Jones takes control in Youngstown win

Youngstown, Ohio right fielder Dane Gecina makes a tough catch against Skagit Valley, Wash., on Monday at the Babe Ruth 14-year-old World Series in Quincy. Gary Higgins photo/The Patriot Ledger
 

By GUS SHLIMBAUM
The Patriot Ledger

QUINCY – Youngstown, Ohio, continued doing what they do best Monday afternoon at Adams Field – winning baseball games.

The Ohio Valley Regional champions improved to 3-0 in the Babe Ruth 14-year-old World Series and played outstanding in every facet of the game in their 4-1 victory over Skagit Valley, Wash.

While almost all the Youngstown players played well, the star of the game was their starter, Andre Jones, who tossed six innings of three-hit ball, allowing only one run and did not give up a walk. Jones helped his own cause at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a run-scoring single in the second, and a two-run single in the top of the sixth.

With the victory, Youngstown is almost assured a spot in single-elimination play, which begins Thursday. For Jones, moving on in the tournament is the most important thing.

“It feels good to have a good game in a big game and help us go on the the second round,” Jones said.

Jones said his game plan on the mound was to throw strikes and make the Washington batters keep the ball on the ground, something he did extremely effectively.

Skagit Valley (0-2) scored its only run on the game on a run-scoring single by Sean Fitzgerald in the top of the seventh inning, which drove in teammate Marchael Acode, who doubled in the previous at-bat.

Youngstown became the first team in the Babe Ruth World Series to hit the three-win mark, and will certainly be a force in the single-elimination rounds.

“I just want to keep my pitching healthy and use it wisely,” Youngstown manager Terry Landis said. “We need to hit the ball a little better in the next round but we’ll be alright. We have a way of coming through at the end.”

Youngstown will get a day off today, but will have a “litmus test” game against the powerful squad from Nederland, Texas, at 2:30 p.m. today.


Gus Shlimbaum may be reached at gshlimbaum@ledger.com.

Sean Fitzgerald shows off an inning-ending catch for Skagit Valley, Wash., on Monday at the Babe Ruth 14-year-old World Series in Quincy. Gary Higgins photo/The Patriot Ledger