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.