BOMBS AWAY: Boydell Hits Two Homers, Powers Ellwood City Past Shenango

Cam Boydell smacked two home runs to power Ellwood City past Shenango 5-2 in the 72nd Ellwood City Little League Tournament on Wednesday night.

Boydell rapped a solo home run in the third inning and belted a two-run homer in the fifth inning. Boydell also combined on a one-hitter with Joey Nardone to lead Ellwood City to the winner’s bracket final.

Shenango opened the scoring with a run in the first inning as Luca Fiore walked and with two outs scored on a double by Matteo Mone to give Shenango a 1-0 lead.

After a scoreless second inning, Ellwood City took the lead with a two-run rally in the bottom of the third inning. Boydell led off the inning with his first round-tripper to tie the score at 1-1. With one out, Nico Begley ripped a double off the center field fence. After a strikeout, Nardone singled in Begley to give Ellwood City a 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Ellwood City extended their lead. Luca Carsele rached on an infield single. Carsele went to second base on a wild pitch and scored on an error to up the Ellwood City lead to 3-1. Shenango narrowed the deficit with a run in the top of the fourth with a hit. Mone drew a walk to lead off the inning. Everett Rogan followed with a walk. After a strikeout, Carter Brown and Eddie Cook walked to force in Mone to cut the Ellwood City lead to 3-2.

Ellwood City tacked on two insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to increase their lead. Tyler Clark led off the inning with a walk and Boydell followed with his second home run with a long drive over the left field fence to raise the Ellwood City lead to 5-2.

Shenango threatened in the top of the sixth inning with the tying run reaching base. Mone and Rogan drew walks to lead off the inning. Boydell followed with the defensive play of the game. From his catcher position, he nailed a runner with Joey Zito applying the tag. Nolan Kuczynshi followed with a walk and a walk to Cook loaded the bases. With the tying run at the plate, Nardone fanned the final batter to give Ellwood City the victory.

Boydell led Ellwood City at the plate with two home runs and three RBI. Begley doubled and Nardone added a single and RBI. Carsele added a single.

Boydell was the winning pitcher with three innings of work. He allowed one hit, one earned run and fanned six batters. Nardone gained the save with three innings of hitless relief. He struck out seven batters in three innings. Mone threw two scoreless innings for Shenango. He struck out six of seven batters he faced and allowed just one base runner on an error.

Ellwood City will next face Central Valley in the tournament championship game as Central Valley knocked off Neshannock on Wednesday to advance.

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