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Two In The Fourth
Loramie's Mitch Ahlers drives in a pair of runs in the fourth inning of Friday's opening-round game wiht Troy Christian.
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04/25/09 - Sonny Fulks/1570wptw.com
Ft. Loramie pitcher Jay Schulze did his part.
That is, the senior righthander set the stage for a fantastic weekend of high school baseball by going 6 2/3 innings deep into the opening game of the Ft. Loramie Invitational tournament Friday night against Troy Christian without giving up a hit.
Schulze did not get his no-hitter!
Troy Christian’s Kyle Slone broke up the no-no with a single to left field in the top of the seventh, and two batters later teammate Trevor Gaines foiled Schulze’s bid for a shutout with an rbi double to narrow the lead and lend some drama. But the Ft. Loramie senior would retire Tyler Patterson for the final out of the game, preserve a 4-2 win, and send the Redskins (6-5) into Saturday’s winner’s bracket against Covington at 11:00 am.
“I never thought about a no-hitter until the 7th when their guy hit the single to left,” said Schulze. “Then it was…hey, I think I just screwed up a no-hitter. But we won, and that’s really all that counts.”
The area’s longest running mid-season tournament (since 1993) continues tomorrow with the winner’s bracket featuring Loramie and Covington at 11 am. At 1 pm, Tippecanoe plays Greenville, who advanced by beating Minster 10-3 in the second game of Friday’s opener.
“The great thing about this tournament is it gives area Division IV teams an opportunity to play good competition and see just where they are come sectional and district tournament time,” said Loramie coach Bill Sturwold following Friday’s win over Troy Christian.
“The competition this weekend is as good as any tournament we’ve had in recent years. Saturday should be a very interesting day.”
Indeed, for the fact of Loramie, a defending state semi-finalist, playing an improving Covington, and Tipp City, coming off last Saturday’s sweep of Division I Northmont and Butler, playing Greenville in the day’s second semi-final at 1 pm.
Despite Schulze’s losing his no-hitter two outs deep into the top of the seventh inning, kudos go to Troy Christian pitchers Brad Wenklewicz and Zach Hancock for limiting Ft. Loramie to just 4 hits on the day.
Saturday’s action can be heard all day on 1570 AM, with both semi-final games on air at 11 am and 1 pm, and the championship game at 5 pm.
“We have a lot of decisions to make concerning pitching for tomorrow,” admitted Sturwold. “In a weekend like this it’s pretty much a matter of getting it done by committee.”
Pity, considering Jay Schulze’s unavailable for further mound duty. He’ll take Friday’s win and his two-hitter back to his normal position at third base on Saturday. Near no-hitters are nice, but his five home runs for the season will no doubt be a boost for a team that continues to struggle offensively.
Action begins Saturday morning at 9 am, with the loser’s bracket action between Troy Christian and Minster. Admission is free, and the baseball action…will be priceless! |
