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BOARDMAN DEFEATS ELLWOOD CITY, 1-0, TO WIN 75TH ELLWOOD CITY LITTLE LEAGUE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP-DIAZ SOLO HOME RUN IN FIRST INNING WINS IT

Boardman, Ohio defeated Ellwood City, 1-0, to win the 75th Ellwood City Little League Tournament at Freidhoff Field on Wednesday night. Kyler Diaz smacked a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning and the one run proved to be the difference. Boardman, district runner-up to Ohio Little League World Series state runner-up Canfield, becomes the first Ohio team to win the tournament. The Ellwood City Little League Tournament, the second oldest Little League tournament in the nation next to the Little League World Series, has now been won by teams from six different counties. The championship game was broadcast live for the second year in a row by WKBN in Youngstown, Ohio.

Ellwood City's leadoff hitter Asher Fabich lined a double off Boardman starting pitcher Vinny Skovira to open the game. But Skovira fanned the next wo batters and got a fly out to left field to end the threat. Ellwood City starting pitcher Gage Pflugh retired the first batter on a ground out before Diaz followed with a home run to center field which be the only run in the game. Pflugh ended the inning with two strikeouts. Louie Viglio led off the bottom of the Boardman second inning with a single. But Ellwood City turned a double play on a fine play by shortstop Fabich. Jacoby Warren ripped a hard ground ball up the middle which Fabich grabbed and stepped on second base to retire Viglio and fired to first to complete the double play. In the bottom of the third inning, Boardman's Rocco Rosati doubled with two out but a ground out ended the inning.

Diaz relieved for Boardman in the top of the fourth inning and was greeted with two a pop single to center field by Ryan Bales followed by a line drive single to right field by Pflugh. After a strikeout, Bales and Pflugh pulled a double steal to put runners on second base and third base with one out. But Diaz struck out the next to batters to end the threat. Bales relieved for Ellwood City in the bottom of the fourth inning and retired Boardman in order. Diaz and Bales retired each team batters in order in the fifth inning. In the top of the sixth inning, Diaz got the first two outs on a strikeout and a pop up. Pflugh reached base on an error and stole second base to place the tying run in scoring position. But Diaz ended the threat and the game with a strikeout to give Boardman the title.

Skovira was the starting and winning pitcher for Boardman with three innings of work. He allowed one hit and fanned four batters. Diaz picked up the save allowing two hits and striking out six in three innings of rtelief. Pflugh hurled three innings for Ellwood City and allowed one run with four strikeouts. Bales threw two scoreless innings without allowing a hit with four strikeouts.

Diaz led Boardman at the plate with his solo game-winning home run. Rosati doubled and Viglio singled for Boardman. Fabich led Ellwood City with a double and walk. Bales and Pflugh added singles.

Anthony Rosati managed Boardman and Heath Pflugh piloted Ellwood City.

Dalton Tiger of Boardman won the Home Run Derby defeating 35 other contestants.

Four veteran PIAA umpires- Andy Bruno, Dave Cracraft, Len Amabile and crew chief and president of the Tri-County Umpires Association, Rick Gabriel, donated their services to umpire the championship game.

The Ellwood City Amateur Baseball Federation extends a special thank you to WKBN executive producer and play-by-play announcer Chad Krispinsky and senior director Mike Rosco and the nine-person staff that made the broadcast possible again this season.