Springfield baseball updates - Tigers win 9-2

Published June 2, 2011 at 4:30 p.m.
Updated June 2, 2011 at 5:47 p.m.

The Springfield High baseball team leads Delphos St. John’s 3-1 after the first inning of Thursday’s Division IV state semifinal at Huntington Park. After giving up a run in the top of the first, Springfield tied the game on a double by Joe Ohlin and a RBI single by Ronnie Bovo. After Brad Ferraro was hit by a pitch, Jake Noble hit a two-run double to score Bovo and Ferraro.

Delphos went 1-2-3 in the top half of the second. Springfield loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the inning but cleanup hitter Nick Russell struck out to end the threat.

St. John's had a runner at third base with one out but Russell, the Springfield starter, worked out of it. The Tigers went down in order in the bottom of the third.

Springfield got a break in the top of the fourth. After Austin Vogt doubled down the left field line to start the inning, Chris Pohlman followed with a chopper to short that hit Vogt, an automatic out. One out later, Pohlman went to second on a wild pitch but a groundout ended the threat. The Tigers then got another break in the bottom of the inning. With one out and one on, Cody Pitzo hit a weak fly ball behind second base. Three St. John's players converged on the ball but none called it and it fell in. After a Ohlin sacrifice bunt, Bovo and Russell hit back-to-back doubles, scoring three runs. It's 6-1 after four innings.

After a scoreless top of the fifth, Springfield struck again in the bottom of the inning when Jason Horn and Mike Buchenic hit back-to-back singles with one out. Anthony Yoder then bunted and the pitcher's throw was wide, scoring one run. Cody Pitzo then hit a sacrifice fly to right to score a second run and a passed ball on a swinging strike scored Yoder with the third run. It's 9-1 Springfield.

St. John's scored one run in the seventh to make it a 9-2 final. Nick Russell went the distance for Springfield (18-6), tossing a six-hitter to get the win. He struck out six. Saturday's championship game is 1 p.m. against either Minster or Newark Catholic.