Friday, April 24, 1998

TC's Woodland drives home game-winner

Columbian pitcher Chad Overmier pitched just one-third of an inning, but picked up the victory in the Tornadoes' 6-5 win over Upper Sandusky.

Overmier relieved starter Jeff Biller with two outs in the seventh inning with the score tied 5-5, and got out the only hitter he faced.

Then, Tony Seitz led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk and stole second base. Keith Woodland follwed with a single, bringing home Seitz with the winning run.

The Rams' Greg Prenger fired a complete game, walking five and striking out five.

The win evens Columbian's record at 6-6, 2-3 in the Northern Ohio League. Upper Sandusky slips to 4-9, 2-3.

''Prenger did a heck of a job,'' Columbian coach Adam Schmucker said. ''He really kept us in control. We only had two hits that went out of the infield. If you look at the game by just who hit the ball hardest, Upper would have won. They played a pretty sound game until they gave us three runs in the fifth inning.''

Biller had Columbian's lone extra base hit, a double. Woodland and Brad Shaffer each two hits, and Luke Wilson and Lance Runion.

Ryan Allen (two hits), Greg Prenger (two hits), J.J. Minehart (two hits) and Andy Hart all doubled for the Rams. Eric Trautwein contributed two hits.