Moeller High School 1999-2000 Baseball Articles

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Regional rivals face off again Rivalry: Two schools respect each other__ Moeller, St. I State semifinals in state semis

By Michael Perry The C!ncinnati Enquirer

The two all-male high schools are separated by roughly 240 miles, yet they are' hardly strangers.

Cincinnati's Archbishop Moeller and Cleveland's St. Ignatius, which meet today in the baseball state semifi· nals in Columbus, possess :perhaps the most successful overall Division I athletic programs among Ohio's Catholic high schools.

Both have built reputations on football but have also combined to win team state titles in basketball, baseball,. wrestling, volley-

Baseball: Moeller vs. St Ignatius 11 a.m., today in Columbus Softball: Northwest vs. Hilliard Darby, 3 p.m. today in Ashland.

ball, cross country, ice hockey and lacrosse, not to mention individual championships in golf, swimming, track, wrestling and cross country.

Moeller is bidding for its fourth baseball championship. Ignatius is making its fifth state final four appearance but has yet to win it all.

"With Ignatius and Moe)Ier, there's a different aura about ·the game," said St. Ignatius baseball coach Brian Morgan, a 1993 graduate of the school. "You know if we beat them or they beat us, people are going to say you

beat one of the best teams in the state. That's in everything. Football. Basketball."

Last fall, St. Ignatius broke a tie with Moeller and set a state record with its eighth football championship.

Moeller is 0-4 all-time against Ignatius in football,· including two losses in state championship games (1989, '93). The schools have split four baseball games. In other sports, neither has a notable edge, claim their athletic directors. ·' "You say 'St. Ignatius' and ·our kids know who they are, they know their reputation and they have a great deal of respect for them," Moeller baseball coach Mike Carner0 ~ said. / See RIVALRY, Page DS 1

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Ditto for the Ignatius ath- Tale of &...J..·letes.

Only distance prevents this from becoming an even more St. Ignatius Moeller special and unique competition.

Location And today the stakes are high: Cleveland Cincinnati District the winner advances to SaturSouthwest Northeast day's championship game.

Nickname "It's better this way beCrusaders cause the victory is sweeter," Wildcats Grades 10·12 Cameron said. "You're beating I ,005 students 684 students such a good baseball program Sports ..,13 and a great athletic tradition." 13 Team state titles " : Athletic director Dick Beer12 ~.15 man has been at Moeller for St. I: Football 8, cross country 2, 25 years. Dale Gabor is in his wrestling I , ice hockey I 17th year as AD and 26th Moeller: Football 7, baseball 3, year overall at St. Ignatius. volleyball 2, lacrosse 2, ~~~ Both talk about the basketball! healthy respect the schools lnfonnation.from schooL~' "" uo-. have for each other, the athletic directors . "good, fun rivalry," and the · h reasons why each has been able to build such a success- to wm a state c ampionship in football, they saw the ful athletic program. commitment that was necesThey believe it comes sary, and they just jump'e<l'on down to: board and said they vic!'nted • Parental support: "It to do the same thing."rit's doesn't matter whether it's that old cliche, winning the '70s or the new millenni- bree ds wmmng. · · " • ... urn here, our parents' support In some cases, the slil:cess has been at the highest possi- can cause disenchantment.ble level throughout," Beer- to use Gabor's woro,.:.. man said. around the state. _.::;:· • Quality and longevity of Morgan tells his players coaches: Cameron is in his that each opponent considers 32nd season as Moeller's its game against Ignatius.,as baseball coach. Steve Klonne a World Series. Moelleroleels has been football coach since th e same way. .• 1981. "Almost everyone of "Every game we::'play our head coaches has been in against somebody, they?<re service 10 years or more in going to play their best·game their sport at this school," because they want to .. 1:5eat Beerman said. .

Moeller," said senior ~o'rt• Discipline: "To be per- stop Brian Reisert, who also fectly candid," Beerman quarterbacked the. Cmsadsaid, "I don't think any ers' football team. ",T.bat school's or any individual's makes some team's se.a.sons. discipline is what it was 10 They'll go to their banquets years ago, but I think our and talk about beating Moelprograms are still run at ler; who cares if they••w.ere something approaching a 2-20 or whatever?" .:.:J. high discipline level."· From that aspect, itls-~an Expectations are high on even playing field today~ and off the field of play.

Moeller and St. Ignatius . The majority of athletic are not intimidated or, aw,ed teams at each school begin by each other.

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They expect a tough their seasons with the oftenrealistic goal of winning - or game. They expect to ..have at least challenging for - a to play well to win. , state title.

"All the mystique and all "It begins with football," the history kind of e-ancel Gabor said. "They set the ·each other out," Mor.gan bar by which all the teams said. "It comes down to;,w)lo wanted to be compared. The plays better, it comes down other teams saw what it took. to the actual game." _::~:

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Moellef-St. Ignatius meet in Semis Crusaders seek 4th state championship

By Dave Schutte

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llze Cincinnati E1rquirer

The spirited rivalry between Moeller and Cleveland St. Ignatius usually is reserved for football.

At 11 a.m. today in Columbus it expands to baseball, as the Crusaders and Wildcats play in the Division I state semifinals.

The winner advances to Saturday's state championship game against Toledo Start or Dublin Coffman.

Scott Byrnes will pitch for Moeller.

In 10 outings this season, Byrnes is 82, striking out 64 in 64 innings and walking only seven.

St. Ignatius will counter with undefeated john Baco, a senior right-hander who is 8-0 with a 1.98 ERA "We had a scout at St. I's regional game, and I also talked \vith Bill Slinger (St. Xavier coach)," Moeller coach Mike Cameron said. "I understand they are a good defensive team that hits for power."

St. Ignatius is making its fifth appearance in the state semifinals and is 24-5 this year. The Wildcats haven't won in their four previous state semifinal appearances.

Moeller has made three previous appearances and won the state title in 1972, '89 and '93, all under Cameron.

"I remember the first trip to state in 1972," Cameron said. 'The bus broke

down on I-71 around the Wilmington exit. We tried to find transportation, but the players ended up thumbing a ride."

"About 15 minutes before the game, a van with psychedelic paint and the radio blaring pulled into the parking lot. Four of our players . jumped out and ran into the stadium."

Cameron isn't preparing for anything like that again, but he is preparing his team for Baco and right fielder Dave Gresky.

"I understand (Gresky) is their best player," Cameron said. "He hits for power and also has a strong arm."

Gresky, the third batter in the Wildcats lineup, hits .486 with school records of 10 home runs and 50 RBI. St. Ignatius averages five runs a .

game.

Andy Hargrove, the son .of Baltimore manager Mike, is another key player. Besides pitching a no-hitter against Elyria in the regional championship game, Hargrove plays first base and bats .425.

Second' baseman Sanford Hejduk has driven in 25 runs and bats .422.

The Wildcats are coached by Brian Morgan, a former St. Ignatius player who pitched in the 1993 state semifinals and went on to play for the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.

'They are very patient at bat," Cameron .said. 'We will be challenged. Traditionally, the other three teams that make. the semifinals play good, fundamental,~aseball."

CCDS }o~~ig-four opponent beat;n~ut th~

After Hills and Lakota, both AAA schools, the Cincinnati Country Day School Indians fell to an excellent Moeller baseball squad in the semifinals of the coaches classic last week.

Moeller impressively walked

through Its bracket of Both schools went Into It tournament until it ran into sporting excellent years against CCDS. The Crusaders abused hard competition.

CCDS ¡ several AAA schools showing jumped out in front early and almost no effort while improving their record to 6-0. appeared to be on its way to another defeat of a AAA ball ¡~ club (CCDS is a single-A Team).

Then came the showdown.

Moeller in a good outing¡ But Moeller hung tight until the seventh Inning, trailing by two

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runs the club pulled out the CCDS is 7-1 and Moeller is 7-0 victory 7-6. for the year.

Moeller-St. Ignatius meet hf semis Crusaders seek 4th state championship

By Dave Schutte

t -;L..-(50

The Cincinnati Enquirer

The spirited rivalry between Moeller and Cleveland St. Ignatius usually is reserved for footbalt At 11 a.m. today in Columbus it expands to baseball, as the Crusaders and Wildcats play in the Division I state semifinals.

The winner advances to Saturday's state championship game against Toledo Start or Dublin Coffman.

Scott Byrnes will pitch for Moeller.

In 10 outings this season, Byrnes is 82, striking out 64 in 64 innings and walking only seven.

