Garfield tops Fairview Park 3-1 to advance to Division V District Semifinal

GARRETTSVILLE, OH- On Friday afternoon the #22 seed Garfield G-MEN hosted an OHSAA Sectional Tournament game against the visiting #23 seed Fairview Park Warriors. The G-MEN came in winners of four of the last five heading into the postseason while the Warriors were winners of three of their last four to close out the regular season. Garfield rode the arms of Jack Neikirk and Cole Summers-Wade along with some solid defense to a 3-1 win.

Fairview would open the game with a 1-out single before Neikirk induced a groundout and picked up his first strikeout to end the inning.

Garfield would get on the board first in the bottom half. Brandyn Bogucki drew a walk and stole 2nd and 3rd before scoring on a passed ball.

Lukas Workman would walk and Brock Pesicek would single but Garfield could not push another run across as they led the Warriors 1-0 after one.

Neikirk would come back with a dominant 2nd inning as he struck out the side on 13 pitches to keep Fairview scoreless.

The bottom half began with a walk to Mason Andrikanich and Neikirk reaching base on a hit by pitch. The after two outs Pesicek lined a ball off the 3rd baseman’s leg for an RBI single and run number two for the G-MEN.

They would lead Fairview 2-0 after two.

The Warriors would open the top of the 3rd with back to back singles by Hayes and Shomon. Neikirk was able to force a fielders choice groundout leaving runners at the corners with one out. A big defensive play then occurred when Pesicek picked off the runner at 3rd from behind the plate for out number two. Neikirk finished off the inning with his 5th strikeout as the G-MEN escaped to maintain their 2-0 lead after three.

It was a quiet 4th and 5th for both squads as Neikirk picked up four more strikeouts to give him 9 on the day. Garfield still led 2-0 after five.

Fairview Park would get on the board in the top of the 6th. A pair of singles sandwiched around a fly ball out put runners at 1st and 2nd with one out. Garfield coach Mike Paes made a pitching change bringing in lefty Cole Summers-Wade. He would walk Thomas to load the bases. A fielders choice would score a run for the Warriors before Summers-Wade was able to induce a pop fly out to end the inning. Garfield held on to a slim 2-1 lead.

Andrikanich would draw a lead-off walk to begin the bottom half. A single by Neikirk and a walk to Bugucki loaded the bases with no outs. Andrikanich would come around to score on a passed ball for the G-MEN.

The Warriors would limit any further damage as the G-MEN took a 3-1 lead to the 7th.

Cole Summers-Wade would induce three fly ball outs in the 7th to close out the win and pickup the save. The G-MEN move on to Districts after a 3-1 win.

Brock Pesicek led the offense with 3 hits and the lone RBI of the game. Jack Neikirk was solid on the mound allowing only 1 earned run in 5-1/3 innings with 9 strikeouts.

Garfield advances to the Division V District Semifinal on Wednesday when the travel to face #2 Lakeview.