Reprint from The Press News Paper
By Deb Wallace
Special to The Press
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The Ohio Trojans summer college wood bat baseball team opened its Tri-State Baseball Association season last weekend with a home doubleheader against the Twin City Blue Claws.

The first game of a doubleheader against the Twin City Blue Claws on June 3 was delayed by about 20 minutes because of the possibility of heavy rain in the area. Well, it never rained and game one was under way.

The Trojans were the home team in this game and started Dustin Zizelman on the mound. He completed three innings, allowing no runs while walking one and striking out one.

Offensively, the Trojans didn’t get going until the fourth inning when they scored three runs on some solid small ball play that was assisted by two walks late in the inning. Ben Kulow came on in relief in the fourth inning and allowed only two runs in the sixth inning. He allowed three hits, gave up two walks, and struck out four through three innings.

The Blue Claws rallied again in the top of the seventh inning, but good pitching from Brad Timofeev (Clay/Defiance) and good defensive play in the field kept the Trojans on top with a 3-2 win.

For the second game, the Trojans were considered the visiting team and faced some tough pitching from the Blue Claws to start the game.

Rob Moffat started on the mound for the Trojans and was having trouble with his control through the inning and a third that he pitched. Nick Picciano relieved him in the second inning and was able to get out of the inning allowing only one run to score. Picciano pitched through the fifth inning not allowing any more runs while striking out four and walking none.

The Blue Claws were leading 3-0 going into the top of the fourth inning. T.J. Blanton led off the inning with a single and scored on a double by Derek Spencer. Cody McPherson (Lake/Bluffton) singled, scoring a run and then proceeded to steal second during the next at bat.

McPherson then steals third before scoring on a double by Joshua Wierzba. In the sixth inning, the Blue Claws scored one run off of Shane Pfouts (Lake/Urbana). The Trojans made a valliant effort to re-tie the game but fell just short and lost the second game, 4-3.

The Trojans were scheduled to take on the J.L. Thomas (JL Collegians) from suburban Cleveland the following Monday night at 8 p.m. in a game that was to be broadcast by local cable channel BCSN, but after two innings was rained out and is scheduled to be made up.

On June 9, the Trojans hosted the Youngstown Metros in a 3 p.m. doubleheader and on June 10, traveled to Geauga County to face the Tri-County Diamonds. On June 16-17, the Trojans are on the road with doubleheaders against the Allegheny Athletics ( Pittsburgh) and Youngstown.