth inning, scoring in every inning.  Drumm doubled and scored on a Moorhead single to center.  Nelson walked to make it first and second, then Dile doubled to left center to score Moorhead and Nelson.  The Tigers scored a run in the bottom of the fifth, but that was all they would get as the Black Squirrels won 11-1.  Kitay went all 5 innings on the mound for the win, allowing just 3 hits and striking out five.  Nelson was 3-3 and came up just a double short of the cycle.  Moorhead added 3 hits and 3 RBI as will for the Portage South offense. 

Offense Carries PS to Victory over the Irish

Portage South Black Squirrels were at Roosevelt Park on Wednesday night to take on the Akron Irish.  Portage South came out with a 3-run inning in the first.  Charlie Drumm was hit by a pitch and stole second base.  Lucius Ivory then singled to center that scored Drumm.  Ty Moorhead doubles to left field moving Ivory to third.  Matt Dile would score Ivory on a sacrifice fly to center, with Moorhead advancing to third.  Harley Barmen plated Moorhead on a RBI groundout to second.  The Irish took the lead in the bottom half of the inning with 4 runs.  PS used a 4-run second inning to regain a 7-4 advantage.  Logan Poole reached on an error and Pat McQuaide followed with a walk.  Mike Haney III moved both runners with a sacrifice bunt.  Drumm then doubled home Poole and McQuaide.  Ivory was hit by a pitch and then Drumm and Ivory double steal to make it second and third.  Moorhead would single to score both runners.  Akron got 2 runs back in teh bottom of the second to cut the lead to one at 7-6.  In the third inning, the Black Squirrels broke the game open with a 10-run inning.  Poole tripled to lead off the inning and McQuaide singled him home.  Haney III followed with a single to make it first and second.  Drumm singles to center, scoring McQuaide.  Ivory doubled to center and plated Haney III and Drumm.  The throw allowed Ivory to move up to third.  Moorhead scored Ivory on a groundout.  Dile was hit by a pitch and stole second, then Barmen walked.  Ryan Schromm singled to left, scoring the sixth run of the inning in Dile.  Poole walked to load the bases and McQuaide reached on an infield single to score Barmen.  Haney III was hit by a pitch that scored Moorhead, who was courtesy running for Schromm. Drumm then doubled home Poole and McQuaide, making the score 17-6.  The Irish added 3 runs in the bottom of fourth to cut the lead to 17-9.  Each team added a run in the sixth and that would be the final score 18-10.  Moorhead singled and scored on a Dile double for the final Black Squirrel run.  Tristyn Page went 5 innings for the win.  Drumm was 3-3 with 2 2B, 3 runs, 5 RBI and 2 SB to lead the offense.  Ivory added 3 hits, including 2B and 3B.  McQuaide had 3 hits, 3B and 2 RBI.

PS Drops the First, but Bounce Back to Win Big in the Second Against the Flying Squirrels

Portage South Black Squirrels would host the Fairlawn Flying Squirrels at Roosevelt Park for a doubleheader on Sunday.  In game one, the Flying Squirrels scored first with a run in the top of the second.  Portage South came right back to tie it in the bottom of the inning.  Kevin Haley walked and moved to second on a wild pitch.  Bryan Dile singled down the third base line to score Haley.  PS would grab the lead in the third with a run to make it 2-1.  Charlie Drumm singled, stole second and third and scored on a wild pitch.  Fairlawn put up a 3-run frame in the fourth and added 3 more run in the top of the fifth for the 7-2 lead.  The Black Squirrels got 2 runs back in the bottom of the fifth, cutting the lead to 7-4.  Matt Dile singled and Justin Nelson would walk, then a double steal moved the runners to second and third.  Jesse Michel scored Dile on a groundout and Mike Haney III singled to left field to plate Nelson.  The Flying Squirrels added 2 runs in the top of the seventh, increasing the lead to five at 9-4.  Portage South got a run in the bottom half but would come up short.  Nelson tripled to right field and scored on an error.  Nelson was 2-2 with a 3B and 2 runs to lead the offense.  This game also saw the 4 father-son duo in team history with Bryan and Matt Dile starting together in the infield.  They join the Haneys, Spears and Paradise's.

