Springfield goes back-to-back as district champion


Eynon’s walk-off single lifts Tigers over Warren JFK

By Dan Hiner

dhiner@vindy.com

Struthers

It wasn’t the perfect beginning to Shane Eynon’s day, but the ending more than made up for it.

The Springfield starting pitcher was pulled in the fourth inning after allowing five runs to Warren JFK in a Division IV district final at Cene Park on Thursday.

But Eynon delivered a game-winning, walk-off hit as the Tigers beat the Eagles 8-7 to clinch a regional berth,

Clayton Nezbeth reached base on a fielding error by JFK third baseman Gavin Shrum. Nezbeth later stole second and third.

Eynon drove in Nezbeth with a one-out single up the middle.

“I knew he was throwing a curveball because I had trouble hitting the curveball all day,” Eynon said.

Eynon allowed six runs — five earned — on three hits and three walks with three strikeouts.

Thursday’s win was Springfield second consecutive district title.

“I said in the paper last year that we had to be mentally stronger, and that’s what we’ve been working on with the fundamentals of course,” Springfield head coach Terry Dobson said.

“Basically they bought into it and realized what’s happened before does not matter. It’s the present, you’re focused on what you have at hand.”

Drew Clark relieved Eynon with no outs in the fourth. Clark allowed one run on three hits and two walks. He struck out five in four innings.

Mitchell Seymour went 3 for 4 with three RBIs and two runs scored for the Tigers. Clark and Nick Slike drove in one run each.

Eynon and Clark had to come back to the diamond slowly. Both players were on the boys basketball team which advanced to the Division IV regional final.

Clark and Eynon had two scrimmages before the start of the season.

“When they were first coming off the basketball season, a very successful basketball season, I didn’t let them work out,” Dobson said. “I just had ‘em throw to get their arms in shape. We took them as if they were starting like the rest of the team, earlier.”

Arp pitched a complete game for the Eagles (19-6). He allowed eight runs on eight hits and two walks with four strikeouts.

“There were a few things that happened that normally don’t happen to us all year, and it happened tonight,” Warren JFK head coach Thomas Elder said. “That’s why when you get in these tournaments you have to play sound baseball.

“We didn’t do it tonight. This team’s better than what we showed tonight, and unfortunately, sometimes this game humbles you.”

Marcus Aulizia, Alex Hernandez and Isaac Hadley drove in runs for the Eagles.

The Tigers will play Mathews at Strongsville High School on Thursday. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.

“[The players] are hard on each other, but they laugh about it, Dobson said. “They know what it takes, they’re athletes.”

Battered and bruised

It was Springfield third baseman’s John Slike’s birthday. He was hit by a pitch after the Cene Park announcers wished him a happy birthday in the first.

Seven batters were hit by pitches in the first four innings. Arp hit three Tigers. Eynon hit four Eagles.

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