Lasiks Defeat Hurricanes, 8-1; Claim Back-to-Back League Titles

Allen James Named Tournament Most Valuable Player

July 27, 2009 -- Tonight, Monday, July 27, 2009, the Akron Lasiks defeated the fourth seeded Northern Ohio Hurricanes, 8-1, in the championship game of the Greater Akron AA Baseball League tournament at The Ballpark at Hudson in Hudson, Ohio. With the win, the Lasiks improve 26-10 overall and have won their second consecutive league title. With the loss, the Northern Ohio Hurricanes fall to 19-13 overall and finish in second place in just their second season as a team.

Akron would fall behind in the top half of the first inning as the Northern Ohio Hurricanes took a 1-0 lead using a hit batsman and two singles, including an RBI single that yet again blooped down the right field line. The rally was stalled when second baseman Kevin Brown threw out the second runner at the plate attempting to score.

In the second, the Hurricanes put together another rally, but righty Dominique Rodgers worked out of the jam without allowing a run. After a walk and a single, an out was recorded, just before a groundball took a horrendous hop at second base to load the bases. However, Rodgers forced the next two batters to beat the ball into the ground getting force outs at the plate and at second base to thwart the rally.

From that point on, Rodgers was relentless, allowing just one hit while facing the minimum the remainder of the game. On the evening, Rodgers (6-0) earned his sixth win of the season while tossing seven complete innings, allowing just one earned run on four hits and one walk, fanning six; he also hit one batter.

Akron would finally get on the board in its own half of the second, nodding the score at 1-1. Third baseman Allen James tripled to lead-off the inning before being thrown out at home during a groundball off the bat of first baseman Ryan Petrusky. Catcher Anthony D’Attoma singled through the right side and right fielder Rob Beahn walked to load the bases. Left fielder Nick Jones would then come through with a sacrifice fly to left field to score Petrusky from third.

In the third, Akron would go ahead for good as center fielder Jamie Matvey used his speed to beat out a hard hit ball to second base. After a wild pitch moved Matvey to second, Brown used a groundball to the right side to move him to third with just one down. Designated hitter Casey Jirsa then singled through the left side to score Matvey for the 2-1 advantage.

The Lasiks’ big inning was the fourth as they scored five runs on six hits to take a 7-1 lead. Petrusky doubled and scored on a triple from D’Attoma, who subsequently scored on a line-drive single to left from Beahn. Jones then singled and moved Beahn to third, but before being thrown out trying to stretch the single into a double. Shortstop Anthony Longhitano singled in Beahn just before Matvey again used his speed, this time to produce a two-run inside-the-park homerun (3) to complete the scoring.

Akron picked up an insurance run to make it 8-1 in the sixth when Brown singled in Jones, who had led off the inning with a double.

Offensively for Akron, all nine batters had at least one hit, while Matvey, Jones and Longhitano each had two hits.

James was one-of-three in the game, extending his tournament hit streak to four games and winning the Dave Layton Award given to the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, as he was six-of-12 (.500) with three doubles, two triples, one walk, five runs scored and three runs batted in.

The Akron Lasiks will next be in action this Thursday, July 30, 2009, when they travel to Canton, Ohio to play in the American Amateur Baseball Conference (AABC) East Central Regional Championship at Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium. The Lasiks’ game time and opponent will be determined Wednesday night, July 29, 2009 at the manager’s meeting in Canton, Ohio; stay tuned for updates.

Lasiks in Championship After 5-2 Victory Over Northern Ohio

Take Down League’s Cy Young Award Winner in the Process

July 26, 2009 -- Today, Sunday, July 26, 2009, the Akron Lasiks defeated the fourth seeded Northern Ohio Hurricanes, 5-2, in the semi-finals of the Greater Akron AA Baseball League tournament at The Ballpark at Hudson in Hudson, Ohio. With the win, the Lasiks improve 25-10 overall and advance to the championship game of the tournament where they will still need to be defeated twice by the consolation bracket winner. With the loss, the Northern Ohio Hurricanes fall to 18-12 overall and are set to play the winner of Sharon Center Cox Painting and Team Diesel in the consolation bracket final later this evening.

Akron got on the board first, scoring a single tally in the first inning when center fielder Jamie Matvey tripled to start the inning before coming around to score on a groundball off the bat of designated hitter Casey Jirsa.

Northern Ohio struck for two runs of its own in the second to take a 2-1 advantage, when with runners at second and third with one out, an excuse me swing turned into a bloop double, managing to land directly on the right field line.

The Lasiks were unfazed, however, getting another marker in their half of the second to tie the score, 2-2. Catcher Rob Beahn reached on an error thanks to a hard hit groundball to first and stole second, moved to third on another groundball before coming around to score on a sacrifice fly from shortstop Anthony Longhitano.

