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Wednesday, 07 May 2008 |
’Skins put an end to losing streak
By JOSHUA KEERAN
Sports Editor
With the state tournament set to begin in less than a week, Wapakoneta entered Tuesday’s Western Buckeye League contest against Kenton desperate to end it’s prolonged losing streak and seeking much need momentum as the regular season wraps up.
Despite failing to do the little things for most of the game, the Redskins used a seventh-inning web gem by sophomore shortstop Kaleb Coil and a walk-off RBI single by junior Matt Deffenbaugh for a 7-6 victory in eight innings of varsity baseball action.
“Maybe we took the step in the right direction to get that monkey off our backs,” Wapakoneta varsity coach Jason Brandt said. “I think we’ve lost six games in a row here, and it’s kind of depressing because our guys have done a great job of doing the little things, but we haven’t been able to get over that hump.”
In the top of the seventh with the game tied at 7-all, Kenton’s Sencer Vermillion reached when his grounder to third base glanced of the glove of Josh Vorhees. Vermillion ended up at third after stealing second and advancing a base on a throwing error by Wapakoneta catcher Mike Bogan.
Following a strikeout, the Redskin coaching staff decided to move the infield in, hoping to keep the go-ahead run from crossing the plate.
The plan nearly backfired as Cody Barker hit what appeared to be a RBI single to left field, but Coil had other thoughts at shortstop as he backpedalled a couple of steps and leaped just high enough to snag the ball in mid-air. Coil then nearly doubled up Vermillion at third, but the umpire ruled the throw pulled Vorhees off the bag.
“That was a tremendous defensive play,” Brandt said. “Anytime you have your infield in there is a lot of things that can happen. Little flares drop all the time and that was a little flare that Kaleb made a great play on. That play saved at least one run and maybe more.”
With help from his defense, Deffenbaugh, who entered with two outs in the sixth inning, got the final out of the inning with no damage done.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Deffenbaugh got the chance to earn a victory and end Wapakoneta’s losing streak all in one swing, and he didn’t let the opportunity pass him bye.
After senior Zach Brown led off with a walk, junior Mike Rosenbeck finally converted a sacrifice bunt attempt for Wapakoneta as his bunt rolled right under the glove of Kenton third baseman Dillion Perkins, putting runners and first and second with no outs.
“Tonight we had three other opportunities to get the job done and we didn’t get the bunts down. Those things will irritate you as a coach,” Brandt said. “There in the eighth inning, Mike Rosenbeck did a great job by getting the bunt down.”
Following a groundout by Bogan that advanced the runners to second and third, Deffenbaugh stepped to the plate and drilled the Trevor Beazley offering off the left-center field fence for the victory.
“When the tournament starts, we have to put it all together and tonight was a good starting point for us to put it together,” Brandt said.
“We had pretty solid pitching out of Josh and Matt and timely hitting, so hopefully tonight was a step in the right direction.”
The Wildcats (11-8, 4-4) scored twice in the first inning off Vorhees via a RBI double to right-center by Alan Scharf and a RBI single to left by Mark Fackler.
In the bottom of the second, the Redskins got the offense going thanks to a leadoff triple to center by senior Drew Golden. A batter later, sophomore Justin Krebs singled to right field to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Following a walk, Coil singled to center to tie the score and Brown singled to left field to give Wapakoneta a 3-2 lead.
Kenton, however, retook the lead in the fourth inning on a RBI single by Fackler and a bases loaded double play groundout to second by Tyler McKenzie.
The Redskins didn’t trail long. With two outs and runners on first and second in the bottom of the fourth, Rosenbeck hit a shot to center the was misjudged by the center fielder. By the time he found the ball, it was too late as it bounced out of his glove and resulted in two runs for a 5-4 Redskin advantage.
Bogan then deposited the next pitch into left field for a RBI single.
In the top of the sixth, Kenton knotted the score at 6-6 following a RBI double by McKenzie and a RBI single by Tyler Slonecker.
WHS (7-12, 3-5) returns to action on Thursday when it welcomes to town Coldwater.
KHS 200 202 00 - 6-10-2
WHS 030 300 01 - 7-11-2
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 08 May 2008 )
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