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Springfield’s big third inning leads to victory
By Jim Flick
STRUTHERS
After a slow start, Springfield dominated its Division IV district semifinal baseball game on Tuesday, defeating Western Reserve 10-3 at Cene Park.
The Tigers will play in the district championship at 6:30 p.m. today at Cene Park against Warren JFK.
Western Reserve (17-6) struck first, scoring a run in the first inning on only one hit. Parker Clegg, a junior, was credited with the RBI.
The Blue Devils held a 1-0 lead until the third inning.
“We came out a little flat,” said Springfield coach Matt Weymer. “A little lack of focus. But after they woke up and realized it’s the same game we been playing all year, we really picked it up.”
The Tigers (21-5) found their focus in the third inning, batting around while smacking six hits and scoring scoring six runs.
Joe Ohlin, a senior and the starting pitcher, started the rally with a single. Senior Nick Russell followed with a triple, the Tigers’ only extra-base hit of the game. Besides the hits, one batter walked and another was hit by a pitch.
Springfield added two more runs in the fourth inning and two more in the fifth, building a 10-1 lead.
A freshman who played a key role for Springfield was catcher Hunter Snyder, who hit two singles to drive in three runs.
“It’s exciting. I don’t usually do good in games like this,” said Snyder, who admitted he gets nervous in playoff games.
Another freshman, right fielder Brandon Chamberlain, and junior Jojo Carabello, the designated hitter, each knocked home two runs.
Ohlin (5-1) pitched six innings and struck out six to earn the win.
“You just gotta hit your spots. That’s the big thing with me,” said Ohlin.
“I really didn’t pitch a lot last year, but this year Coach put a lot of faith in me. I just hit my spots and let the ball get into play.
“You just gotta remember you don’t have to strike out everybody. You hit your spots, they hit ’em in the ground, hit ’em in the air, and you rely on your defense,” Ohlin added.
Western Reserve scored two runs in the seventh inning. Tommy Marlowe, a senior, knocked in a run wtih a triple, the Blue Devils’ lone extra-base hit.
“Our defense wasn’t that bad,” said Western Reserve coach Ed Anthony. “But Springfield Local just hit some shots where we just weren’t. They hit a lot of balls on the ground that took funky hops. That’s baseball.
“I’m proud of our kids. They came into this game winning 15 in a row.”