Tigers corral Mustangs, face Clippers
By John Kovach
STRUTHERS — In a game of comebacks, a rule controversy, a delay, clutch hits and strong relief pitching, the Springfield High baseball team outlasted Mathews, 11-7, in Wednesday’s eight-inning Division IV district semifinal at Cene Park.
The Tigers, who had taken a 4-0 lead only to fall behind 7-4, finally won the game in the eighth inning on lefthanded batter Todd Kibby’s opposite-field, fence-clearing, three-run homer and Frank Sferra’s run-scoring single.
Springfield (25-4) advances to play Columbiana today in a district final at Cene Park at 7 p.m. Springfield lost twice to Inter Tri-County League Tier One rival Columbiana during the regular season.
Dylon DeJane had to save Springfield twice in the seventh inning after the Tigers cut the deficit to 7-5 on Bryan Visingardi’s run-scoring single.
DeJane hammered a two-run double that was ruled a dead play because Mathews pitcher Chris Morgan was called for a balk, which made the ball dead and nullified the at-bat and DeJane’s hit.
But DeJane, unhappily returning to the plate to bat, essentially did it again by belting a two-run single that tied the game at 7-7.
Before DeJane’s second try, there was a substantial delay in the game after the balk was called because umpires weren’t sure if the ball was dead, or if the play was allowed to stand.
The latter is the case in colleges, sandlots and the pros, but leaving the decision to accept or reject the at-bat results to the batting team.
The umpires, who didn’t have an OHSAA rulebook, were getting ready to rule that the play should be allowed to stand, but Mathews (21-3) coach Dan Kennedy presented his rulebook to the umps, who then made the correct decision: The balk rule is different for high schools and DeJane had to bat again.
“I brought my rulebook as part of my equipment. I always bring my rule book,” said Kennedy, who cleared up the balk controversy.
Springfield coach Bob Beam said he knew the balk made the ball dead at that point.
“But it was good that they checked [with a rulebook],” he said.
DeJane finished with two singles and four RBIs while Richey added a pair of singles.
Corey Lumley socked a three-run homer to highlight Mathews’ six-run third inning that gave the Mustangs a 6-4 advantage.
Reed Shields had a two-run single and Swank a run-scoring single to account for Mathews’ other three runs in the third.
Kennedy said that Lumley is a true hitter.
“Lumley’s home run was big at the time,” Kennedy said. “It was his third or fourth home run. It’s not luck. He hits the ball.”
The Mustangs added another run in the fourth on Collin Bowser’s run-scoring single for a 7-4 lead, before Springfield rallied to tie the game and win.
Kibby (7-1) also turned in a strong relief performance, replacing starter Travis Richey in the fourth and pitching a two-hitter with nine strikeouts the rest of the way. Richey gave up eight hits and fanned four.
Jake Swank, who relieved Morgan in the seventh inning, took the loss for Mathews after giving up the four runs in the eighth.
Morgan pitched a six-hitter had six strikeouts.
Kennedy in hindsight felt that he kept Morgan in the game too long.
“[Morgan] got tired. I should have taken him out earlier. But I thought he would be OK,” said Kennedy. “Our team never quit and was still trying [at the end].”
Beam said he started Richey instead of Kibby because, “Travis is better as a starter [and] Kibby usually is the closer in the game.”
Beam expects to start Richey today against Columnbiana, and perhaps use Kibby as a closer again.
“I don’t know if Travis ran out of gas or not. But we can use him today because he threw only 54 pitches,” Beam said.
kovach@vindy.com