Springfield wins big in semifinal

By DAN MESSERSCHMIDT

LORAIN — The Crestline Bulldogs had been playing their best baseball of the year over the past few weeks, vaulting them into the regional tournament.

Saturday afternoon the Bulldogs ran into a buzz saw in the form of the Springfield Tigers.

Springfield scored three runs with two outs in the first inning and took advantage of two Crestline errors for three unearned runs in the second.

From there the Tigers cruised to a 12-0, six-inning victory in the Division IV semifinal tournament at the Pipe Yard.

The Tigers will play Lake Center Christian, which upended defending regional champion Gates Mills Gilmour, 3-2 in 12 innings, in Saturday’s second semifinal.

“We were happy to be here, but that was the best team we have played all year by far,” Crestline coach C.J. Brickman said. “They’ve got a shot at going all the way.”

Crestline starting pitcher Brian Hefner allowed a single to Travis Richey to start the game. After two outs, Brian Visingardi drove a 1-2 pitch into left field for a single, scoring Richey. Dylon DeJane moved Visingardi to third with a single to right, stole second and both came home on a double to the fence in right by Frank Sferra.

“It’s really important,” Springfield (27-4) coach Bob Beam said of his team’s fast start. “It helps the guys relax. We were fortunate to do that. It put a little pressure on [Crestline].”

In the second, Hefner retired the first two Tigers. But Richey reached on an error, Ronnie Bovo walked and Todd Kibby was safe on another Bulldog miscue, scoring Richey.

Visingardi ripped a double to left-field, plating Bovo and Kibby, and Springfield had a 6-0 lead.

In the fourth, an error and DeJane’s two-run single were key. In the sixth, DeJane rammed a run scoring triple off the top of the right-field fence for the big blow.

“I’ve been hot for the last few games,” DeJane, a lefty first baseman, said. “We got on them early. I was anxious, but then we got out and played the game.”

DeJane had three hits and three RBIs to lead the Tigers offense. Kibby and Visingardi each had two hits.

Kibby scored three times and Visingardi drove in three. Sferra drove in a pair. Richey scored three along with two hits and Brad Ferraro had two hits.

Richey went the first four innings on the mound, with three strikeouts and one walk. Kibby and Visingardi pitched an inning each, combining for four Ks and no free passes.

“He hit his spots,” Brickman said of Richey. “He has good junk.”