|
|
|
 | |
|
|
Thursday, 16 April 2009 |
By CHRIS VOLOSCHUK
Sports Editor
DAYTON — Fifth Third Field was on loan Wednesday from the Dayton Dragons, and Wapakoneta High School’s junior varsity and varsity teams took full advantage.
Sure, they got to use all the amenities of the Single-A Cincinnati Reds affiliate, but the biggest perk of the loan was the 7-2 win over Anna under the lights.
The opportunity to play on a bigger stage was an extra piece of motivation for the 32 Redskins that made the trip.
“There was extra excitement, motivation, fun,” said Wapakoneta varsity coach Jason Brandt. “It’s a great thing to be able to come down here and play in a great facility like this.”
To say Brandt made full use of his roster Wednesday night could be an understatement. Of the 32 players that made the trip, all 32 got playing time.
Brandt said playing everybody was part of the plan.
“We tried to make sure every kid got in,” he said. “We wanted to play our older kids first then get our younger kids in secondly. Our J.V. kids game in, and some of them hit the ball well.”
And fittingly, a number of players made an impact at the plate and on the mound.
Offensively, the Redskins only needed two innings to seal the win. In the bottom of the second, senior third baseman Matt Deffenbaugh led off and was hit in the top of the batting helmet with a pitch. Dustin Gerlach and Chad Downing followed with consecutive singles that brought Deffenbaugh home. With two outs in the inning and the bases loaded Justin Krebs drew a walk, scoring Gerlach. A passed ball several pitches later would score Downing.
Anna came to Dayton with the same aspirations as Wapak, and made a bit of a comeback in the top of the third. With Greg Stoll on the mound in relief, the first two Rockets batters reached base. With one out, starting pitcher Zack Clark came up and smashed a two-run triple to right field, making the score 3-2.
The one-run difference would hold up until the bottom of the fifth when Wapak broke the game open.
Jordan Ruppert and Shane Helmstetter reached base and were able to move into scoring position on another passed ball. With one out, Caleb Coil smacked a two-run double to make the score 5-2. The very next batter, seldom-used sophomore Cale Tabler, hit an RBI single that the shortstop was able to glove but couldn’t make a play on. After a balk and a throwing error, Zach Ferenbaugh drove an RBI double deep to left field.
By the end of the fifth, the score was 7-2. And it was all the Redskins needed.
“Not playing in a week, not being on a field in a week, it was good to see that we could get a few hits off their top three pitchers,” Brandt said. “To be able to do that against the quality pitchers that Anna has felt good and got some of our guys some confidence.”
Pitching was also a major factor in the win. Brandt was able to use just about his entire staff, and outside of the two runs allowed, they made life tough on the Rockets. Ben Keckler, Josh Vorhees, Greg Stoll, Reid Emrick, Corey Lotridge, Mike Rosenbeck and Deffenbaugh all combined to earn the win. Deffenbaugh made his first appearance on the mound this season and tossed a scoreless seventh to seal the deal.
By that point, the junior varsity had taken the field. It was an overall positive performance from a group of players who hadn’t stepped on the diamond in almost a week due to bad weather.
“Our plan was to throw seven guys,” Brandt said. “With the time off it was difficult [on the players]. You can’t simulate things once you’ve been outside.”
Weather permitting, Wapak will be back in action Friday when they host Defiance at 5 p.m.
|
|
Last Updated ( Friday, 17 April 2009 )
|
|
|
|