St. Ignatius will counter with undefeated John Baco, a senior right-hander who is 8-0 with a 1.98 ERA ''We had a scout at St. I's regional game, and I also talked 'vith Bill Slinger (St Xavier coach)," Moeller coach Mike Cameron said. "I understand they are a good defensive team that hits for power."

St. Ignatius is making its fifth appearance in the state semifinals and is 24-5 this year. The Wildcats haven't won in their four previous state semifinal appearances.

Moeller has made three previous appearances and won the state title in 1972, '89 and '93, all under Cameron.

"I remember the first trip to state in 1972," Cameron said. 'The bus broke

down on 1-71 around the Wilmington exit We tried to find transportation, but the players ended up thumbing a ride."

"About 15 minutes before the game, a van with psychedelic paint and the radio blaring pulled into the parking lot. Four of our players . jumped out and ran into the stadium."

Cameron isn't preparing for anything like that again, but he is preparing his team for Baco and right fielder Dave Gresky. .

"I understand (Gresky) is their best player," Cameron said. "He hits for power and also has a strong arm."

Gresky, the third batter in the Wildcats lineup, hits .486 with school records of 10 home.runs and 50 RBL St. Ignatius averages five runs a .

game.

Andy Hargrove, the son . of Baltimore manager Mike, is another key player. Besides pitching a no-hitter against Elyria in the regional championship game, Hargrove plays first base and bats .425.

Second" baseman Sanford Hejduk has driven in 25 runs and bats .422.

The Wildcats are coached by Brian Morgan, a former St Ignatius player who pitched in the 1993 state semifinals and went on to play for the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.

'They are very patient at bat," Cameron .said. "We will be challenged. Traditionally, the other three teams that make the semifinals play good, fundamental,~aseball."

CCDS }o~~ig-four opponent beating~t th~ After

Hills and

Lakota, both AAA schools, the Cincinnati CountJY Day School Indians fell to an excellent Moeller baseball squad in the semifinals of the coaches classic last week.

Moeller impressively walked

through tts bracket of

Both schools went tnto tt

tournament until it .ran into sporting excellent years against CCDS. The Crusaders abused hard competition.

CCDS' several AAA schools showing jumped out in front early and almost no effort while improving · their record to 6-0. appeared to be on its way to another defeat of a AAA ball Then came the showdown. club (CCDS is a single-A Team).

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Moeller· in a good outing ·But Moeller hung tight until the seventh inning. trailing by two

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runs the club pulled out the CCDS is 7-1 and Moeller is 7-0 vidOJY .7-6. for the year.

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Brett Smith Cin.Country Day Junior PISS DIV Player of Year Record: 4-1, 0.93 ERA, Avg.: .582·

Matt .Davis Mason Senior P/OF Batting Avg: .403, 32 RBI

Ryan .

Pettit Fairfield Senior infielder Batting Avg.: .541, 28 RBI

Shawn .

Aichele Western Hills Junior infielder 1 Batting Avg.: .441, 32 RBI - '

. Lewis 'Jones Hamilton Senior infielder Batting Avg.: .317, 25 RBI

David .Novosel Colerain Senior infielder Batting Avg.: .423, 27 RBI

Terry Stone Hamilton· .

Senior infielder Batting Avg.:· .370, 29 RBI

Dan Bachman Elder Senior pitcher Record: 8-1, 0.45 ERA

John 'Eifring Madeira Senior pitcher Record: 7-1, 1.18 ERA

Pope· Wyoming Western Brown Soph. infielder · Senior infielder Batting Avg.: · Batting Avg.: .553 .537

Tim Aaron Dunn Brown · Cin. Country Day Elder Coach of Year Senior infielder Re-cord:21 :7 - -Batting Avg.: Sectional and .486, 24 RBI District Champs

Zach Steve Zeigler_ Soli mann · Glen Este St. Xavier Senior outfielder Senior catcher Batting Avg.: Batting Avg.: .406, 22 R, 10 .390, 30 RBI. SB, 18 RBI

Roger Drake Goshen Junior P/lnf.

Batting Avg.: .517

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Moe falls 5-4 to 1St. 'I in state semis

By Jason Norman

Staff Reporter , , The lucky charm lu•Jcllt;;il School's baseball tea.m with it through this wasn't with the Crusaders ; needed it most.

Moeller lost 5-4 during the Division I June 2 to Cleveland Bill Davis Stadium in ColuolbtliS, · The winning run ~1ghth inning off the · senior center fielder 1 !vfoms lifted a sacrifice field scoring Bill up at third base. the inning with a triple. ' "I got up it up Moeller starting pitcher s~d of the triple. Byrnes tough game to be(:au:se so close at the end. we gave it away," he Moeller's Paul a·s he caught and didn't have enough get it home in time. Accortltlll:t Byrnes, Frietch was mononucleosis.

Moeller committed the game, c:ompared Ignatius.

"You can't give Ignatius that many Cameron, Moeller coach. "We couldn't cmn.mn el:rors. St. Ignatius is guod · Byrnes said, "The field wasn't in 1 as a good as shape as we thought." · He said there were some bad hops . attributed to the field conditions and . the wind also contributed to some of t}le sloppiness. ' 'The ga.me started bleakly for Moeller when St. Ignatius scored three runs on three hits in the second j:nning and the Crusaders were down 1

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Moeller High School junlor Tyler Tabler provided most of the offense for the Crusaders, belting a solo home run and hitting a two-RBI double during a 54 loss to St. Ignatius.

pitcher John Baco in the third inning got the Crusaders back in the game and awakened the crowd.

"That woke up our student body," Cameron said.

"They 'Yeren' t out of it," Cameron said of his team. "They • Moeller struck back with one had that spirit all year." swing of junior Tyler Tabler's bat.

Moeller's big inning came in the Tabler's solo homer off Ignatius fifth when they tied the game,

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thanks again to Tabler and his double off Baco that knocked in two runs. In the sixth inning Brian Reisert tripled in Frietch, giving the Crusaders their first lead of the game.

Three outs away from their fourth appearance in the state championship game, Byrnes couldn't hold the lead.

Barry French singled in Joe Koussa, taking the game into extra innings.

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Byrnes wants 2nd state t~tle at Moeller.

By-~e/S~'ulfe~ The Cincinnati Enquirer

One state championship title is usually enough to satisfy a high school athlete.

That's not the case with Scott Byrnes, the ace of Moeller's pitching staff who would like to¡ add a second state title before graduating next year.

A member of Moeller's 1999 state championship basketball team, Byrnes will be on the mound Friday when the Crusaders play Cleveland St. Ignatius in the Division l state baseball semifinals at Ohio State University.

"I played about 15 minutes a game for the basket-

ball team," said Byrnes, a junior. "Tyler (Tabler) and I are the only baseball players who were on the team, and we'd like to also win in baseball."

During Moeller's baseball tournament run, Byrnes has been the catalyst, winning three games, including a 6-5 victory over St. ,Xavier ~n Paul Frietch's grand slam m the seventh inning.

Last year, Byrnes wasn't moved up to varsity until early May because of the prolonged basketball season. He pitched the first month for the junior varsity.

"Scotty's arm wasn't ready, because the baske~: ball season ran so late, Moeller coach Mike Cameron said. "He pitched one good game against Hamilton and beat them 4-2 but also had some rough outings."

See BYRNES, Page 87

From Page Bl Cameron challenged Byrnes to work on becoming the complete pitcher during the summer.

"Scotty needed to learn how to field the position, hold runners on base and spot his pitches better," Cameron said.

"Becoming a complete pitcher also includes learning the proper preparation from start to ¡start.

Pitchers develop a routine. Some don't throw at all the day after a start, while some toss long."

Byrnes accepted the challenge.

"Last year I tried to overpower most batters," Byrnes said. "I was getting ripped pretty good and quickly came to realize that I had to change."

Byrnes' has completed nine of 10 games for an 8-2 record (both losses¡ to Elder), pitching 64 innings, striking out 64 and walking only seven.

Byrnes' best pitch is a curve that most opponents have had trouble hitting. This, coupled with a fastball that has been clocked at 86-87 mph, makes Byrnes even more effective.

"Scotty's biggest area of improvement is control and loca~ tion," Cameron said . . In Moeller's regional semifinal victory over Miamisburg, Byrnes was ahead on the count against 22 of the 25 batters he faced.

Cameron's original plans didn't include Byrnes taking over as the No. 1. starter. But when Jason Ranz went down with shoulder tendinitis, Byrnes got the call.

