Rebels sliding backwards

Crestview shortstop Zach Davis gets ready to tag Garfield’s Leo Grandizio in a rundown between first and second base Monday. Also shown for the Rebels are (from left) Jayden Kimble, Cayden Booth and Eli Cope. (Morning Journal/Matt Morrison)

COLUMBIANA–Crestview made a strong start, but constant mistakes in the field of play held it back as it fell 16-5 to Mahoning Valley Athletic Grey Conference opponent Garrettsville Garfield on Monday. Crestview finished with five errors.

“Definitely wasn’t our best performance on the field,” Crestview coach Todd Kibby said. “Last week was five games in five days. All of the arm strong guys that haven’t thrown because of one game rain, one game rain, so it was definitely testing the strength of our bullpen and the mental toughness of our team. That’s where we were exposed today.”

Crestview falls to 9-2 and 8-1 in the MVAC Grey Tier, while Garfield improves to 7-4 and 7-1 in the MVAC Grey Tier. Crestview, Garfield and LaBrae are in a three-way tie for first in the MVAC Grey Tier.

One of games the Rebels played last week was against former Inter-Tri County League rival Columbiana at Eastwood Field.

“I know for the kids they were all amped up,” Kibby said. “They played together through the years and not being able to play each other. The only one that it affected was them, so they came out and there was a lot of mutual respect between the fans and the players on both side. It was good to see that happening and it was a good turnout.”

Crestview will do its best in the coming years to schedule Columbiana more often.

“We like to see a little bit more of them more often,” Kibby said. “Especially home and away. We are five minutes away, so hopefully we can get two (games) on the schedule for next year.”

Garfield made more errors in the field of play with six, but made up with it at the plate with 12 hits. The G-Men scored eight earned and eight unearned runs.

“That first inning was probably some of the worst baseball I have seen in a very long time,” Garfield coach Mike Paes said. “It was a very poor game to say the least, but the thing is with this team they stayed with it and we had some timely hitting today. We took advantage of some of their mistakes and they (Crestview) took advantage at some of our mistakes too, but we just hit the ball.

Garfield’s bottom of the order went 6-for-10, including three hits and three RBIs from Garet Warnick. Warnick replaced third basemen Tyler Lutz in the fourth inning and smacked a line drive to right field that gave the G-Men an 8-5 advantage.

“I am very proud of Garet Warnick,” Paes said. “Came in and ended up going 3-for-3.”

Leo Grandizio had two hits, one RBI and four runs scored, while Eric Geddes had one hit, two RBIs and three runs scored. Aiden Hill had one hit and four runs scored. Brock Pesicek had one hit, two RBIs and two runs scored. Jack Neikirk had one hit and two runs scored.

Hill earned the win on the mound allowing three hits, zero earned runs with 14 strikeouts and four walks.

All of Crestview’s hits came from Brayden Devine, Max Hawkins and Cayden Booth, each with one hit and one run. Jayden Kimble and Ethan Feezle each scored one run.

Feezle was the starting pitcher for the Rebels as he allowed six hits, two earned runs and had four strikeouts with one walk through three and 1/3 innings of work. Cayden Booth came in relief and allowed three earned runs on three hits with six walks in 1 1/3 innings before being relieved by Kyle Booth. Booth also pitched 1 1/3 innings and allowed three earned runs on three hits with one strikeout and three walks.

Crestview will quickly put this loss in the rearview mirror as it will play at Garfield today.

“In baseball you have to have short-term memory,” Kibby said. “If they carry this one into tomorrow the same will happen.”

G: 4-0-1-3-4-4–16-12-6

CR: 5-0-0-0-0-0– 5- 3-5