 In game two, the Portage South offense got going early, scoring in each of the first three innings.  In the first, PS got on the board with one run.  Charlie Drumm is hit by a pitch, Josh Salinas walks and Matt Dile singles to load the bases.  Drumm would score on a wild pitch.  In the second, the Black Squirrels opened the game with 3 runs and a 4-0 lead.  Kevin Haley walked to start the inning.  Mike Haney III singled and Lucius Ivory walked to load the bases.  Drumm would score Haley on a sacrifice fly, which had all runner advance.  Salinas was hit by a pitch to load the bases, then Dile earned a walk to score Haney III.  Ivory would steal home for the third run of the inning.  Portage South started to put the game out of reach with a 4-run frame in the third inning and the 8-0 lead.  Haney III singled and stole second before Drumm doubled him home.  Salinas would walk, then Dile doubled home Ivory, who was courtesy running for Drumm.  Justin Nelson singled to left scoring Dile and Salinas.  PS added 2 more runs in the top of the fifth inning and would win 10-0.  Dile singled and Nelson reached on an error.  Mike Haney singled to score Dile.  Haley followed with another single to score Nelson.  Jonathan Kountis would throw 5 scoreless innings for the complete game win, allowing just 3 hits and striking out seven.  Dile went 3-3 with a 2B and 2 RBI.  Haney III added 2 hits and 2 runs scored for the offense.

A's Bats Too Much for the Black Squirrels

The Portage South Black Squirrels met the Akron A's at Field High School Thursday night.  The A's came out swinging and opened a 5 run lead in the first inning.  Portage South came back with a run in the bottom half.  Josh Salinas would walk and Ty Moorhead followed with a double, making it second and third.  Justin Nelson scored Salinas on a RBI groundout.  PS got another run back in the second to make it 5-2.  After Mike Haney walked, Larry McCain would reach on a fielder's choice that had Haney out at second.  Mike Haney III would walk to move McCain to second.  Charlie Drumm singled to center, plating McCain.  Akron added a run in the third and 3 more in the fourth for a 9-2 lead.  With Drumm on after a fielder's choice, Salinas would crush a ball to left field for a homerun, cutting the lead to 9-4.  The A's added one more run in the sixth and that would be the final score, 10-4.  Salinas led the offense with the HR, 2 RBI and 2 runs scored.  Moorhead threw 3 strong innings in relief, allowing just one run and striking out 3. 

Portage South Holds Off Vipers for the Win

Portage South Black Squirrels would face the Eastside Vipers on Tuesday at Roosevelt Park.  Portage South grabbed the early lead with 3 runs in the top of the second.  Justin Nelson walked and Larry McCain singled to center.  Mike Haney III was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Logan Poole would reach on a fielder's choice that scored Nelson.  Lucius Ivory walked to reload the bases with 2 outs and Ryan Kitay singled to score McCain, then Poole would score on an error.  The score remained 3-0 until the bottom of the fifth, when the Vipers tied the game.  PS came right back in the top of the sixth to take the lead back with a 2-run frame.  After Poole reached on an error, Ivory tripled to left center field to score Poole and would score himself on an error.  The Vipers would get a run in the bottom of the seventh, but Poole was able get a strikeout to seal the win for the Black Squirrels.  Eric Schaffer went 6 innings, allowing just one earned run and striking out five.  Poole picked up the save in one inning of relief.  Ivory lead the offense with a 3B, run scored and RBI.

Haney III Drops the Hammer — Walk-Off Blast Wins It in the 8th

The Portage South Black Squirrels were scheduled for a single game in a split doubleheader for the Akron Tigers Sunday at Field High School.  The game was scoreless until the bottom of the third when Portage South grabbed a 2-0 lead.  Charlie Drumm doubled with 2 outs and Mike Darrah crushed a homerun to left field.  PS added a run in the fifth inning to extend the lead to 3-0.  Drumm singled and advanced to second on a ground out by Darrah.  Justin Nelson doubled to center to score Drumm.  The Tigers would fight back with 2 runs in the sixth and then tied the game in the seventh with another run, pushing the game to extra innings.  Akron went scoreless in the top of the eighth and the first 2 batters for the Black Squirrels in the bottom of the inning were retired.  With Portage South down to their last out, Mike Haney III stepped up and launched one into the trees in left field for a walk-off win.  Jonathan Kountis went 7 innings and struck out 11 in a no decision.  Ryan Kitay threw a scoreless 8th inning for the win.  Nelson was 2-3 with 2 doubles and a RBI to lead the offense.  Drumm also went 2-3 with a 2B and 2 runs scored.

