Titusville scored four runs in the first inning and the Warren bats couldn't heat up as the Dragons fell 7-2 in their final regular-season game on Friday before the playoffs.
Hank Morrison started on the mound for Warren and had a rough first inning, allowing four runs, before settling down. After getting out of a jam in the second inning, he allowed only one runner to reach base over the next three innings.
The Warren offense couldn't find a way to help him out.
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Hank Morrison
The Dragons had one of their best chances in the third inning when Preston McMeans and Dan Maeder hit back-to-back singles. With only one out, Kory Thomas ripped a line drive that was snagged by Titusville's first baseman, who stepped on the bag to double off Maeder and end the inning.
Titusville added two more in the seventh off of Kevin VanOrd, who was making his first appearance on the mound this season.
Warren finally got on the board in the bottom of the seventh when Matt Jaskolka singled and came around to score on an RBI double from Ed Dorunda. McMeans drove in the other Warren run with a sacrifice fly.
The Dragons have a week to regroup before their first playoff game.
"We had some momentum going into the game, but we really picked a poor time to come out flat," said Warren coach Jeff Passaro, adding that Titusville is a good team who is also headed to the playoffs. "It seemed like every ball we hit hard was right at somebody. We've got to regroup on Monday because the first season is over and the second season starts next week, and every team has the same record now. We have to limit our mistakes and take advantage of our opportunities."
After tying for the Region 8 title, and with an overall record of 14-3, Warren will begin its playoff journey on Friday. The Dragons get a first-round bye and play at 6:30 p.m. at Slippery Rock University against the winner of Harbor Creek and Grove City.
TITUSVILLE (7): ab-r-h-rbi: Foltz, rf, 3-2-1-0, Johnson, ss, 4-2-2-0, Hipple, dh, 3-2-2-1, Giontt, 3b, 0-0-0-0, Bleday, 1b, 2-0-1-2, Corklin, c, 3-1-1-2, Rapp, 2b, 4-0-0-1, Schwab, cf, 3-0-1-1, Ripper, lf, 3-0-0-0, Horn, p, 3-0-0-0, Totals: 28-7-8-7
WARREN (2): ab-r-h-rbi: Thomas, ss, 2-0-0-0, Bevevino, c, 2-0-0-0, Morrison, p-3b, 3-0-0-0, VanOrd, 3b-p, 2-0-0-0, Jaskolka, rf, 3-1-1-0, Dorunda, 2b, 3-1-1-1, McMeans, 1b, 3-0-1-1, Maeder, lf, 3-0-1-0, Danielson, cf, 2-0-0-0, Totals: 23-2-4-2
Titusville 400 000 3 7 8 0
Warren 000 000 2 2 4 2
2b-Dorunda (W), Foltz (T), Bleday (T). WP-Horn. LP-Morrison.