It wasn’t until the fifth when Akron broke through again, plating three more runs en route to the 5-2 victory. In the inning, Longhitano walked and moved to third on a ground-rule double off the bat of Jirsa, on a ball in which the Hurricanes were very fortunate the ball hopped over the outfield fence. However, third baseman Allen James came through with a big two-out, two-run double to give Akron the lead; James would move to third and eventually score on a wild pitch as the wheels fell off the Hurricanes’ bus.

“Allen [James] came through again for us today,” said manager Kevin Brown. “Casey [Jirsa] hit the snot out of a ball and Anthony [Longhitano] would’ve scored from first easy, but another break went the way of the ‘Canes as that ball hopped over the outfield fence. We absolutely needed to score there and Allen made it happen, just as he’s done this entire tournament.”

The three run cushion was more than enough for lefty Nic Carucci as he allowed just one walk in the final two innings. On the afternoon, Carucci (7-2) picked up his seventh win of the year and his second of the tournament, allowing two earned runs in seven complete innings on five hits and one base-on-balls while striking out seven.

“Nic [Carucci] was fabulous again as well,” added Brown. “Plus, it was nice beating [Brian] Lonjak [2009 Greater Akron AA Baseball League Cy Young award winner]. You always want to beat the other team’s best and we did that tonight.”

Leading the way offensively for Akron was James, who went two-of-three with a double, triple, two RBI and one run scored.

The Akron Lasiks will next be in action tomorrow, Monday, July 27, 2009 when they travel to Hudson, Ohio to play for the Greater Akron AA Baseball League championship at 6:30 p.m. at The Ballpark at Hudson. The Lasiks will face off against either Sharon Center Cox Painting (13-17), Team Diesel (16-14), or the Northern Ohio Hurricanes again. Whoever it is will have to defeat the Lasiks twice in order to take the league crown away from the defending champs.

Jones Shuts Down Sharon Center; Lasiks Win 2-0

July 24, 2009 -- Tonight, Friday, July 24, 2009, the Akron Lasiks defeated Sharon Center Cox Painting, 2-0, in the second round of the Greater Akron AA Baseball League tournament at The Ballpark at Hudson in Hudson, Ohio behind a very strong pitching performance from lefty Nick Jones. With the win, Akron improves to 24-10 overall and advances to the semi-finals where it will play the winner of the Northern Ohio Hurricanes and the Portage South Black Squirrels. With the loss, Sharon Center falls to 12-17 overall and will now take on the Canton-Akron Legend in a consolation bracket contest.

Jones (3-3) earned his third win of the season and his first of the tournament as he tossed seven complete shutout innings, scattering four hits and seven base-on-balls while striking out four.

“Nick [Jones] came through for us tonight with probably his second best outing of the season,” said manager Kevin Brown. “He really only had one bad inning, but was able to work out of it for us. He stepped up tonight.”

Akron’s two runs would come in the fourth when shortstop Anthony Longhitano singled to start the inning. He was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and came around to score on a double off the bat of third baseman Allen James. Left fielder Brad Ely singled to bring home James for the only two runs of the ballgame.

“Walt [Samson, opposing pitcher] was terrific tonight,” said Brown. “Maybe the best I’ve ever seen him throw. He was throwing all his pitches on both sides of the plate. We were fortunate to get those two runs when we did.”

The Akron Lasiks will next be in action this Sunday, July 26, 2009 when they travel to Hudson, Ohio to take on the winner of fourth seeded Northern Ohio Hurricanes (18-11) against sixth seeded Portage South (17-19) in the semi-finals of the Greater Akron AA Baseball League tournament at 2:00 p.m. at The Ballpark at Hudson in Hudson, Ohio.

Akron A's Team Up with Dr. Davis and Davis Eye Center; Become Akron Lasiks

April 11, 2008 -- The Akron Athletics have formed a new partnership courtesy of Dr. Charles H. Davis, D.O. and Davis Eye Center. Dr. Davis is the premier lasik eye surgeon in northeast Ohio and is excited to become a part of the former Akron Athletics' baseball squad. From here on out, the A's will be known as the Akron Lasiks and will enter the 2008 season with a new look. The Davis Eye Center is located at 789 Graham Road in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio in a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility. You can visit the Davis Eye Center site by clicking here or the link at the top of the page. You may also contact the facility by calling 1-800-923-EYES toll free or 330-923-5676 in the area. The Akron Lasiks would just like to thank Dr. Davis and Davis Eye Center for their time and generosity. The Lasiks look forward to welcoming both to their team and maintaining a long-lasting relationship.

Dr. Charles H. Davis, D.O.