by Frank Aceto

Associate Sports Editor

They're not going to win more than 20 games. And they're not in the driver's seat to win the first-ever Northeast Ohio Conference Valley Division title.

But future postseason opponents may want to take this into consideration: The Bulldogs might be one of the more dangerous teams in the tournament.

The Stow-Munroe Falls baseball team, a squad that had won close to 50 games over the last two years, got the eighth seed at a Division I district tournament.

The Bulldogs are scheduled to visit Kent Roosevelt in a sectional contest May 14 at 4:30 p.m.

Host Stow salvaged a spilt with Valley Division rival Solon when it earned a 9-4 victory May 7. Solon won its home game by an 11-10 count May 6.

The Bulldogs improved to 3-2 in the division and were two games behind first-place Hudson as of press time.

Stow, however, has something a lot of other teams lack: Two aces.

Southpaw Alex Haines has 63 strikeouts in 37.3 innings and right-hander Alex Loftin has 68 punchouts in 28.3 innings.

"Both of them have been absolutely dominant," said Bulldogs head coach John Daymon.

The first game against Solon needed two days to complete. Stow had a 5-4 lead with one out in the top of the sixth when play was suspended May 5 because of inclement weather.

Loftin and right-hander Brandin Wallin combined for 17 strikeouts. Loftin (2-1), who got the win, had 12 punchouts and Wallin, who got his second save of the season, struck out all five batters he faced.

Wallin also had two hits, including a double, and two runs batted in.

Solon, which had only two hits, got a home run from Bill Gerstenslager.

Stow, on the other hand, had plenty of offense.

Jarred Plazak had a triple and two RBIs and Vince Nervo had two singles and scored two runs. David Clark added two hits, including a double.

In the loss to Solon May 6, Gerstenslager went 4-for-4 with a home run and three runs batted in.

Solon had a 3-0 lead after scoring a run in the bottom of the first and two more in the second.

Stow took the lead with three runs in the top of the third, but Solon regained the advantage with two runs in the third.

Both teams scored four runs in the fourth and twice in the sixth. Stow added a run in the seventh.

Stow had 10 hits and one error and Solon had 13 hits and three errors.

Haines lost for the first time this season. Matt Marino had two hits and Mike Burrowbridge had a two run-double. K.J. Jovanovich also had three singles.

"It was a slugfest," Daymon said. "It was one of those games you hate to see either team lose. Everyone played well."

The host Bulldogs lost a 6-1 decision to Akron Firestone May 1 despite only two hits from the Falcons.

Stow was scheduled to play Wooster May 9 at Kent State University before returning home to face Copley in a doubleheader May 10. Results of those games were not available at press time.

The Bulldogs are set to host Valley Division foe Mayfield May 12 before heading to Mayfield May 13. Both contests are slated to begin at 4:30 p.m.

E-mail: faceto@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3914