During the final week of the regular season, Moeller's hopes almost went out the window when Byrnes was hit in the pitching arm by a line drive off the bat of Elder's Richie Jones.

"I heard a crack and thought the season was over," Byrnes said. "It turned out to be a bruise, and I didn't miss a turn."

When Byrne.s is on the mound, the Crusaders play with confidence.

"The kids believe we can't be beaten when Scotty is pitching," Cameron said. "It's one of those things you want kids to feel.''

Byrnes is ready for St. Ignatius.

"All the football players remember that St. Ignatius beat us two years ago, and they want us to do well," Byrnes said. "There's no bad teams at state, and I'm looking forward to the challenge."

Moeller advanres to .state Stars aplenty in 5-4 win over '99 champ Elder !:;-

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By Dave Schutte

The Cincinnati E11quirer

FAIRBORN - Moeller could have had four players of the game: Paul Frietch, Brian Reisert, Jason Ranz and Dave McGuffey, All four contributed significantly in the Crusaders' 5-4 victory over defending state champion Elder in the Division I regional championship game Monday.

Moeller advances to the Division I state semifinals against Cleveland St. Igna-

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F 'd . n ay at Ohto State Uruverstty.

"What a great high school game and what memories these kids will have," Moeller coach Mike Cameron said. "The players were confident froin the start, and when we fell three runs behind, I could see it in their eyes that three runs wouldn't win the game." .Moeller led only once, but when it counted the most.

Tied, 4-4 going into the bottom of the seventh, the Crusaders scored the wintm~ at 11 a..m.

ning run without hitting the ball out of the infield.

Designated hitter Scott Byrnes reached second on an infield single and error off Elder ace Dan Bachman, who had replaced starter Tom Spille in the fifth inning.

Frietch was then intentionally walked, with McGuffey put in as a pinch runner.

Adam Visnic reached first on an error by Elder shortstop Chris Braun on a tailor-made double-play ball, loading the bases with no outs, Justin McNeely hit a ground ball that Braun fielded and threw home to' easily get Byrnes on a force. Reisert followed with an. opposite-field groundet that

Rosenacker fielded. But McGuffey beat the throw home,· setting off a wild celebration.

"As soon as the ball was hit, I put my head down and ran as hard as I could toward the plate," McGuffey said. "I looked up and hoped the umpire didn't call me out."

Reisert, who was hitless in two previous at bats, had only one thing in mind.

"I struggled early, and all I wanted to do was hit the ball hard," Reisert said.

"I've dreamed of winning a state football championship, _but now it will have to be in baseball instead." · The seventh-inning rally See MOELLER, Page DS

Moeller: Dethrones Elder 5-4: EtJO.. ~I ~ol 0 :.)

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Jason out in the first inning," Cameron said. "But M .settled down ana pitched a good may have meant nothing if if Division I game." wasn't for a spectacular state pairings Ranz, the losing pitcher in catch by Frietch in right fie!d Friday at Ohio State Moeller's 10-0 loss to Elder with two Elder runners on m • Moeller vs. Cleveland St. in the 1999 regional champithe top of the seventhR. . h' II a.m.

With two outs, tc 1e Ignatius, onship game, was relieved.

• Dublin Coffman vs. Toledo jones drew a walk from Ranz Start, 3 p.m.

"I didn't have a chance to and reached second on an · Championship get into the groove iJ); the Saturday, 3 p.m. error. first inning," Ranz said. "I Aaron Brown, Eld er , s· was overthrowing and it was No.4 hitter,- stepped to the plate and on a 2-1 pitch, sent it hung up there long enough hard getting use to the pitch"' a line drive into right-center to be caught," Elder coach ing mound."

Mter the first, Rani althat appeared to be in t~e Mark Thompson said. ''But gap. But Frietch made a div- Ranz was the difference.' He lowed only one hit wi~ t~e in~ catch. settled down after the first only run unearned, co"!-mg m 'I always seen to get a inning and pitched a good the fifth on two errors. good jump on the ball," Bachman suffered the loss, game." · Frietch said. "I ran as hard A victim of two Moeller his first as a varsity p:if.cher as I could to the spot where I errors Ranz allowed three for the Panthers. ·•~ thought the ball would be. I runs i~ the first inning while Elder ..........................300 010 0,.. : : ...................... 010 210 1•1 E looked up and then lunged giving up three hits before Moeller WP-Ranz. LP-Bachman. Hitting leaders: Rosl!lllltker 2 R81. M-Terwllllger 28, R8r, Tabler for it."

Byrnes RBI· Reisert RBI. Retords:·"I thought there was no retiring the next 11 batters. R81· "I thought about taking 22.6. Elder 22·S. Attendance: 1,355 paid. chance to catch the ball, but From Page Dl

Hij scho~l ba~eb~lll Moeller 5, Elder 4 s--Jo-c& ·

The Cincinnati Enquirer/ JEFF SWINGEF

Moeller's Dave McGuffy (30) is greeted by Paul Frietch (center) and other teammates after sccning:t.~~~-yyjn_niQg r\!Q.:l!l~E.nday's ;r~gio~al.

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A tale of two pitchers. , . FAIRBORN, Ohio- Dan Bach: . man didn't know how it felt to ' walk off the field as the losing ; pitcher. This was all new to the Elder senior.

-~ Bachman hadn't been shelled uring his one inning-plus of ~, ork. He had allowed only one 1hit, but he was on the mound \when Moeller scored the winning in its 5-4 win against the 'Panthers in the Division I Regional title game Monday at Wright State University.

He was the losing pitcher for the first time after 17 _BILL KOCH straight wins in two seasons.

More important, his Panthers wouldn't return to Columbus next week with a chance to repeat as state champs.

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. "Why couldn't I strike everybody out?" he thought as he walked toward the dugout and watched the Moeller players celebrate much the same way he and I his teammates had a year earlier.

It had been quite an afternoon.

More than 1,300 fans had sacrificed their Memorial Day holiday, made the hour-long drive up I-75 and settled in to watch the two best high school baseball teams in Cincinnati. 路 But this was more than baseball. This was Moeller vs. Elder.

East vs. West. A Greater Catholic League showcase. A Taste of Cincinnati just outside Dayton.

The teams had waited through days of rainou'ts for this. But for i Moeller right-hander Jason Ranz i the wait had been much longer.

Ranz took the loss last year when Elder beat the Crusaders, 10路0, in ; the regionill final on the way to its , lltb state title. Ever since, he had been hoping for redemption.

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"I was praying for it," he said.

Ranz got his second chance 1 Monday and responded by walk: ing leadoff hitter Richie Jones on four pitches. When the first inning was over, Moeller had two , errors and Elder had a 3-0 lead.

"It was similar to last year when we kicked the ball around and Ranz was pitching," Moeller coach Mike Cameron said.

Talk about a gutsy kid. Ranz was one batter away from getting the hook, one batter away from having to sit on the bench and think about how he would live with this the way he had lived with what happened last year.

And this time, there wouldn't be a chance to set things right.

But then he got Elder's Jeff Lammers to fly to right and recorded the third out on Craig Gates' fielder's choice grounder to second. He retired the next nine Elder hitters before an error led to Elder's fourth run.

"1 just pitched my game," Ranz said. "I started hitting my spots, and I settled down."

Bachman, the winner in Elder's regional semifinal Victory Friday, watched from the bench.

When he was called on by coach Matk Thompson to relieve Rick ' Wood in the sixth, the Panthers appeared to have the upper hand, -even though the score was 4-4. '"I thought I was ready," Bachm~said.

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But in the seventh, Bachman's good fortune ran out. Moeller , loaded the bases with nobody out.

Bachman got Justin McNeely to groUnd to short, forcing Scott Byrnes at home. Brian Reisert then hit a sharp grounder to second. Elder's Kurt Rosenacker made a backhanded stab, quickly rose to his feet and fired a low throw to the plate, enabling pinch-runner David McGuffey to ,score the winning run.

Bachman's Elder career was , over. Ranz's redemption was complete. _ After Ranz and his teamm::ttes finished celebrating, after Thompson: addressed the Panthers, Bachman started to make his way off the field for the last time as a high school baseball player. He was wearing the same Elder uniform that his brother, Brian, had 路 worn a few years earlier, that his father, Gary had worn in 1975.

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'"I love Elder baseball," he said: "That's the main reason I came to Elder.

"I'm not going to think about this game for years to come. I'm going to think about my whole career." _Ranz wasn't read~ to reflect. ."It felt great," he said. "Last year, I don't think I got mentally prepared. I was only a junior in my first year pitching for Moeller.

