Saturday, May 23, 1998

Calvert in regionals; 1st time since '59

By Dave Feltner
Sports Editor

NORTH ROBINSON - The last time a Calvert baseball team found itself in this position, someone named Eisenhower was in the Oval Office and its current head coach hadn't even been born yet. So, understandably, nerves were getting the better part of the Senecas.

''From the coaching staff, to the players, to the bus driver, everybody was nervous,'' coach Rick Demith admitted. ''Heck, the last time we had gotten this far was 1959, so we were definitely nervous.''

Fortunately, it wasn't something that a few home runs and another 10-run inning couldn't cure.

For the second time in the district tournament the Senecas posted 10 runs in an inning. Only this time it propelled them to the school's first-ever district championship after a convincing 17-6 victory over Crestline.

The Senecas now face Southington Chalker in a 1:30 p.m. Friday game at Margaretta High School. Chalker nipped Columbiana, 3-1, to win the Struthers District. The other regional semifinal has St. Wendelin taking on Kidron Central Christian.

In what was a rollercoaster of emotions for both Calvert and Crestline, the Senecas once led 5-0, then trailed 6-5 before finally putting the 10-run rule on the Bulldogs in with a 10-run fifth.

The 17 runs is nothing new for the Senecas at Colonel Crawford High School. In four games this season on the Eagles' turf, Calvert is 4-0 and has scored an incredible 62 runs.

Against the Bulldogs, Tom Puffenberger, Tim Schumm and Brennon Schank all belted home runs, with Schank providing the kill shot, a two-out grand slam in the fifth.

''We feel real comfortable here; this is defintely a hitters' park to us,'' Demith said. ''Brennon's only two homers this season have come here, all of Tommy's homers have come here. We just flat out came ready to hit.

''What's even more amazing about the 17 runs is look at our three and four hitters. They did nothing.''

Calvert's No. 2-5 hitters (Matt Coleman, Matt Kleinhenz, Joe Elchert and Jeremy Marinis) were a combined 2-13 and did not drive in a run.

But Schank, Tim Schumm and Dustyn Risner (the No. 6-8 hitters) combined to go 7-11, with nine RBI and nine runs. And Puffenberger, the lead-off hitter, did the most damage, going 3-5 with five RBI and a pair of runs.

''Stuff like that happens,'' Crestline coach Jon Smith said. ''I mean Calvert hit the ball around. They're a good hitting team. We had some troubles defensively, fielding bunts, but you can't field balls when they're hitting them over the fence.''

The inability to field the bunt Smith spoke of is what opened the flood gates for the Senecas in the fifth. In that inning, the first eight Senecas not only reached base, but they all came around to score.

Marinis walked to lead it off and Schank reached on an error. Schumm laid down what was to be a sacrifice bunt, but reached when pitcher Gabe Helbert couldn't get a handle on the ball.

Risner then walked to bring home Marinis and Schank scored on a wild pitch to make it 9-6.

Eric Lee walked to reload the bases and Puffenberger laced a single down the right-field line to knock in Schumm and Risner for an 11-6 advantage.

Lee crossed the plate after another wild pitch, this one from reliever TrevorMoyer, and Coleman and Kleinhenz drew walks to load the bases again.

Moyer then struck out Elchert and got Marinis to line to second for the inning's first two outs.

But Schank followed with a blast on a 2-1 pitch that cleared the fence in center field to make it 16-6. Schumm then singled and came home on Risner's double, his second of the game.

Then Puffenberger, working in his second inning of relief, struck out two in the bottom of the fifth to secure the victory.

Puffenberger went 2 2/3 innings in relief of starter Matt Coleman to pick up the victory. Coleman went the first 2 1/3, giving up six runs (three earned) on three hits and three walks.

''We've been getting excellent pitching for about the last three weeks,'' Demith said. ''I know Matt struggled a bit today, but I think you could tell he was nervous and he had a little trouble finding the strike zone.

''But Puffenberger came in and did a great job,'' he said. ''(Kleinhenz) did the same thing the other day. He's been almost untouchable. I know Matt had some trouble, but when he goes back out there on Friday - and he will be our starter - I know he'll have a great game.''