High school baseball: Avon Lake wins -- now it waits

AVON LAKE — The Shoremen did their part, now they must wait. Avon Lake got dominant pitching and late clutch hitting in a 5-1 win over North Ridgeville in the Adrian Abrahamowicz Summer Classic on Thursday night. The Shoremen finished pool play at 3-1 and will now have to wait for the outcome of today's game between North Ridgeville and Avon. The Eagles improved to 3-0 with its 13-1 win over Brookside. An Avon win over the Rangers (2-1) would put the Eagles and Shoremen into the semifinals Saturday, while a North Ridgeville win would create a 3-way tie at 3-1 with run differential and runs allowed the tiebreakers since all three teams would be 1-1 against each other. "This tournament allows guys to grow while playing together, that's what's fun about this week," Shoremen coach Kevin Collins said. "All these guys are going to compete for starting roles or varsity backup players. You want to see kids come out here and be successful." One success story for Avon Lake on Thursday was starting pitcher Josh Bobrowski, a junior, who allowed just one run while striking out eight and walking one through five innings. "In something like this you just want to come out and throw strikes, because I know my defense will get the job done behind me," said Bobrowski, who pitched for the T3 Warhawks this summer. "It's great to get these younger guys some experience together, they are going to have to help carry the team the next couple of years." The only run Bobrowski allowed came in the fifth when Mason Limpert drew the only walk issued by Bobrowski. After a lineout, Dominic Durst brought Limpert home with a double to the gap in left-center. That run got the Rangers closer after Avon Lake had scored two in the fourth. Emmit Lotz drew a walk and Ross Juewlius singled. Junior catcher Tyler Fenton sent both home with a rocket to the fence in left-center for a two-run triple off North Ridgeville starter Limpert. "It's fun to see everyone back together and playing some games," said Fenton, who had a pair of hits. "I was hoping it would at least be a sac fly, but it got down and went to the fence. It's exciting to do well and get our names out there for next year." Avon Lake picked up a pair of insurance runs in the fifth and another in the sixth. After a walk to Avery Evans, Dom Carbone drove him in with a double to left-center. After a bunt single by Charlie Keim moved Carbone to third, pinch hitter John McDermott brought him home with a sacrifice fly to right. The final run of the game came after Fenton's second hit, and he scored on Evans' second hit of the game to right-center. "Both teams played really well, we both have young teams here and both looked good," Rangers assistant coach Jon Flesher said. "It was great to see Mason (Limpert) go out there and throw so well. I've seen him throw 90 pitches in three innings — that's probably the best I've ever seen him throw. Those are the kinds of things we are looking for playing this week." Contact James Brady at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.