I didn't know what to expect."

This time, he knew.

Moeller victorious on dramatic grand slam Post staff report

With his team one strike away from tournament elimination, . Moeller High School junior right fielder Paul Frietch hit a two-out grand slam on a full-count pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Crusaders a 6-5 win over St. Xavier Wednesday at Midland Complex. · The win advances Moeller to the Division I Cincinnati I upper-bracket sectional final against Glen Este at 3 p.m. Friday at Midland.

ST. XAVIER MOELlER

010 001 3-5 8 1 010 010 ~a 1

Mo-e going back 'ay Jason Norman Staff f\eporter

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·. TheMoeller Crusaders are living by the of their collective pants in postseason play, but the key is they're still living.

Moeller escaped the regionals with a 5-4 vic~ory over last. year's state champ and le<ague rival Elder High School May 29, pro..: ,,P~lling the Crusaders to the state Final Four. s~at

"What you saw were the two best teams ih Cincinnati who battled and knocked each other around,"· Elder head coach Mark Thompson said. "Moeller made some big plays. Hopefully they'll bring it home."

Moeller plays Cleveland St. Ignatius at 11 a.m. June 2 at Ohio State University's Bill Davis Stadium in the state semifinals.

The winner meets either Dublin Coffman

to state ·in .baseball .,r.. .1(- ff/7

High School or )'oledo Start High School in distance. the state fmals scheduled for 3 p.m. SaturDave McGuffey scored the winning run .. . , for Moeller in the seve\J,th when Brian Reisday, June 3. .Moeller last went to and-won the state. ert hit a grounder and the play to the plate tournament in 1993. This Moeller's fourth &uldn't get McGuffey: trip to the Final Four, and the Crusdaders In the regional semifinal game, Scott have never lost in state competition.

Byrnes struck out 10 while going the disJason Ranz got the regional fmal win for ·tance, giving Moeller the 5-1 victory over Moeller, giving up three hits while going the · Miamisburg High School.

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A tale of two pitchers , . FAIRBORN, Ohio- Dan Bach: man didn't know how it felt to : walk off the field as the losing 1 pitcher. This was all new to the Elder seriior. · .

Bachman hadn't been shelled ·. uring his ~me inning-plus of • ork. He had allowed only one i hit, but he was on the mound !when Moeller scored the winning lrun in its 5-4 win against the ·Panthers in the Division I Regional title game Monday at Wright State University.

He was the losing pitcher for the first time after 17 .BILL KOCH straight wins in two seasons.

More important, his Panthers wouldn't return to Columbus next week with a chance to repeat as state champs.

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. "Why couldn't I strike everybody out?" he thought as he walked toward the dugout and watched the Moeller players celebrate much the same way he and Ihis teammates had a year earlier.

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It had been quite an afternoon.

More than 1,300 fans had sacri.ficed their Memorial Day holiday, made the hour-long drive up I-75 and settled in to watch the two best high school baseball teams in Cincinnati.

But this was more than baseball. This was Moeller vs. Elder.

1 East vs. West. A Greater Catholic League showcase. A Taste of Cincinnati just outside Dayton.

I

·

The teams had waited through days of rainotits for this. But for I Moeller right-hander Jason Ranz 1 the wait had been much longer.

Ranz took the loss last year when Elder beat the Crusaders, 10-0, in 1 the regional final on the way to its , llt)l state title. Ever since, he had been hoping for redemption.

"I was praying for it," he said.

Ranz got his second chance I Monday and responded by walk; ing leadoff hitter Richie Jones on four pitches. When the first inning was over, Moeller had two , errors and Elder had a 3-0 lead.

"It was similar to last year when we kicked the ball around and Ranz was pitching." Moeller coach Mike Cameron said.

Talk about a gutsy kid. Ranz was one batter away from getting the hook, one batter away from having to sit on the bench and think about how he would live with this the way he had lived with what happened last year.

And this time, there wouldn't be a chance to set things right.

But then he got Elder's Jeff Lammers to fly to right and re· corded the third out on Craig Gates' fielder's choice grounder to second. He retired the next nine Elder hitters before an error led to Elder's fourth run. "ljust pitched my game," Ranz said. "I started hitting my spots, and I settled down."

Bachman, the winner in El· der's regional semifinal victory Friday, watched from the bench.

When he was called on by coach .Matk Thompson to relieve Rick Wood in the sixth, the Panthers appeared to have the upper hand, -even though the score was 4-4. · '"I thought I was ready," Bachm~nsaid . · - But in the seventh, Bachman's good fortune ran out. Moeller , loaded the bases with nobody out.

Bachman got Justin McNeely to ground to short, forcing Scott Byrnes at home. Brian Reisert then hit a sharp grounder to second. Elder's Kurt Rosenacker made a backhanded stab, quickly rose to his feet and fired a low throw to the plate, enabling pinch-runner David McGuffey to .score the winning run.

Bachman's Elder career was over. Ranz's redemption was complete. . After Ranz and his teammates finished celebrating, after Thompson: addressed the Panthers, Bachman started to make his way off the field for the last time as a high school baseball player. He was wearing the same Elder uniform that his brother, Brian, had · worn a few years earlier, that his father, Gary had worn in 1975. '"I love Elder baseball," he "That's the main reason I came to Elder.

"I'm not going to think about thi's game for years to come. I'm going to think about my whole career." .Ranz wasn't ready to reflect. ."It felt great," he said. "Last year, I don't think I got mentally prepared. I was only a junior in my first year pitching for Moeller.

I didn't know what to expect."

This time, he knew. said~

lyrnes pitches Moeller to. semis r: I ,<>:t.~; f :,:J )

Crusaders .top . •b MlaffilS Urg -

@:r:Dave Schutte

ll.~ncinnati Enquirer

::£AIRBORN - The MoelI~rusaders continue to play·nearly flawless postseason baseball.

Behind an impressive performance by junior pitcher Scotty Byrnes as well as timely..hitting and outstanding defeliS!, the·Crusaders rolled to a~ victory over Miamisbur~ in·the Division I regional senufuiais at Wright State. :Moeller will meet Elder today for the reg1onal championship: and a berth in the Division rstate semifinals. " ~'Scott's been a money pit~her all season," Moeller coach Mike Cameron said.

Byrnes allowed only one rll\l;in the sixth inning on a har'lging curve that Chris Leber sent over the left-field ferice at the 330-foot mark. ~~Y fastball had good tnQ.Vement today, and I was abJG:to throw the curve for ~1'!': SUiiKeS,,, Byrnes said. ••I t ,s ~""". ea~ier pitching with a IJ,.I.I,IW~ l_~d:.~

David McGuffey homered in the first inning with_ ~im Wood on first base, giVIng the Crusaders a 2-0 lead they held until McGuffey hit a two-run blast -in the sixth . for a 4-0 lead.

It was McGuffey's first game in the tournament. He started early in the season before hitting woes sent him to the bench. He started Friday as the designated hitter for catcher Justin McNeely.

"Justin· is a little banged up," Cameron said. " ... David has been swinging the bat well, and that's why he was in there today."

The Crusaders added a final run in the seventh when Paul Frietch hit a single, driving in Wood.

Frietch, a junior right fielder, also threw o.ut one runner at third base in the second inning and another at second in the third inning.

"Those were big plays," Miamisburg coach Karlos Patterson said. "But the Byrnes kid was the difference."

Moonor ...................... 2oo oo2 1-s 1 1 MlomlsburC ................000 001 Cl-1 4 2 WP-Bymes (10 Ks). LP-Holp (8 Ks). Hitting Leaders: Moeller-Byrnes HR. 2 RBI; McGuffey HR. 2 RBI; Frlctch RBI. Mlamlsburg-Leber HR: Schorn· burg 2·3. Reco rds: Miamisburg 23·7, Moeler

22-6.

The Cincinnati Enqu.irerjMICHAEL SNYDEI

Moeller pitcher Scott Byrnes (4) is congratulated by teammates after striking out 10 Miamisburg batters in·a 5-1 victory.

Baseball - Scott Byrnes, Paul Fr~ etch, Justin McNeely and Tyler Tabler: first team; Jason Ranz, Brian Reisert and Adam Visnic, second team.

•

~

MEL\tlN GRIER(The Post

McDeller base runner Mark Terwilliger slid in under the tag of Miamisburg's Keath Deaton Friday at Wright State. Moeller ~ill play rival Elder t-oday at 1 p.m. '

Bytnes pitches Moeller into '~~"'~egional finals

By Kevin Goheen

.

