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Tuesday, 01 April 2008 |
Wapak kicks off season with win
By JOSHUA KEERAN
Sports Editor
Whether it be the season opener or a crucial playoff game, when it comes to baseball, the little things win ballgames no matter what time of the year it is.
Case in point to Monday’s season opener for the Wapakoneta Redskins as junior Mike Rosenbeck came through in his first at-bat to help ignite a three-run first inning in a 6-1 ’Skins victory over Delphos St. John.
“Just like any first game, you don’t know what to expect,” Wapakoneta varsity coach Jason Brandt said. “All in all it was a good opening day.”
After Wapakoneta senior Zach Brown led off the bottom of the first with a line-drive single to center field, the Redskin coaching staff decided to put on the hit-and-run with Rosenbeck at the plate.
Knowing the situation, Rosenbeck protected Brown by putting the bat on the ball, despite the fact the pitch was high and outside.
Rosenbeck’s savyness with the bat paid off when St. John starter Nate Jones and the third baseman Curt Metzger both took off after the ball. Rosenbeck might have been gunned out at first, but third base was left unoccupied by the Blue Jays which allowed Brown to advance from first to third.
“Who really got us going was Mike Rosenbeck. When he came up we had a hit-and-run on and Mike sacrificed his at-bat,” Brandt said. “He just threw the bat out on a ball that is easy to pop up and Zach hustled all the way from first to third which got us going.”
The very next batter — senior Andy Martin — picked up the first RBI of the season with an infield single.
One out later, Wapakoneta sophomore Mike Bogan increased the Redskin advantage to 2-0 with a first-pitch RBI liner up the middle.
With Bogan on first base, junior Matt Deffenbaugh continued the two-out rally by crushing an RBI double to deep center field to put Wapakoneta ahead 3-0.
“We had key guys in the middle of the order come up with some big hits,” Brandt said.
The three first-inning runs were all the Redskins would need as Wapakoneta senior Corey Lotridge and sophomore Josh Vorhees where in control of the Blue Jay batters.
In three innings of work, Lotridge allowed one run on three hits while striking out six.
St. John’s lone run of the game came in the third inning on an RBI groundout by Metzger.
In the top of the fourth, Brandt turned the ball over to Vorhees, who was impressive in his first relief appearance. Vorhees pitched four innings of no-hit baseball and racked up seven strikeouts. He fanned the side in both the sixth and seventh innings.
“Our pitchers threw the ball really well. Corey gave us three solid innings,” Brandt said. “He was getting a little tired which is what we expected. We thought we would get two to three innings out of him.
“Then Josh Vorhees came in and was lights out.”
Leading 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth, Wapakoneta picked up another run on a RBI groundout to second by Brown that brought home Patrick Huffman.
Wapakoneta added two more runs for good measure in its final at-bat. With runners on first and third and two outs, St. John appeared to dodge another bullet when Redskin pitch runner Jordan Ruppert was caught between first and second.
Ruppert, however, managed to survive the rundown long enough to frustrate the Blue Jay pitcher, who for a brief second took his eyes off Ruppert to make sure Rosenbeck wasn’t trying to score from third.
By the time the pitcher turned back around, Ruppert was safe at second and Rosenbeck crossed the plate for a 5-1 Redskin advantage.
Bogan followed up the great escape by Ruppert with an RBI double off the base of the left-center field fence.
“We saw what Mike could do last year as a freshman and we expect a lot of big things out of him this year offensively and defensively,” Brandt said.
Wapakoneta returns to action today at 5 p.m. at Greenville High School.
St. John 001 000 0 – 1 3 4
Wapak 300 102 x – 6 8 1
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 02 April 2008 )
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