baseball ROUNDUP News and notes

No doubt: Despite trailing 3-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth, Springfield’s Todd Kibby said the seniors weren’t throwing in the towel. “We went around and said that we don’t want it to be over. We knew we had to rally, but we didn’t know when it was going to come or when the big hits were going to be. Then Bryan [Visingardi] and his senior leadership started it off, followed by Dylon’s [DeJane] double. That pumped up everybody.”

Taking personal care: With a 5-3 lead, Kibby personally ran to put his foot on first base after fielding Xavier Cook’s comebacker in the seventh inning. “I didn’t want to risk the throw because my arm was starting to get tired and I didn’t want to do anything stupid,” said Kibby, “so I just ran it over, knowing it would be the safest play.”

Today: Springfield coach Bob Beam said he’d put Travis Richey on the mound today. Springfield (29-4) will make an appearance in a state baseball final for the first time since 1980, when the Tigers finished runner-up. The school’s other previous state appearances were in the 1930 and in 1994.

School colors: Getting primped in a parking lot prior to Springfield’s game in their orange and black school colors were students Kelsey and Katelyn Larson, Lauren Morgan, Carly Cunningham and Mariah Nunley. The Larson 16-year-old twins are sophomores. Kelsey played volleyball and basketball, while Katelyn was a volleyball player. Morgan also played basketball, while Cunningham was on the volleyball team. Morgan is a senior, while Cunningham and Nunley are sophomores. The students were accompanied by the Larsons’ mom, Kim.

Sibling support: Headed to the ballpark with a camera around his neck and an energy drink in hand was Marc Russell, 22-year-old brother of Springfield left-fielder Nick Russell. Nick’s other brother, Jeremy, was also nearby along with parents Val and Bill Russell of Petersburg. Twenty-one-year-old Jeremy was a member of Springfield’s 4x100 relay that placed eighth at the state track meet in June 2006. “We weren’t going to miss this game,” said Marc, who played on a 2003 Jeff Brink-coached Tigers basketball team that advanced to the regional.

Support: Another family walking up to the gate was the Lyons clan of Pat Lyons, Lynn Lyons and Andria Lyons of New Middletown. After the ballgame, Andria, a junior, was to compete in the state track meet at Ohio Stadium: the high jump at 1 p.m. and long jump at 4 p.m. “We get to see two different events today,” said Pat Lyons, Andria’s father.

John Bassetti