Post contributor

FAIRBORN, Ohio - Friday was Scott Byines' day.

The Moeller senior right-hander blasted a two-run homer to left in the top of the first inning and struck out ·10 as the Crusaders moved on to the Division I regional finals for the second straight season with a 5-1 win against Miamisburg at Wright State University's Nischwitz Stadium.

Moeller meets Elder at 1 p.m. today at Wright State, weather permitting, with the winner moving on to the state serhifinals Thursday at 11 a.m. at .Ohio State University's Bill Davis Stadium. · "My fastball had some movement on it and I had command of my curve," Brynes said.

"When I'm on, I like to go hard in and soft away. I'm a real rhythm pitcher and, with the defense 1playing well behind me, I got in one."

Brynes, who pitched a complete game, retired 13 batters in row until Miamisburg catcher Chris Leber drilled a 1-0 fastball over the left-field fence for the Vikings' lone run.

"I got that one up a little," he said.

It was his lone mistake of the day. Miamis-

burg had a couple of run-scoring opportunities in the first two innings snuffed out by the arm of right fielder Paul Frietch. In the first, he gunned Tim Seigman out as he attempted to go from first to third on a single by Scott Rhule. He cut down Andy Schomburg, in the second, as he tried to stretch a single into a double with a strike to shortstop Brian Re· isert.

"Those were just two good baseball plays by a good baseball player," Miamisburg coach Karlos Patterson said. "It was just an attempt on our part to get something started."

Moeller still held a tenuous 2-0 lead in the sixth before junior designated hitter Dave McGuffy made it a four-run lead with a twoout, two-run homer to left fiekl off Miamisburg pitcher Sam Holp. Holp struck out eight in seven innings, but Brynes and McGuffey found fastballs they could handle.

"He had been throwing first-pitch fastballs and <teammate) Tyler Tabler told me to expect one," McGuffey said. "But it was all Scotty today."

MOELLER MIAMISBURG

200 0021-5 7 1 000 001 0-1 4 2

WP-Byrnes. lP·Holp. Hitling lenders: Moe-Brynes HR. 2 .981: Terwilliger 2·3: McGulley HR. 2 RBI. Mia-Sthomburg 2·3: Leber HR. Records: Moeller 22-6, Miamisburg 23-7.

Moeller wins sectionals-/fU

6

Defeats Glen Este 10-4

By Dave Schutte The Cincinnati Enquirer

After sitting out most of the season with tendinitis in the right shoulder, Moeller pitcher Jason Ranz was eager to return to the lineup.

Relying on his fastball, Ranz turned in five solid innings in Moeller's 10-4 victory Friday over Glen Este in the Division I sectional championship game at Midland Field.

The victory advances Moeller into the District championship 4 p.m. Thursday against Lakota West at Midland Field.

Although Ranz wasn't overpowering, he was in command until allowing three consecutive singles in the sixth inning. john Frank took over and ended the rally.

"I've been off the past 2lf2 weeks," Ranz said. "The arm is feeling better and today I stuck with the fastball. I'm now getting my confidence back and expect to pitch some more in the tour-

r'lament."

Moeller coach Mike Cameron was satisfied with the performance by Ranz, one of the Crusaders' mainstays last season.

"Jason pitched three innings Monday and was free to go today," Cameron said.

"He worked hard on rehab and wanted the ball. He is a workhorse and a very confident player."

Another plus for Ranz was Moeller's five-run outburst in the first inning including joe Neville's base-loaded triple with two outs.

"That was the big hit of the game," Cameron said.

"It came with two out on a two-strike pitch. We would have only been ahead · 2-0 and the way Glen Este has been hitting the ball, we could have been in trouble."

The Crusaders added three runs in the second inning behind Justin McNeely's two-rtin triple.

"It was an inside fastball," McNeely said. "Their pitcher (freshman Landen Dickerson) seemed nervous and 'I sat back on the ball."

Paul Frietch, who hit a grand slam in the seventh inning to beat St. Xavier 6-5

.._~~·'""--"--­

Moeller's winning pitcher Jason Ranz innings and gave up four runs to Gleri Este.

on Wednesday, continued his hot streak. He went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBL "During batting practice at school, the kids were loose," Cameron said. "They were joking and fooling around but once we discussed the pregame, f could see they were focused and

ready to play."

Moeller added two insurance runs in the fourth inning.

Moeller beat Lakota West 10-4 on Monday.

Glen Este •••••••••••••••••••• 120 001 o- 4 8 1 Moeller •.•.••..•••••••••.•.• 530 200 x-10 U 1 WP-Ranz. LP-Dickerson. Hitting Leaders: MBrynes 2-4: McNeely 2-3. 3B, 2 RBI: Frletch 3·3, 2B. 2 RBI: Vlsnlc 2-3: Neville 3B. 3 RBI. G-Kelly 2·3. 3B. 2 RBI: Rieck 2·4: Flte 2·4.

wins No. 600

IState baseball

c. -- ;_ - <J {)

¡Moeller-St. Ignatius meet in senili

1

Crusaders seek 4th state championship

St Ignatius will counter with undefeated John Baco, a senior right-hander who is&> with a 1.98 ERA. "We had a scout at St I's regional game, and I also talked with Bill

By Dave Schutte Jlte Ci11cinnati Enq11irer Slinger (St Xavier coach)," Moeller The spirited rivalry between coach Mike Cameron said. "I underMoeller and Cleveland St Ignatius stand they are a good defensive team football. that hits for power."

St. Ignatius is making its fifth appearance in the state semifinals and is 24-5 this year. The Wildcats haven't won in their four previous state semifinal appearances.

Moeller has made three previous appearances and won the state title in 1972, '89 and '93, all under Cameron.

"I remember the first trip to state in 19.72," Cameron said. 'The bus broke

down on I-71 around the Wilmington exit We tried to find transportation, but the players ended up thumbing a ride." ' "About 15 minutes before the game, a van with psychedelic paint and the radio blaring pulled into the parking lot. Four of our players jumped out and ran into the stadium."

Cameron isn't preparing for anything like that again, but he is preparing his team for Baco and right fielder Dave Gresky.

"I understand (Gresky) is their best player," Cameron said. "He hits for power and also has a strong arm."

Gresky, the third batter in the Wildcats lineup, hits .486 with school records of 10 home runs and 50 RBI. St Ignatius averages five runs a

game.

Andy Hargrove, the son Baltimore manager Mike, is anot key player. Besides pitching a no ter against Elyria 'in the regie championship game, Hargrove pl first base and bats .425.

Second baseman Sanford Hej< has driven in 25 runs and bats .42~ The Wildcats are coached by B1 Morgan, a former St Ignatius pia who pitched in the 1993 state semifir and went on to play for the Universi~ North Carolina-Gretnsboro.

'They are very patient at b; Cameron said. "We will be d lenged. Traditionally, the other th1 teams that make the semifmals p good, fundamental baseball."

Cameron: ,600 wins and oounting Retirement not in coach's immediate plans

By Dave Schutte~-'/ '-il ~'.!)tit~. The Crusaders have a TM Cincinnati Enquirer

. . .

Smce Mike Cameron took over in the 1968 season, .the· Moeller baseball t~am ha~ three st~te c,hamp10nS~ips (1972, 89, 93), 605 victor_es and 17 Gre~ter C~thohc League champiOnships.

Again this season, Moe!ler is in the chase for a state

21-4 record - the 18th season they have won at least 20 games. · _ On Friday (2 p.m.) at ;Wright State University, the Crusaders meet Miamisburg in the Division I regional semifinals with Elder playing Troy in the second game at 5 p.m. .

"When I came to Moe!ler, I was hired in basically

to coach football," said Cameron, who is only the second baseball coach Moeller has ever had. "I asked about baseball and there happened to be an assistant coaching job open."

Cameron spent one year under George Markley before assuming the head coaching job..

"To be honest, I thought I knew a lot about the game

until I attended a baseball clinic at Ohio State," Cameron said. "I walked out thinking that I would never win a game the next season.

I thought I'd never be able to organize a practice like these guys. I was intimidated."

However, Cameron's first year was an overwhelming success. The Buddy Bell-led Crusaders went 20-7 and were the No. 1 seed in the district tournament. But, Moeller lost in the first

game to Purcell ~brian.

"I was pretty cocky after the first 'year," Cameror~ said. "But, the next season we were shot down. We went 12-10 and finished last in the league. This brought me back to reality."

