Gladiators get ’er done against Milford with 11-5 win to secure district title

Image: Italy’s Levi McBride(1), a sophomore, leads off the district showdown against Milford with a triple into right field as assistant coach Brandon Gansky gives McBride the go sign!

Italy’s Levi McBride(1), a sophomore, leads off the district showdown against Milford with a triple into right field as assistant coach Brandon Gansky gives McBride the go sign! (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior Gladiator Eric Carson(3) swings away on a Bulldog pitch. Carson has a single and 2RBIs during the district standoff.

Senior Gladiator Eric Carson(3) swings away on a Bulldog pitch. Carson has a single and 2RBIs during the district standoff. (Barry Byers)

Image: Junior John Byers(21) singles for the Gladiators. Byers is the current district leader for home runs with two.

Junior John Byers(21) singles for the Gladiators. Byers is the current district leader for home runs with two. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior Gladiator Tyler Anderson(9) keeps the hits coming against Milford.

Senior Gladiator Tyler Anderson(9) keeps the hits coming against Milford. (Barry Byers)

Image: Bulldog catcher Jacarvus Gates(7) checks with his pitcher and then returns to the plate.

Bulldog catcher Jacarvus Gates(7) checks with his pitcher and then returns to the plate. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Eric Carson(3) slides under the throw to Milford’s Daren Cisneros(12) at second-base and then Carson heads for third on the overthrow.

Italy’s Eric Carson(3) slides under the throw to Milford’s Daren Cisneros(12) at second-base and then Carson heads for third on the overthrow. (Barry Byers)

Image: Tyler Anderson(9) was determined to help his Gladiators claim the district championship.

Tyler Anderson(9) was determined to help his Gladiators claim the district championship. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s second-baseman Ty Windham(12) makes the tag in time against a Bulldog base runner.

Italy’s second-baseman Ty Windham(12) makes the tag in time against a Bulldog base runner. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ryan Connor(4) set the tone for Italy’s defense while the Gladiator Hitmen built a 6-0 lead early against Milford.

Ryan Connor(4) set the tone for Italy’s defense while the Gladiator Hitmen built a 6-0 lead early against Milford. (Barry Byers)

Image: Not this time! Milford catcher Jacarvus Gates(7) denies Italy’s Kyle Fortenberry(14) from scoring a run.

Not this time! Milford catcher Jacarvus Gates(7) denies Italy’s Kyle Fortenberry(14) from scoring a run. (Barry Byers)

Image: Third-baseman John Byers(21) owned the second-inning capturing all three outs needed for the Gladiator defense. Here, Byers fields a grounder and then delivers the ball on the money to first-base teammate Kevin Roldan(16).

Third-baseman John Byers(21) owned the second-inning capturing all three outs needed for the Gladiator defense. Here, Byers fields a grounder and then delivers the ball on the money to first-base teammate Kevin Roldan(16). (Barry Byers)

Image: Again, John Byers(21) covers a ball down the third-base line and then throws a strike of his own to Kevin Roldan(16) for out #2. Needless to say, it takes two to tango and Roldan was perfection on Friday against the Bulldogs.

Again, John Byers(21) covers a ball down the third-base line and then throws a strike of his own to Kevin Roldan(16) for out #2. Needless to say, it takes two to tango and Roldan was perfection on Friday against the Bulldogs. (Barry Byers)

Image: MIlford’s Eric Evans(3) slips past a tag attempt from Italy’s shortstop, Tyler Anderson(9).

MIlford’s Eric Evans(3) slips past a tag attempt from Italy’s shortstop, Tyler Anderson(9). (Barry Byers)

Image: Unfortunately, for Eric Evans and the Bulldogs, John Byers(16) and company catch Evans in a rundown with “J.B.” making the diving tag against Evans to end the frame. Cousin Zain Byers(20) had a good look at this one.

Unfortunately, for Eric Evans and the Bulldogs, John Byers(16) and company catch Evans in a rundown with “J.B.” making the diving tag against Evans to end the frame. Cousin Zain Byers(20) had a good look at this one. (Barry Byers)

Image: Zain Byers(20) gives his cousin, John Byers(16) some love after John made the diving tag against Milford to collect all three outs needed for Italy’s defense.

Zain Byers(20) gives his cousin, John Byers(16) some love after John made the diving tag against Milford to collect all three outs needed for Italy’s defense. (Barry Byers)

Image: Milford’s Jacarvus Gates(7) makes a sensational grab but topples over Italy’s Eric Carson(3) who was diving back to the bag. Russell’s athletics kept the speedy Carson temporarily penned to the base.

Milford’s Jacarvus Gates(7) makes a sensational grab but topples over Italy’s Eric Carson(3) who was diving back to the bag. Russell’s athletics kept the speedy Carson temporarily penned to the base. (Barry Byers)

Image: MIlford’s Devonteh Williams makes the grab but Italy’s Eric Carson(3) still manages to steal second as Bulldog shortstop Daren Cisneros(12) looks on.

MIlford’s Devonteh Williams makes the grab but Italy’s Eric Carson(3) still manages to steal second as Bulldog shortstop Daren Cisneros(12) looks on. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior Gladiator Bailey Walton(13) launches into a slide with catcher Bryan Fedrick defensing for Milford. Walton would be ruled safe and both players came out of the play unscathed.

Senior Gladiator Bailey Walton(13) launches into a slide with catcher Bryan Fedrick defensing for Milford. Walton would be ruled safe and both players came out of the play unscathed. (Barry Byers)

Image: Tyler Anderson(9) rises after sliding safely into home for another Gladiator run as the Bulldog’s Bryan Fedrick tries to regroup with runners still a running.

Tyler Anderson(9) rises after sliding safely into home for another Gladiator run as the Bulldog’s Bryan Fedrick tries to regroup with runners still a running. (Barry Byers)

Image: Junior Gladiator Cody Boyd(5) power slides thru a near tag by Milford’s Devonteh Williams at second-base. With district implications on the line, close encounters were cropping up all over the playing field.

Junior Gladiator Cody Boyd(5) power slides thru a near tag by Milford’s Devonteh Williams at second-base. With district implications on the line, close encounters were cropping up all over the playing field. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator Ryan Connor(4) with a thunderous rip to help keep the pressure on the Bulldogs.

Gladiator Ryan Connor(4) with a thunderous rip to help keep the pressure on the Bulldogs. (Barry Byers)

Image: Sophomore pitcher Ty Windham(12) brings the heat in an effort to close out the win for the Gladiators.

Sophomore pitcher Ty Windham(12) brings the heat in an effort to close out the win for the Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator third-baseman John Byers(21) makes another play on a ground ball and then throws to teammate Kevin Roldan at first-base for the out.

Gladiator third-baseman John Byers(21) makes another play on a ground ball and then throws to teammate Kevin Roldan at first-base for the out. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator senior Kevin Roldan(16) with a huge day for Italy, secures another out at first-base. Roldan helped Italy wrap up the undisputed district championship with two games remaining on the schedule. With the 11-5 win, Italy secures a first-round bye and an automatic bi-district championship as well.

Gladiator senior Kevin Roldan(16) with a huge day for Italy, secures another out at first-base. Roldan helped Italy wrap up the undisputed district championship with two games remaining on the schedule. With the 11-5 win, Italy secures a first-round bye and an automatic bi-district championship as well. (Barry Byers)

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