South Range slugs Lisbon to advance

By Chuck Housteau

STRUTHERS — When South Range’s number nine hitter, Jack Dawson, walked to the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning he was just looking to get a hit and maybe end the Division III tournament game against Lisbon.

South Range led 12-4 and Dawson, who was an outstanding four-year starter at quarterback for the Raiders, was the only batter without an RBI in the contest.

Dawson drove a single to left field that drove in Chris Gause and Gerrard Rohan and ended the sectional game, 14-4.

The Raiders (11-11) advanced to face Crestview today at 4:30 at the Rebels’ home field.

The game will also count as an Inter Tri-County League contest. Crestview won the first time the two teams met, 13-6.

“Our bats had gone to sleep for the past couple of games,” said South Range coach Jim Hanek. “It was nice to see us come alive.

“Offensively the guys know what they have to do in certain situations with the bats and they did that. You have to score runs to win.”

South Range belted out 14 hits and scored at least two runs in all five innings.

Sophomore Phil Arsuffi had three hits and drew a walk from his leadoff position and drove in four runs, including two with a triple.

“There’s pressure on being a leadoff hitter,” said Arsuffi, “because you have to set the stage.

“I just try to get good swings or get on base so the other guys can go to work.”

South Range got three hits from Gerrard Rohan and two hits each from Dawson and Vince Miller. Mike Rohan and Don DeChellis each hit doubles for the Raiders.

All nine batters also scored in the 14-run attack.

Hanek was also impressed with the effort of his starting pitcher (Miller) who got the win after pitching into the fourth inning.

“Our pitcher struggled a little bit with his release point but you got to give him credit,” Hanek said. “He battled out there.

“He didn’t really have his change-up working for him but he made pitches when he had to to get out of jams. He’s a competitor.”

Miller (4-3), who has pitched for the varsity since his freshman season, doused Lisbon (5-17) threats in the second and third innings that could have been instrumental in changing the outcome of the contest.

In the second innning, Miller dodged a bases-loaded, one-out jam by striking out two batters. In the third, he struck out three batters after allowing a walk and single to start the frame.

“Things didn’t roll our way,” said Lisbon coach Adam Fill. “Sometimes you have those days.

“Our kids came out ready to play but we couldn’t get hits early in the game when we needed them. It’s been things like that all season that have held us back.”

Lisbon did get to Miller in the fourth by scoring four runs on just one hit. Three South Range errors and three walks led to the uprising before Mike Rohan came in to end the rally.

Rohan pitched a scoreless fifth inning to keep the Devils at bay.