Cameron credits former Moeller/Notre Dame/Akron football coach Gerry Faust and former Moeller and McNicholas basketball

Mike Cameron glance Age: 53 Career: 1968-2000 Career Record: 605269 (1968-2000) 1 Schools: Purcell High School (1959-63) University of Cincinnati ( 1963-67) GCL Titles: 17 (1969, '71, '72, '77, '7ft, '80, '81, '82, '83, '85, '89, '90, '91,2'.92,196,.'9~.·

/!

l/

'98).

0

State t1t1 : 1972, See MOELLER, Page D3

1

1989.)993 ,. ' Drafted players: Ken

~:~·j~:euk~·~a~ ' 11

Moeller: Baseball going

for fourth state crown

l• l I • "1 l- .... From Page D1 ...... . ~ ......

coach Jerry Doerger with much of his success. · "Gerry (Faust) was my mentor," Cameron said. "He took me aside and told me what to expect and offered support. Jerry Doerger was also an influence on me."

Cameron is the first to admit that he has been blessed with many talented players including major-leaguers Ken Griffey, Jr. Buddy Bell, Len Mutuszek, ~arry Larkin, Bill Long and David Bell.

"The only player who I thought was a sure thing was Junior," Cameron said.

Overall, 26 of Cameron's players have signed major-league contracts with more than 80 going on to ,p,lay college baseball.

Never in my wildest dreams did I see this happening to me," Cameron said. "I couldn't have scripted a better career of winning 600 games and coaching so many outstanding plt!)'ers."

Moeller shortstop Brian Reisert has nothing but praise for Carner-

on and was elated to play a part in the 600th victory that came two weeks ago against Badin.

"Coach Cameron is a straightup guy who's always there to help you," Reisert said. "He's always willing to stay after practice, and I've learned a lot about the game from him."

1 Cameron also points to 27-year assistant coach Paul Smith as pla)~ng a role in. the success of Moeller baseball.

"Paul never had a~y ambitions to be a head coach and our relationship hasbeen great," Cameron said. "We meet during the day to discuss practice and the things we want to accomplish."

As for retirement, Cameron has no plans at this time.

"It's been a rewarding career and Moeller has afforded me everything I could ever expect," Cameron said. "I've had a lot of things working for me - good kids, supportive parents and Paul Smith."

'iarkin, Bill Long, David Bell, Michael Bell, Ricky Bell, Ricky Bennett, .Shawn Brennan, Bob Bresnen, Jack Crable, Mark Davis, Dwayne DuBois, Adam Hyzdu, Steve Larkin, Mike Olexa Mike Schwarber, Tom Schwarber, Mike Sylvester, Jimmy Thamann, Bill Wesley, .MattWollert.

Ohio's all-time leading coadies · Lou Brunswick, Coldwater 750 (retired) nm Engleka, Centerville 720 (active) Augle Bossu, Cleveland Benedictine 673 (retired) Mike Cameron, Moeller 605 (active)

Nation's all-time leading coaches

1. Gene Schultz, Lancing Kee, La. 1,186 (retired) 30. Mike cameron, Moeller605

Moeller cruises by

By Kevin Goheen Post contributor

Crusaders sent nine batters to the

j--:, / J,. 1.)/J plate in the inning. Moeller plays

Moeller didn't need any late-game heroics this time. Paul Frietch's twoout grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning against St. Xavier on Wednesday gave the Crusaders a 6-5 win in the sectional semifinals. Friday's final was decided much eariler.

The Crusaders took advantage of Glen Este freshman pitcher Landon Dickerson's lack of control to score fi.ve times in the first inning en route to a 10-4 win at Midland Field. The

Lakota West at 4 p,m., Thursday at Midland in the district finals.

Junior first baseman .Joe Neville had the first inning's big blow, pounding a 2-2 fastball from reliever Andy Hurley into right-center field for a three-run triple.

"He set me up with a good curveball for the second strike," Neville said. "I got a fastball on the outer half and just went with it."

Senior right-hander Jason Ranz, ·coming back from tendinitis in his

Glen Este' 10-4 '

PAUL FRIETCH Moeller Junior Baseball Went 10-for-12 in four games with 13 RBI and hit a grand slam with two outs in the seventh to defeat St. X in sectional.

throwing shoulder, struck out seven in five-plus innings to earn the victory.

Junior John Frank came in after the Trojans scored a run on three consec· utive singles in the sixth and shut down Glen Este the rest of the way.

Glen Este scored a run in the tgp of the first on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Evan Brashear. · In the bottom of the inning, Dickerson struck out Moeller's leadoff batter, Tyier Tabler, then couldn't find the plate.

He walked the next batter, second baseman Jim Wood, gave up a single

to designated hitter Scott Byrnes, then hit Justin McNeely and Paul Frietcl;).; before walking Adam Visnic. That'~ when coach John Hatfield brought in Hurley. w .• "He was 2-for-2 in 10 games for us~ the last three weeks,' Hatfield sai&.

"He's started against Hamilton, Syca:·: more and McNicholas. It was very uJ1~ characteristic for him to be wild." ·· GLEN ESTE MOELLER

120 001 0- 4 8 "1· 530 200 x-10 11 :1;.

WP-Ranz (4-0 7 Ks). LP-D1ckerson (2-3). HITIING LEADER~[.

GE-Kelly 2-4 3B, 2 RBI; Rieck 2-4; Fite 2-4. M-Byrnes 2-4; McNeely, 2-3. 3B, 2 RBI; Frietch 3-3, 2B, 2 RBI; Visnic 2-3: Neville 3B, 3 F.B!-· RECORDS: Glen Este 15·12, Mo~ller 20-6. "'

ARCHBISHOP MOELLER IDGH SCHOOL BASEBALL 9001 Montgomery Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45242 (513) 792-3340 X 231

Fax (513) 792-3356

2000 VARSITY BASEBALL ROSTER:

NO. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 16 20 21

24 28 30 35 40 44

NAME MIKEHUBE KEVIN O"BRIEN PAUL HELD SCOTT BYRNES MARC TERWILLIGER JASONRANZ TYLER TABLER JUSTIN McNEELY ADAMVISNIC MIKE RODRIQUEZ PAUL FRIETCH JARED NOLAN JOHN FRANK BRIAN REISERT MIKEVIOX CHRIS POSTLER JOE NEVILLE TOM CLARK DAVE McGUFFEY ROB QUAKTEMEYER BRIAN BATCHELOR JOHN OSCAR

POS OF p OF PIINF P/OF P/lB PIINF

c

PIINF CIINF INF/OF P/lB p INF/lB OF/INF P/OF

c

OF OF

c

MGR OF

YEAR 11 12 11 11 11 12 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 12 11 12 11 11

11 12 10 12

HEIGHT 6'0" 6'0" 5'7" 6'0" 5'11" 6'3" 6'0" 5'10" 6'1"

5'8" 6'0' 5'10" 6'0" 6'1" 6'0" 6'3" 6'0" 6'0" 5'10' 5'10" 5'10" 5'11"

WEIGHT 160 155 145 160 147 215 170 190 168 175 180 160 160 195 155 162 195 173 151 195 200 225

COACHES: HEAD COACH: MIKE CAMERON #41 PAUL SMim #15 ASSISTANT: SCOREKEEPER: ERIC MINSHALL #29 OVERALL RECORD: WON_ _LOST_ _LEAGUE RECORD: WON_ _LOST STARTING PITCHER:

RECORD: WON_ _LOST

BATS/THROWS

RIR RIR LIL RIR LIL RIR RIR RIR RIR RIR LIR RIL RIR RIR RIR RIR R/R RIR RIL

RIR RIR RIR

,:----------------------.--:---'BASEBALL STATISTICS :!'"~o.hJ...

Stephenson, Wailon............ 21.0

Batting Player, School ..............................

Graves, Landmark. .......................

Co!fey, Wanon-Verona ..................

