Springfield wins in Division IV baseball

May 28, 2011 at 12:06a.m.

By STEVE WALKER

LORAIN

The ball bounced Springfield’s way on Friday in the Division IV regional baseball semifinal at The Pipe Yard. The Tigers survived a controversial call in the bottom of the seventh inning to edge Fairport Harding, 4-3, advancing to today’s championship game against Rittman.

Fairport’s Zach Dennison’s hard-hit shot ricocheted off pitcher Brad Ferraro, then ricocheted off shortstop Cody Pitzo to third basemen Nick Russell, who promptly threw to first for a rare 1-6-5-3 groundout. The out call was heavily disputed by Fairport, but it took the sails out of any potential rally as Ferraro settled down after a walk to strike out pinch-hitter Ryan Ondo that ended the game.

“We escaped, that’s exactly what it was,” Springfield coach Matt Weymer said. “Everyone who gets here expects to win, so ups and downs are going to be there. We came out hot and they came right back … I can’t say enough about our guys. This is a dream come true for me. Especially since I never got here as a player. To be one game from state is more than I can ever imagine.”

The game featured four lead changes, but a third-inning pitching change proved to be the difference.

After starting pitcher Nick Russell allowed three runs in the first two innings, Weymer went to Ferraro in the third inning with the game tied at 3.

“[Ferraro] was phenomenal. He made some big big pitches,” Weymer said. “Nick didn’t look like he had it today. When I went up and talked to him after the second inning, he told me ‘I just can’t get loose. I’m not really sore. I don’t feel like I’m throwing very hard’. So we made a decision to pull him and Brad — God bless him — he was miraculous.”

Ferraro pitched four scoreless innings with seven strikeouts to secure the win. He walked six batters, but didn’t allow a hit or a runner past second base.

“My main focus was to just throw strikes and get ahead of the batters and that’s what I was able to do,” Ferraro said. “Our defense was playing great again. When they’re making good plays, I’m throwing strikes.”

Ronnie Bovo, who went 2-for-3, provided the game-tying RBI single in the third inning. The clutch hit scored Joe Ohlin, who drew a walk and stole second.

“I was seeing the ball well today. His curveball wasn’t going for strikes so I was sitting on a fastball,” sadid Bovo.

Springfield took the lead on an error in the fourth inning with two outs. Cody Pitzo reached on a wild throw, allowing Mike Buchenic, who had singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, to score.

Bovo also had a RBI double in the first inning, followed by a run-scoring single by Ferraro.