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Springfield leads but game is called
Photo
Springfield’s Hunter Snyder takes a second to warm up his hands after reaching first base during the bottom of the second inning at Tuesday’s baseball game against Lisbon in New Middletown. The Tigers were leading 12-2 when the game was suspended in the bottom of the inning due to inclement weather. The teams will finish today before their regularly-scheduled clash at Lisbon.
By Ryan Buck
NEW MIDDLETOWN
Two snow delays and the eventual suspension of the game weren’t able to cool down the Springfield High baseball team as they built a 12-2 lead over Inter-Tri County League rival Lisbon on Tuesday.
On a day where the weather played havoc with high school sporting events, the Tigers (5-2) and Blue Devils (2-3) were called off the field in the bottom of the third inning.
The game will be resumed today before the teams’ regularly-scheduled clash at Lisbon.
“That’s Northeast Ohio for you,” Springfield coach Matt Weymer said. “We try to play in every element just because the weather’s so unpredictable.
“It’s just one of those things where you’ve got to wrap your mind around it that it’s not going to get any better, the sun’s not going to come out any time soon and you just have to deal with it.”
Despite the frigid conditions, the defending Division IV state runners-up had no problems scoring runs and jumped on the Blue Devils early.
The Tigers plated three runs in the first inning, beginning with Joey Ohlin’s triple to left- center field that scored lead-off man Ryan Kohler. Ohlin and Nick Russell then came home on shortstop Cody Pitzo’s double to left.
In the second inning, the Tigers brought five runners home without the ball leaving the infield. Lisbon pitchers walked three Springfield batters and hit two more. Mike Buchenic led off the inning with a walk, stole second base, and eventually scored on a wild pitch.
The Blue Devils cut into the Tigers’ early lead in the top of the third. Danny Reese doubled home Drew Sweeney, who had reached first base with a bunt. Reese later scored when teammate Zac Barnes was cut down at second base on a stolen base attempt.
Springfield answered in the bottom half of the inning. Four walks and two singles led to four runs before the game was suspended.
Heavy snowfall , albeit intermittent, made seeing across the diamond difficult, not to mention the baseball when it was put in play.
“I think we did a great job with the weather today. Our kids were prepared and I didn’t get a lot of complaining about how cold it was,” added Weymer.
Tigers starting pitcher Sawyer Stevens, a freshman, struck out five Lisbon hitters in his three innings of work.
The infusion of talented youth in the Springfield program, steadied by championship-tested upperclassmen, has Weymer optimistic of his team’s chances to build on two state title game appearances in three years.
“Talent-wise, top to bottom, I think we’re as good, if not better. The only problem is we lose six seniors [from last season] and you replace those seniors with freshmen. Our seniors have been around longer, more seasoned, and more used to the moment. One of the biggest challenges is going to be how the freshmen handle that — when the going gets tough in that big game.”