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Numbers Game
In the top of the third Houston made it a game. In the bottom of the third Loramie made it a rout.
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05/20/09 - Sonny Fulks/1570wptw.com
Ft. Loramie run-ruled Houston 12-1 Tuesday afternoon at Hardman Field to win another sectional baseball title, their third in a row.
They did it convincingly, to say the least. They jumped out early with two runs in the first inning. And, after Houston answered with an unearned run of their on in the top of the third, Loramie answered in the bottom of the inning with 8 runs, 8 hits, and a picture of what Bill Sturwold has worked for all season.
The Redskins played exactly like they practiced. Every day during drills Sturwold works tirelessly on situational hitting. “Second and third with two outs,” he barks to the hitter at the plate. “You have to make hard contact. Make them make a play.”
Over and over, swing after swing, and day after day …Tuesday it paid off for the second game in a row in the sectional round, and boosted the Redskins into Saturday’s 3 o’clock district final against the winner of the Summit Country Day and Cincinnati Christian.
“We had some good at bats tonight,” he smiled. “We do work on those situations a lot and tonight we had a lot of guys deliver.
“But best, we were able to put them away tonight. We got up early on Troy Christian last week, but I felt we let them back into the game. Tonight we took no chances. You can’t at this time of the year. I know you’re not supposed to steal when you’re up 10 runs like we did tonight, but Versailles lost a big lead in the seventh inning last night and got beat.”
Indeed, they left little to risk. Mitch Boerger had a pair of hits and scored a run. Jay Schulze had a knock and scored twice. Mitch Raterman had two hits and scored twice. Likewise, Mitch Ahlers and Justin Hoying. Even little-used designated hitter Jake Bowles had two hits and scored. In all, 12 runs on 15 hits, and situationally…near perfect. The ‘Skins left but four men on base for the night.
The issue becomes, of course, how to prepare for Saturday. Forward thinking as always,, Sturwold already had his ducks in order.
“It was nice to get win in five tonight because it saves a little of Justin Hoying. He’ll get the start on Saturday.”
But he already plan “B” and “C” in mind, as well.
“Sure,” he said. “We use everyone if he have to, and Zack Eilerman gave us a lot to think about on Saturday. He did a super job against Bellefontaine.
As he walked to the bus at Hardman Park Tuesday Bill Sturwold had that familiar tournament look in his eye. With a confident win against a team that statistically he should have beaten, he made a final point before boarding for home.
“He had good at bats, but we also took care of damage control, too. We made some plays…the double play to close them out in the top of the third after I made a trip to the mound. I guess we did play like we practice.”
And that’s the point!
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