McKinney, lockland .....................

~~~~ifn'.\~00..~::::::::::::::::::::::::

Pettit, Faflfleld .............................

Chahrour, CCD ............................ .

SUih, Western Brown ..........;......... sawtenheimer, Landmark ............. · Grtssom, Hamlilon ........................

Gl~r. NCH ............................

1 J. Seiler, Brossan.........................

Price, Gak Hills.............................

Harrison, Princeton.......................

Ro'lo'e, Aiken..:..............................

Marcum, Edgewood ......................

Schnurr, Bata\'la...........................

McGhee, Walnut Hills. ..................

Noeicke, lockland ...................... ..

Bums, fenwick.............................

Ferris, Colerain .............................

Sutton, Batavia ............................

Bogolo, RIJ5S. .............................. .

Aichele, Western Hills ...................

Dickerson, Western Brown............

Dane, UtUe Miami........................

Ellis, Landmark. ......................... ..

Redmond, Batavia........................

Lane, Amelia ............................... .

Collier, Lakota East. .....................

Mundt, Lakota West. .................. ..

Newkirk. Turpin ............................

Ducey, Colerain ...................,........

Tablor, Moeller............................ .

Lucas, CHCA. ...............................

Slocker, Clermont NE.. .................

Frldch, - . .............................

Winters, Martemont. .....................

Fo"!man, Anderson ......................

Bryte. Norwood ............................

Studer, FerrMc:k. ...........................

S. Minges, R055. ..........................

Hemy, Northwest. .........................

Rudd, Edgewood ........................ ..

Ingram, Fairfield ...........................

Gerhardsteln, Walnut Hill.............

Heiny, Springboro.........................

Pope, Wyoming. ...........................

Maret, St. Bernard .......................

N. Paff, Oak Hills. .........................

Bailey, Summit. .......................... .. a.-, Elder.................................

Stone, Hamltton._.,, .............•....... a. Smilh, ceo..............................

Ober, Anderson ............................

Hof!l!rt, Mason ............................ .

Sweeney, Purcell .......................... ~ng, lebanon .........................

Hlnssen, HarrisOn .........................

Stump, Turpin..............................

Dufour, Utile Miami.................... .

LouAIIen, Deer Park. .....................

Davis, Mason ...............................

Johnson, R055. .............................

ZUril:k, Walnut Hills. .................... .

Mc&ley, MoeMer........................

SlaJlon, Walnut Hills. ...................

Durr, Cov. Calh ............................ .

Shepherd, Clermont NE. ...............

Payne, Harrison .......................... ..

Pier.;on, Sycamore .......................

Mai:tln, Clermont NE....................

Davis, Deer Park......................... ..

Keriip, Aiken., ..............................

Boothe, Highlands........................

Youf18, Balavta ............................ .

We!;lendolf, Roger Ba<»n .............

Healy, CHCA. ............................... .

Marksbul)', Norwood....................

11M,

AB 18 28 28 13 20 36 24 25 26 28 30 32 17 36 25 27 33 29 31 35 32 30 30 28 28 28 24

Hil 13 19 IB

8 12 21 14 14 14 !5 16

17 9

19 13 14 17 15 16 18 !6 15 !5 14 14 14 12 10 8 8 18 18 17 16 15 14 13 13 II

20 !6 16 37 37 35 33 31 29 2T 27 23 36

17 14 13 19 17 17 II 11 16 15 15 14 15 13 17 17 16 16 12 19 19 15 15 14

30 28 41 37 37 24 24 35

33 3!

31 33 29 38 38 36 33 27 43 43 34 34 32 16 16 16 23 30 35 35 28 28 28 28 21 14 14 14 40

7 7 7 10 13 15 15 12 12 12 12 9

6 6 6 17

Avg .722 .679 .643 .6!5

.600 .583 .583 .560 .538 .536 .533 .53! .529 .528 .520 .519 .517 .517 .516 .514 .500 .500 .500 .500 .500 .500 .500 .500 .500 .500 .486 .486 .486 .485 .483 .483 .481 .481 .478 .472 .467 .464 .463 .459 .459 .458 .458 .457 .455 .452 .451 .449 .448 .447 .447 .444

.444 .444 .442 .442 .441 .441 .438 .438 .438 .438 .435 . 433 .429 .429 . 429 .429 .429 .429 .429 .429 .429 .428 .425

Earned-run average

L

ER 0

W·L 4-1

0 0 0 0

3.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 3.0 3.0 2.0 2·1 4·1 2.0 3.0 4.0 3·1 4·1

ERA

0.00 0.00

o.oo

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.30 0.41 0.64 0.67 0.75 0.75 0.82 0.91 0.99 1.00

Medler---..··--

Howard, Springboro............

Agee, Monroe.....................

Smilh, Amelia.....................

Mineer, Anderson................

Ruhl, Fairfield..................... c. Wilson, Reading..............

Graves, Landmark...............

Samad, NCH.......................

Lewis, Anderson..................

Patterson, Loveland ............

Allen, ceo..........................

Russell, Wyoming................

Danna, Uttle Miami ............

Ducey, Colerain ................ _ Kratzer, lebanon.................

Stump, Turpin.....................

Duddey, Turpin....................

Wilkerson, Loveland ............

Shadoan, St. Bernard.........

Schmitt, Oak Hills........ ~......

Maynard, eov. calh.............

Deatharge, Loveland...........

Abrams, lebanon................

Noelcke, Lockland..............

Perry. Edgewood.................

Mulligan, Fenwick...............

Boothe, Highlands..............

Hartwig, NCH......................

Sizemore,R=..................

Clasen, Mariemont..............

Oliver, La~ota West.............

Brehm, Flnneytown............. leuzlnger, Springboro.........

Jones, Hamilton..................

Bov.11n, Fairfield..................

Crew, Seven Hills................

Parks, Edgewood................

Cremer, W. Brown...............

Coles, Brossart...................

Flick, Fernvtck....................

J. Seiter, Brossart................

Bookout, Madeira...............

Miller, Wyoming..................

Lantz, St. Bernard............... waners, Turpin....................

Porada, Lakota East............

Healy, CHCA........................

Comlsh, NCH......................

Dietz, cov. cath..................

Lancaster, Mason ............ _.

Rhoads, Lakota West..........

Tortone, ceo.......................

Browning, Amelia................

Laumann, Mariemont..........

Marcum, Edgewood............

Postler. Moeller..................

Haner, Millord.....................

York, Lakota West...............

Manchester, Wai.Hills.........

Des)artns, Colerain..............

Taylor, Aiken.......................

J. Minges, Ross.................. .

Davis, Amelia......................

Conover, Blanchester..........

Maher, Fairfield..................

20Jl 30.0 17.0 17.0 11.1 11.0 16.0 10.2 21.0 20.0

3 3 5 3· 3 2 2 3 2 4 4

3-1 3.0 4-1 2·1

1-1 2·0

1-1 3·1

2-1 3.0 3.0 2·1

H.

22.0 15.0

2·1 3·1 3.0 2·0

21.0 15.0 12.0 12.0

2·0

!5.0 15.0 22.0

4 6

25.0 24.1 20.0 13.1 10.0 26.0

7 7 6 4 3 8

12.2 12.2 20.2 12.0 12.0 20.2 11.2 26.0 14.1 17.0 16.1 16.1 19.0 16.0 8.0 26.1 21.0 25.0 15.0 10.0

4 4 5 4 4 7

4

4 9 5 6 6 6 7

3 3 10 9 10 6 4

24.1 2t.r II.!

22.0 11.0 12.2 14.1 14.0 13.1 8.0 15.2

10 9 5 8

16.2 26.!

11.1

9 14 6

5 6 7 7 7 4 8

2.0 2·0 1·1 3.0 3-1 2·0 3·1 2·2 3.0 2.0 2.0 3·1 2·1 2·1 2.0 3·0 2.0 3-1 2·2 1·1 3·1 1·1 3.0 2.0 2·1 2.0

2·0 2·0 4.0 .

2·1 2·2 2.0 2.0 2·1 2·2 2-1 2.0 1-1 2.0 3.0 1·1 2·1 2·1 2·1 2-1 2·1 2·2 2·2 4-0

1.00 1.06 1.17 1.24 !.24 !.24 1.27 1.31 1.31 1.33 1.40 1.40 !.59

!.60 1.63 1.67 1.75

