Anthony Wayne
wiggled out of a huge jam and then won a
crucial Northern Lakes League battle
over Northview on Mike Irwin's clutch
double with two outs in the last inning.
The dramatic game-winning RBI came
right after the Wildcats had loaded the
bases with no outs and failed to score
in the top of the seventh with the score
knotted at 4.
The teams entered yesterday's game with
one loss apiece in league play, but AW
emerged with a 5-4 win and took control
of the chase for the NLL title.
The Generals rallied from an early
4-0 deficit and improved to 6-1.
Northview got all four runs on two home
runs, but fell to 7-2. Every other team
in the NLL has at least three losses.
In the bottom of the seventh, AW junior
Cody Stidham singled with two outs.
Irwin then came up with what he said was
the hit of his life. He doubled to right
center field, the ball taking one bounce
and hitting the wall,
allowing Stidham to score the winning
run from first base.
"I'm fired up," Irwin said. "I saw
the ball real well and I hit it on the
button. We pulled out the win."
Irwin, who leads the team with a .448
average, said getting out of the jam in
the seventh pumped the team full of
adrenaline.
"It was a nail biter, no doubt,"
Anthony Wayne coach Mark Nell said. "Mikey
hit a missile. He's been clutch from the
get go."
In the seventh, the Wildcats loaded the
bases with no outs on a walk, an error
and an intentional walk.
Sherman got the first out at home
plate on a fielder's choice. Matt
Colville then popped out to shallow
center field and shortstop Ryan Chipka
threw home, catching Zach Strauss in a
run down. Northview coach Kevin
Danzeisen said he sent Strauss on the
play, and Strauss was doubled up to end
the inning.
"I thought for sure we would cash in
there, but baseball's a funny game,"
Danzeisen said.
Junior pitcher Nate Sherman gave up
six hits, but did not allow a run after
the third inning.
"We had some chances early, in the
middle and late. But we couldn't cash
in," Danzeisen said. "I tip my cap to
them. But baseball's a marathon. There's
still a lot of baseball to be played."
Northview pitcher Brian Koehl hit a
three-run home run and gave up eight
hits.
Colville, who leads Northview with a
.468 average, smacked a solo home run to
dead center field to lead off the second
inning. Colville's fourth homer of the
season traveled about 375 feet and made
it 1-0. Northview then jumped out to a
4-0 lead on Koehl's three-run shot with
two outs in the third inning.
Stidham singled and scored on a
fielder's choice to make it 4-1 in the
fourth inning. AW tied it with four
consecutive singles in the sixth inning.
Irwin, Chipka and Sherman all singled
and scored to tie it at 4.
It was the second time AW, the defending
NLL champ, beat Northview this season.
"This was a big win," Nell said.
"They have a great team. They may be the
best hitting team in northwest Ohio."
Contact Mark Monroe at:
mmonroe@theblade.com
or 419-724-6110.