Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Justin Wellendorf pitched a two-hitter as the Warriors beat Springfield.
By PAUL TRGOVAC
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
STRUTHERS -- The Brookfield High baseball team used a five-run outburst to start the game, and then went on to post a 10-0 win over Springfield in a Division III district semifinal at Cene Park on Monday.
The Warriors (11-10) will meet Cardinal Mooney today for the district crown and a trip to the regional tournament in Massillon.
Josh Harkulich walked to start the game and Brian Daugherty reached base one out later on a bunt single. David Stanish then reached on an error, scoring Harkulich; and Greg Tanner and Ryan Coller each followed with RBI singles. Rick Coller's sacrifice fly made it 4-0 and Luke Mortimer's RBI single gave Brookfield the 5-0 lead.
"[The five runs] helped us a lot," said Brookfield coach Calvin Roby. "It gave us a lot of confidence."
Brookfield junior pitcher Justin Wellendorf held Springfield (15-11) without a hit in the first three innings, striking out three.
Wood spoils gem
Aaron Wood broke up the no-hitter with a single in the fourth.
After the first inning, Springfield pitcher Luke Summers allowed only one single over the next three innings. But the Warriors added three runs in the fifth to knock out Summers.
Wellendorf and Daugherty started the surge with singles. After a wild pitch on a strikeout scored Wellendorf, Ryan Coller hit a single to score two more runs.
The Warriors scored twice more in the seventh after Tanner hit a leadoff triple and Coller followed with an RBI single for his fourth RBI of the game. Harkulich followed with a hit to score Coller.
Wellendorf is effective
Wellendorf (6-1 overall and 3-0 in the tournament) held the Tigers to two hits, striking out five and walking one. Ten of his 21 outs were on ground balls and no Tiger runner advanced past second base.
"[Wellendorf] hits his spots.," Roby said. "He does whatever he is asked."
Summers (7-2) allowed eight runs (five earned) on eight hits, striking out four and walking three.
"We are a young team," said Roby. "It took a while for us to get it going and to come together as a team."