Vikings blank Rebels

Crestview pitcher Ethan Feezle throws against LaBrae on Monday. (Morning Journal/Matt Morrison)

STRUTHERS — Crestview didn’t have any answer for LaBrae this season.

The third-seeded Vikings blanked the No. 11 seeded Rebels for the third time with a 9-0 victory on Monday in a Div. III district semifinal at Cene Park.

The regular season matchups in the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Gray Division went to LaBrae by 10-0 and 2-0 scorelines.

“We don’t take anything for granted,” LaBrae coach Ed Anthony said. “Out of the eight teams left in this district, three of them come from our conference. Even though we are familiar with (Crestview) we really worked hard this week getting ready for them once we knew we were playing them.”

Crestview, which started the season 9-0 only to end up 12-10, used the small ball play to help edge its rival Columbiana in the sectional final but LaBrae prepared for it.

“We thought that they would be a little more small ball,” Anthony said. “That’s what they did leading up to this, so we prepared a lot for that. The kids had two really good practices even in this heat.”

Owen Boone led the Vikings (18-5) with two RBIs, two runs scored and three hits, including a line drive single to second base that allowed one run to score to give the Vikings a 7-0 lead in the fifth inning. Brogan Collins had four RBIs, one run scored and two hits, including a single in the fourth inning that gave LaBrae a 6-0 lead. Nate Goldner had two RBIs, one run scored and two hits.

Dylan Simpson was the winning pitcher for LaBrae as he allowed only two hits with three walks and three strikeouts through five innings of work before being relieved by Owen Boone. Boone allowed no hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

Crestview faced Simpson before in the 10-0 loss.

“We knew what we were getting,” Crestview coach Todd Kibby said. “We knew we were getting Simpson on the mound and (LaBrae) was going to put the ball into play. It came down to pitching and catching. We didn’t get any timely hits when we got our runners on base and had the chance.”

Max Hawkins and Cayden Booth each had one hit for Crestview.

Ethan Feezle was the losing pitcher for Crestview as he allowed four earned runs on eight hits with two walks and six strikeouts through four innings of work before being relieved by Luke Julian in the fifth inning. Julian pitched two innings and allowed three earned runs on three hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

Although Crestview took the loss, it will always remember its 9-2 win over rival Columbiana that allowed it to advance to the district round.

“Getting back here is a huge obstacle,” Kibby said. “You are facing everyone’s one or two man every single time and baseball just changes. Being able to get into districts was good for our younger kids to see how we need to prepare and what we need to do in years to come.”

LaBrae will face top-seeded Perry in the Division III district championship on Wednesday at Bob Cene Park.

Perry edged No. 7 seed Burton Berkshire 10-1 on Monday.

“Our kids really have been putting a lot into this,” Anthony said. “They are hungry. We didn’t just come here to go into the district championship. No disrespect to anybody because we know we are going to face a really good team. We have come to win it.”

CR: 0-0-0-0-0-0-0 -0-2-5

LA: 0-0-3-3-1-2-x -9-9-0