The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Area players play in NEOBCA all-star game
AKRON >> News-Herald coverage area players were split among three teams for the NEOBCA allstar games on July 28 at Canal Park in Akron. Two of those teams went against each other during one of the four games on the day.
Players f rom Cuya hoga County were split into two teams, Western and Eastern. Players from eastern Cuyahoga County combined with Geauga and Medina counties and went against the western Cuyahoga County team in the second game of the day. Lake County players joined with Columbiana County players for the third game of the day.
The western Cuyahoga team held on to win, 6-4, while the team featuring Lake County players fell, 6-2.
The team of three combined counties almost came back from being down, 5-0, and trailed by one run going into the final inning. Zach Fronk of Chardon was named the team MVP. He was happy with his team’s performance.
“Strategically it isn’t about going out there and trying to win the game,” said Fronk. “While we were able to rally and get some hits on the day, it was just about having fun.”
For some players, this was the last time they will play organized baseball, while others are continuing their careers at the collegiate level. Despite what side of the line they fall on, all expressed that they will miss donning their high school caps.
Both Dawson Pierce of Chagrin Falls and Clayton Graham of Andrews Osborne will be playing at the collegiate level, and both view this as a good stepping stone for the next level.
“These all-star teams are a combination of the best players,” said Pierce. “No matter the venue, you’re going to be playing against good talent.”
Graham added: “At the next level it’s all the best players. Games like this help prepare me for the challenge of that next level.”
Between the first and second games, Kirtland head coach and president of the NEOBCA Luke Smrdel passed out awards to the players and coaches of the year for all divisions. Berkshire’s Nick Burzanko was selected as the Division III coach of the year.
“It’s a big honor and shows that the stuff I do pays off sometimes,” said Burzanko. “It’s more of a testament to the kids buying into what we’re teaching at Berkshire. Them having a good year helps put me in the position for an honor like this and I am both honored and proud to be a coach of the year.”