March 30, 1999
Longball seals Senecas fate
SANDUSKY -- Calvert gave up four home runs to the Panthers as Sandusky St. Marys downed the Senecas 13-9 in opening day action for area high school teams.
Eric Hartzell went two innings in the loss as he registered one strikeout and one walk, but gave up all four of the bombs.
Although the Senecas put nine runs on the scoreboard, looks can be deceiving as Calvert had 11 walks to account for most of their runs, but10 strikeouts spelled the Senecas fate.
Dustyn Risner led the way for the Senecas (0-1) going 2-for-4 from the plate while driving in two runs. Tim Schumm added one hit to go along with his three runs. Jon Raitz had a pair of hits and two runs, and Bart Fisher had two hits and drove in two runs.
Ryan Wikel did it all for the Panthers (1-0) as the leadoff hitter went 2-for-2 from the plate in scoring two runs. Wikel also picked up the victory after pitching three innings and registering six strikeouts to go along with his six walks.
"Our offense was not there today," said Seneca coach Rick Demith. "We cannot play defense from behind the fence. We are a very young team and we will turn things around as the season progresses."
Calvert returns to action on Wednesday against Norwalk St. Paul.
SYCAMORE -- Mohawk rallied to score five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, but fell short in the end of a 7-6 loss to Colonel Crawford.
"If we cut out some of the mistakes, we could have beaten them," Mohawk coach Martin Coffman said. "We made a couple of throwing errors, but it's the first night out, so that's to be expected. We'll get the bugs out."
Matt May hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning as part of the Mohawk rally, and Kyle Moyer had a solo shot in the second inning. Mike Chester had a double.
Moyer, who scored two runs, was the only Warrior with two hits. Other hits came from Chester (two RBI, run), May (three RBI, run) and Tony Spurlock. Mark Gaietto and Joe Strausbaugh scored runs, and Kyle Pfefferle took the loss on the mound, with three strikeouts and the walks in four and one-third innings.
Mohawk is at Columbian today.
PEMBERVILLE -- St. Wendelin scored three first inning runs, but the Mohawks could not handle Eastwood's lumber in a 14-4 thumping.
Aaron Rouser got things started on the right track for the Mohawks (0-1) with a three run shot in the top of the first, but the Eagles (1-0) scored 14 of the next 15 runs to win the game in easy fashion.
Ryan Smith single in the only other run for the Mohawks with an RBI single in the third inning.
Mike Shoemaker lasted only three innings for the Mohawks after registering six strikeouts and four walks in taking the loss.
Mark Kahlenberg led the way for the Eagles (1-0) after going 2-for-4 scoring two runs while knocking in another pair.
"This is not what I expected of our team coming out of the gate," said SW coach Paul Feasel. "I thought pitching would be a little sharper, but it was very windy and it was difficult to judge the baseball today. We did some things, though, that there just aren't any excuses for."
CLYDE -- Lyle Brown struck out 13 Fostoria hitters and Clyde beat the Redmen 10-1 in the season-opener for both teams.
The Fliers scored nine runs in the third and fourth innings.
"It didn't help us that we had four errors," Fostoria coach Brent Liskai said. "When we swung at strikes, we got our six hits, but we chased his curveball all night and that's where the 13 strikeouts came from."
Josh Dawson had a triple as one of his two hits and scored Fostoria's only run. Jason Wagner had two hits and an RBI for the Redmen. Tony Agapiou and Ryan Headley each doubled.
Andy Burley took the loss, striking out two and walking two in three innings. Andy Burley went the other three innings, giving up three hits and striking out two.
Fostoria is at home today against Lakota.
OAK HARBOR -- Oak Harbor scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the score against Lakota, and the game was called an 11-11 tie due to darkness.
The Raiders, who travel to Fostoria today, built the lead with five runs in the top of the fifth inning, making the score 9-4.
Starting pitcher Dan Burdette struck out eight and walked four for Lakota, giving up five runs on eight hits in four innings. Duncan Harman finished up, surrendering six runs on six hits and striking out four in three innings.
Shawn Babcock and Steve Adams each went 2-for-3 at the plate for Lakota. Babcock scored three runs and drove in two and Adams scored twice and had one RBI.
Lakota is at Fostoria today.