Offense Explodes in Win Over Canton Outlaws

After playing 6 games in seven days the previous week, the Portage South Black Squirrels would face the Canton Outlaws at Roosevelt Park in the team's only game of the week.  Canton Outlaws were shorthanded, but it didn't matter much as Portage South's bats erupted right from the first pitch.  PS jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning.  Ryan Kitay hammered the first pitch of the inning to center for a triple.  Charlie Drumm followed with a missile to right center for an inside-the-park homerun for the first 2 runs.  Mike Darrah doubled to left center field and Matt Dile scored Darrah with a double of his own to left.  The Outlaws got a run back in the top of the second, but the Black Squirrels opened up the game with a 7-run frame for the 10-1 lead.  Josh Simmons walked to lead off the inning.  Phil Kaderle followed with an infield single.  Drumm then doubled home both Simmons and Kaderle.  After a Ty Moorhead single moved Drumm to third, Justin Nelson tripled to right field, scoring Drumm and Moorhead.  Darrah singled to score Nelson, then Dile homered to left field.  In the third, Portage South put the game away with 5 more runs.  Kaderle, Kitay and Drumm all walked to load the bases and Moorhead doubled home Kaderle and Kitay.  Nelson singled to center, plating Drumm for the 13-1 lead.  Darrah would walk to reload the bases and Dile ripped a line drive to left for a single to score Moorhead.  Simmons drew a bases load walk to score Nelson.  Both teams were scoreless over the next 2 innings and the game ended 15-1.  Tristyn Page went the first 2 innings, allowing just one hit.  Logan Poole threw the final 3 innings for the win, allowing just one hit and striking out seven.  Dile was 4-4 with a 2B, HR and 4 RBI.  Drum was also 2-2 with with a 2B, HR, 3 runs and 4 RBI.

Portage South Takes Game One But Split the Twin Bill

Portage South Black Squirrels and Ohio Gamecocks would meet on Saturday at Roosevelt Park for a doubleheader.  In game one, Portage South raced out to the early lead with 2 runs in the first.  Charlie Drumm reaches on an infield and advances to third on throwing error on a pickoff attempt.  Ty Moorhead would bring Drumm home with a sacrifce fly.  Justin Nelson doubled to right field and scored on a single by Matt Dile.  PS extended to 4-0 with 2 more runs in the second.  Lyndon Rainey singled to right field and scored on a triple by Drumm.  Josh Salinas singled to center to score Drumm.  The Gamecocks got a run back in the bottom half of the second, but the Black Squirrels would open the game up with a 4-run frame in the fourth.  Mike Haney, Jr walked and advanced to third on a double my Mike Haney III.  Drumm scored Haney Jr after reaching on an error.  Salinas then crushed a 3-run homerun to center.  The Gamecocks got a run in the fourth and 2 more in the fifth to make it 8-4.  Portage South pushed the lead to 7 with another 3 runs in the sixth.  Rainey and Haney III, each singled to make it first and second.  Moorhead singled on a line drive to center, scoring Rainey.  Nelson would reach on an infield single to score Salinas, who was courtesy running for Haney III.  Dile then singled home Moorhead to make it 11-4 and the game would end with that score.  Tristyn Page threw 6 innings to pick up the win, striking out seven.  Salinas led the offense going 2-4 with a HR, 4 RBI and 2 runs scored.

In game two, runs were harder to come by as the first runs of the game came in the top of the third for the Gamecocks.  They would add another run in the fifth to go ahead 3-0, but Portage South scored 2 runs in the bottom of the fifth.  Charlie Drumm reached on an error and advance to second on the same error.  Josh Salinas followed with an infield single and then stole second.  Ty Moorhead scored Drumm on a RBI groundout.  Justin Nelson with a RBI groundout, as well, to score Salinas.  Mike Haney, Jr tied the game in the sixth with a no doubt homerun to left field.  The game would remained tied and head into extra innings.  Each team would score a run in the eighth, pushing the game to the ninth.  Haney Jr, singled to center, scoring Ryan Schromm, who started on second.  In the ninth, the Gamecocks got a 2-run homerun and the Black Squirrels were not able to answer.  Jonathan Kountis went 8 strong innings for a no decision, striking out 12.  Haney Jr went 2-3 with a HR and 2 RBI to lead the Portage South offense. 

