The Canton Modified Baseball Team scored five runs in the first three innings and never let perennial power Massena get back into the game, recording a 5-1 win at Massena Thursday.
Timely hitting, aggressive base running and nearly flawless defense supported another incredible pitching performance.
Charlie Todd started for the Bears (3-0) and used his fastball to hold Massena at bay for four innings. He gave up five hits and Massena had base runners in every inning, but it wasn’t until the fourth inning when the Raiders plated a run a dropped fly ball by Todd. Todd struck out nine and walked one to earn the win.
He was relieved by eighth grader Zadok Roiger who changed speeds and mixed in a strong breaking ball to hold Massena to a single base runner on a walk in the sixth. He struck out five.
“Charlie and Zadok kept Massena off balance the entire game,” said Head Coach Mark Mende. “Charlie pitched out of trouble in all four innings. It was a gutsy performance by both of them.”
The Bears opened with a run in the first inning with Roiger ripping a one-out double and scoring on a Todd single. In the second, Paul Redfern, who played a strong defensive game at catcher, singled and scored on a hit by Shoham Zuker.
In the third inning, Canton scored three runs. Roiger singled and scored on a Todd single, Jackson Ames reached on an error with Todd scoring, and eventually scored after Redfern, John Gidney and Sid Shipman walked.
Roiger finished 2-for-5 and reached base four times. Todd was also 2-for-5 and Redfern reached based in all four at-bats, including two walks.
Plaindealer Sports 