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MASON, Ohio - The winner’s bracket proved to be an early gauntlet to emerge through as the first day and four games of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Baseball Championship went final at PRASCO Park on Wednesday.
Three of the games were decided by one run and two of those decisions were via walk-off style as No. 4 (South) Walsh), No. 1 (South) Kentucky Wesleyan, No. 2 (North) Findlay and No. 3 (North) Hillsdale enjoyed satisfying wins.
No. 3 (South) Ohio Valley, No. 2 (South) Trevecca, No. 4 (North) Findlay and No. 1 (North) Ohio Dominican are playing for their season today with one loss in the double-elimination tournament.
There was just one lightning delay in an otherwise beautiful day at the ballpark with temperatures in the upper 70’s and plenty of activities for the fans and spectators.
Playing the role of hero with bottom of the ninth inning blasts was Malone all-conference outfielder Todd Ropp and Kentucky Wesleyan’s Cam Curry, who launched no-doubters for their respective teams.
A slugfest unfolded in the first game in the bracket as Ohio Valley led Malone 4-1 going into the bottom of the third inning. The Pioneers were able to reclaim the lead by the bottom of the fifth frame before an 8-8 tie formed in the top half of the eighth.
Enter Ropp, the senior, who pulled an offering down the left-field line to end it and jump into the waiting arms of teammates celebrating at home plate.
The emotion carried over to PRASCO Park in a battle between Kentucky Wesleyan and Findlay. Freshman catcher Ryan O’ Malley did his best to carry the Oilers with a two-run home run in the left-center power alley and cleared the bases with a three-run double.
But the defending conference tournament Panthers, many showcasing shaved heads as a tribute to head coach Todd Lillpop, have been in this situation before and came through in the clutch.
Senior third baseman Andrew Kirkland clobbered a two-run blast in the sixth, and that was sandwiched by homers from teammates Levi Tanner and Joseph Burke (his 20th of the spring). After a fly out and ground out to start the bottom of the ninth, Curry stepped in and went yard against Findlay closer Josh Robinson, who was bidding to add to his single-season saves league record.
First-team all-conference outfielder Cody Bridges, one of last year’s many postseason stalwarts for KWC, was a perfect 5-for-5 at the dish.
In spitting rain, Hillsdale sophomore pitcher Andrew Verbrugge and freshman closer David Toth combined to help take down Trevecca in the Chargers’ first postseason appearance. Verbrugge’s low three-quarter arm slot stymied the Trojans’ bats as he tossed eight strong innings with five strikeouts and gave up just one unearned run on seven hits.
The game-winning RBI was courtesy of senior infield Alex Walts, who lined a two-run single into center.
The Trojans were bidding for the third walk-off finish of the tournament against Toth, who picked up save No. 10 for the Chargers. TNU had the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but the final out of the game was a sharp liner into right.
The evening finale featured Walsh vs. Ohio Dominican, a matchup on paper that would favor the North Division champion Panthers. But the Cavaliers weren’t intimidated, especially after having won against ODU once in the regular season.
The confidence carried over into the arms of Hyatt Shenefield and Justin Hovorka, who combined for a seven-hitter to slow down the high-powered Panthers’ offense. ODU also had a chance in their final at-bat followed an unintentional intentional free pass to Great Midwest Player of the Year Justin Childers.
The final out was a loud one as Colin Kaucher had a ringing line drive into the right-center gap, but settled into the glove to end it. Marcus Bobb set the tone for the Cavaliers at the top of the order with a 4-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored.