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Strange play leads Crestview over Mooney
Crestview Wins
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Crestview beat Mooney 10-3 tonight to clinch Division III title. Coach Dan Hill shares the glory with his team.
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By DAN HINER
STRUTHERS
The Crestview baseball team went into the top of the seventh inning trailing 3-2 against Cardinal Mooney in a Division III district final Wednesday night.
But a confusing play and solid hitting helped the Rebels rally for a 10-3 victory and a district title.
With runners on first and third, Crestview designated hitter Brandon Chuey hit a line drive to left field. The ball appeared to be caught but was eventually dropped.
Photo Gallery: Crestview vs Mooney
When the left fielder threw the ball to second base, both teams were confused as to whether the runner reached second safely. Meanwhile, Chuey thought he was out and ran back to the dugout. Mooney tagged Chuey on his way back to first and the Cardinals thought they were entering the bottom of the seventh down one run.
But the play was ruled an error and the Rebels kept the inning alive with no outs and runners on first and second. Crestview added six more runs in the seventh to extend the lead to 10-3.
Mooney coach Al Franceschelli gave credit to Crestview for the way it played and the success the team had during the season. But he also said the confusion was a turning point.
“We just didn’t hit the ball. I mean those calls took us out of the game,” Franceschelli said. “If the call was made the right way, there was a forceout at second, there was a forceout at first because the kid walked off the bag and he was tagged when he came back. He walked through fair territory — he was out.
“That keeps the game at 4-3 with two outs and nobody on base. That was a big, huge call. And then they bungled another one, which I think really deflated our kids.”
The Rebels sent 13 batters to the plate and got eight hits. Crestview also scored two runs on two suicide-squeeze plays after taking the lead.
Crestview head coach Dan Hill said the play did change the momentum of the game, but gave credit to his team for playing the game through until the end.
“It was [a momentum changer], but at the same time, getting that leadoff runner on base, Dylan Huff, he sets the stage for us,” he said. “I mean, he’s a phenomenal athlete with tremendous speed. And as soon as he got on we were able to do a couple things and put pressure on them.”
Mooney took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first after the first four batters of the game reached base. Mooney shortstop Bryce Richey drove in the first run of the game on a misplayed grounder. The next batter, Dom Pecchia, hit a two-run double over the left fielder’s head.
The Rebels responded in the top of the second. Tyler Hurd hit a line drive to the left-field corner for a triple. Kaden Davis drove Hurd home on a groundout.
Crestview cut the lead to 3-2 in the top of the sixth. Caleb Hill reached base on a two-out single and scored on a double by Devin Turvey.
“We knew we played a tough schedule so we weren’t afraid of anybody in the tournament. We took whoever we got, we weren’t worried about where we were seeded or who we were matched up against,” Caleb Hill said.
Crestview will play Chippewa in a regional semifinal on May 25 at Massillon.