Black Squirrels Split Doubleheader with Stingers

The Portage South Black Squirrels would face the Akron Stingers on Sunday at Roosevelt Park for a doubleheader.  In game one, Portage South took an early lead with 2 runs in the bottom of the first.  Lucius Ivory walked, then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch.  Ivory would score on another wild pitch as Ryan Kitay earned a walk.  Kitay stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch.  Justin Nelson would score Kitay on a groundout.  It would remain 2-0 until the fifth, as PS would extend the lead with a run.  Jason Preising reached after being hit by a pitch.  Charlie Drumm singled to move Preising to second.  Harley Barmen would line a single to left that scored Preising.  The Black Squirrels added 2 more runs in the bottom of the sixth, to make it 5-0.  Logan Poole singled to left field and, with 2 outs, Matt Dile would hit a homerun to left field.  The Stingers would get a run in the top of the seventh, but that is as close as it would get and Portage South wins 5-1.  Tristyn Page would go 6 innings in his first start and win for PS, striking out 10 and allowing just 2 hits.  Dile led the offense with a HR and 2 RBI.

Game 2 saw a lot of runs late.  The Black Squirrels scored first again with a run in the top of the first.  Matt Dile singled and moved to second on a walk to Justin Nelson.  Harley Barmen would hammer a double to left center to score Dile.  Akron came right back in the bottom of the inning with 2 runs to grab the lead.  The Stingers added a run in the fourth to push the lead to 3-1.  Dile tripled to right center field and the throw got away from the third baseman and Dile was able to score.  In the top of the seventh, Portage South would take the lead with a 4-run frame.  Mike Haney III led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a walk to Lucius Ivory.  Charlie Drumm would reach on an infield single to load the bases.  Dile followed with a bases loaded walk to score Haney.  Nelson then doubled to right field, clearing the bases for the 6-3 lead.  Akron tied the game with 3 runs in the seventh to put the game into extra innings.  In the eighth, PS again grabbed a 3-run lead at 9-6.  Haney III bunts Lyndon Rainey over to third to start the inning.  Rainey would score on a wild pitch.  Kevin Haley singled and advanced to third on a Drumm double.  Dile's single to center would plate Haley and Drumm.  The Black Squirrels could not hold the lead as the Stingers scored 4 runs in the bottom of the eighth for the win.  Eric Schaffer went 6 innings, allowing just one earned run and striking out six.  Dile again led the offense with 3 hits, a 3B and 3 RBI.

Black Squirrel Offense Struggles in Loss to Pirates

Portage South Black Squirrels tried to bounce back after a loss in the opener when they took on the Cleveland Pirates at Roosevelt Park Wednesday night.  The Pirates took the early lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning.  PS would tie the game in the top of the fourth with a run to make is 1-1.  Justin Nelson reached on an error and advanced to second on a wild pitch, then to third on an throwing error on a pickoff attempt.  Jesse Michel would walk to make it first and third.  Ryan Schromm would score Nelson on a groundout.  The Pirates came right back in the bottom of the fourth to regain the lead with a 3-run stanza.  The Black Squirrels would load the bases in the fifth with 1 out, but a double play erased the threat.  Again in the seventh, Portage South would threaten with 2 men on, but could not get another run across for a final of 4-1.  Jonathan Kountis threw a complete game in the loss, striking out 11 batters.  Ryan Kitay was 2-3 with a walk to lead the offense. 

Mike Darrah Named to Greater Akron Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2026

Mike Darrah’s baseball journey spans high school stardom, collegiate excellence, professional experience, and more than two decades as one of the premier players in the Greater Akron AA League.

A standout at Rootstown High School, Mike earned multiple All‑Conference honors before becoming a four‑year starter at West Liberty State University, where he was a three‑time All‑WVIAC performer and posted a 10–1 pitching record his senior year.

From 2007–2009, Mike played professionally with the Slippery Rock Sliders, Utica Brewmasters, and Washington Wild Things.

Since 2003, Mike has been a cornerstone of the Portage South Black Squirrels, earning League MVP (2004), Tournament MVP (2011), throwing a no‑hitter in 2010, surpassing 500 career strikeouts, and maintaining a .383 career batting average.

 

Beyond his playing career, Mike is a founding partner of Darrah’s All‑Star Academy and operates Titans Baseball, a competitive youth program focused on player development and preparing athletes for high school and beyond.