1.75 !.75 1.79 1.86 1.87 1.90 1.94 1.96 2.01 2.10 2.!0 2.10 2.15 2.17 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.33 2.33 2.38 2.40 2.42 2.44 2.47 2.57 2.57 2.58 2.60 2.62 2.66 2.70 2.80 2.80 2.80 2.85 2.88 2.96 3.09 3.18 3.18 3.32 3.43 3.50 3.50 3.50 3.57 3.60 3.70 3.72 3.72

Strikeouts 66. Hazelbaker, St. Bernard .

51. Hammond, Mason• 49. Noelcke, lockland.

45. Parks, Edgewood .

43. Davis, Mason .

41. Howard, Splingboro .

39. White, Norwood • 37. Abrams, lebanon; Stephenson, Walton-Verona.

36. Lewis, Anderson; Hartwig, NCH. 35. Oeniia, Utile Miami; 8. Smllh, CCO. 34. Collins, Winton Woods; Walters, Turpin.

31. Allen, CCD; Perry, Edgewood.

29. Stocker, Clermont NE. 28. Ducey, Colerain; Aichele, Western Hills.

27. Smllh, Wilmington; Rhoads, Lakota Wes~ Maynard, Covington Calholic; Conover, Blanchester, Duggins, Summit: 26. Williams, Wilmington; Hayes, Reading; Samad, NCH; Agee, Monroe.

Saves 3. Williams, Wilmington; Schneider, Utile Miami; Dooley, Madeira; Harmon, Covington Calhollc.

2. Dane, Uttle MlamiGraves, Amelia; Appleton, CCD; Dardon, CHCA; Mullen, Batavia; Moeves, Hlghlends; Schroeder, Anderson.

Doubles 9. New1<lrk, Turpin.

8. Dickerson, Western Brown; Bums, FerrMc:k.

Home runs 6. Coffey, WBiton-Verona .

5. Lansing, Blanchester, Pope. Wyoming; Osborne, Edgewood.

4. S. Minges, Ross; Buckler, Wailon-Verona; Ferris, Colereln: Matuszek, Purcell Marian: SIH!pherd, Clermont NE. 3. Atwood, Norwood; J. Minges, Ross; Fread, Utile Miami; Pickerell, Norwood; Salzarulo, Mason; Abrams, lebanon; J. Seiler, Bishop Brossan; Riddle, Middletown; Grissom, Hamilton; Holt Roger Bacon; Maundrell, CCD; Hazelbaker, St. Bernard; Schwletering, Summit; Bailey, Summit; Ober, Anderson; Stump., Turpin; Routson, Monroe; Miller, Monroe; Graves, Landmar1t Christian.

Runs batted in 21. Shepherd, Clermont NE. 20. Coffey, Walton-Verona.

19. Lansing, Blanchester. !B. S. Minges, Ross; Bums, Fenwick.

17. Grissom, Hamlllon; Ober, Anderson.

16. Bryce, Norwood; Buckler, Walton·Vemna; Riddle, Middletown; Szal)', Colerain; 8. Smilh, CCD; Maundrell, CCD; Hell, Harrison; Aichele, Western Hills.

15. Baxter, Lakota West; Mundt, Lakota West; Newkirk, Turpin; Graves, Landmark Christian.

14. Williams, Wilmington; MI. MarksbUI)', Norwood: Davis, Amelia; J. Seiler. Bishop Brossart; Hoffert, Mason; Ferris, Colereln; Lucas, CHCA; Bailey, Summil; Samad, NCH • 13. Salzarulo, Mason; Guiker, Sycamore; Ingram, Fairfield; Hazelbaker, St. Bemerd; Schnurr, Belavta; Tabler, Moeller, Steinkoenlg, lockland; Pope, Wyoming; Woods, Anderson; Jackson, Anderson .

Runs scored 21. Osborne, Edgewood .

19. Regan, Anderson; Stump, Turpin.

17. Hazelbaker, St. Bernard; Busam. Flnneytown; Pickerell, Norwood; Stoc~er, Clermont NE. 16. Ma. Marksburg, Norwood; Mundt, Lakota West; Hoefler, NCH; Bums, Fenwick.

15. Coffey, Wallon-Verona; Meier, Colerain; Stleger, Lakota west; Ducey, Colerain; Ferris, Colerain; Hornsby, Harrison; Noelcke, Lockland; Bawtenhelmer, Landmark Christian. !4. Uoyd, Bishop Brossart; Romero, Lakola West; Grissom, Hamilton: Duty, CCD; N. Pall, Oak Hills; Miller, Blanchester, Lansing, Blanchester, Jackson, Anderson; Heinlein, Anderson; Nash, Clermont NE; I.Jo)'d, Clermont NE; Harrell, Turpin; Beckett, Edgewood.

Stolen bases 13. Hayes, Reading; Nash, Clermont NE; Tackett, Western Brown; Bawtenhelmer, Landmark Christian.

12. Dane, Uttle .Miami; Mundt, Lakota West; Curry, Holmes. · II. Pickerell, Norwood; Chol, CHCA; Betcher. CHCA; Raybin, Lakota East; Duty, ceo; J. Smith, ceo.

10. Smith, Aiken; I.Jo)'d, Bishop Brossart: Dooley, Madeira; Saute, Covington Colhollc; Muniln. Lockland; McKinney, Lockland; Runion, Blanchester, Johnston, Highlands; Jones, Elder, Regan, Anderson; Harrell, Turpin; Mockbee, Springborn.

From 18

-~-~i]-l??'

. ,

Tourney time

Moeller take respective baseball sectional titles ~oeller High School fo.und its savmg ~ra~e in the bottom of the seventh mnmg May 10 m' th ·0 . . · I . e IVI.ston sectional setnifinills. It came by way of Paul Frietch's storybook g;and slam, giving Moeller a 6-5 VIctory over St. Xavier•. · _....__

'f.-

·'·

.:11---

Frietch cam~ up with the bases loaded, two outs, a full count and trailing the league rival. B,ombers by · · ·· a 5-2 score. ."I've been in a ·groove lately," Frietch said, noting he had hit three .If homers in three games and gone for the cycle earlier in the week. "It was a 3-2 count, the bases were loaded, I was thinking he's got to put it right there because there was nowhere to put me.

"I knew it was gone right away.lt feels great. I'm very happy."

Winning pitcher Scott Byrnes scattered eight hits improving to 6-2 on the year. · On May 12, Moeller's 10-4 victory against Glen· Este High School · advanced the Crusaders into the district championship May 18 at Midland Field against .Lakota West High School.

Frietch had a another strong day going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Pitcher Jason Ranz threw five innings, giving up four runs. Moeller scored eight runs in the first two innings staking them· to a five-run ·lead.

7.- U6

Mark D. Motz;Staff

Paul Frletch delivered In the clutch for Moeller High School May 10 with a grand slam In. the bottom. of the seventh Inning, propelling the Crusaders over St~ Xavier In the Dlvl~lon I sectional semifinals. ··

BASEBALL - Division I district play begins today at the Midland Complex at 4 p.m. when Lakota West (21-4) and Moeller (20-6) play. Saturday at the same site in the same divislon, Fairfield (21-4) and Elder (22-4) meet at 1:30 p.m. Winners advance to the regional semifinals. ~ (Jo

r, te

.

~wo

~

Hitting leaders~--/ ] - ! ) ( J r - - - - - - - - - .

or mora at-bill per SlllM)

rm'~.~atl

~

Jl

~:·:t::n"\;o;;;:;·::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~

Fe"rtla, Coleralll .:.........................................82 Draka, Goshen •.•..•.....................................60 Hahl, Indian HI~ ............•....•......~ ••.••••.••...••..63 Hil, Aiken •.......•••••••••••.......•.....••...•...••...••.•.55 Ok:l<arson, Western Brown .........................51 Thomas, MIHord .........................................53 Faehr, Reading ...........................................49 Redmond, Batavia ....•..•.•.•.••.••••..•...............47 Hezelbeker, St. Bemarcl .............................76

~:oo;~~·::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::e ~::~~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~

26

35 .548 24 .533

43

31 31 27

28 28

.524 .517 .492 .491 .491 .491 .490

24 23 :489

37 .487 34 .486 24 .480 4t

.4n

21 .4n

25

.472

35 .467.

20 .465

~:;!~~:i;;n·::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ~ ~':rs~~··::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~ 29

::·

:r:x'a:.~~.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~

.459 .456 .455

Crew, Seven His .......................................63 29 26 31 Friatch, Moeler ..........~.......................66 30 27 31

i

i~~r~:.~::::.:.::·::_:::::::::::.

25

17 34 Mundt, lakota West ...................................74 33 24 32 34

~=~~s~C.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::;::~ :~ie~= iiii"S.. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~ 26

.460 .460

.450 .449

.448' .447

.447

.448

.444 .444 .442 .441:

Schmidt, Goshen ........................................50 22 .440 Betscher..CI:ICA ......................................... 73 32 .438 .433 Sutton, Batavia ...........................................60 .433 Louall~r Park ...................................60 Dsne, Uttte·Miaml .......................................73 32 .438 29 .433

26 26

~1~~~=~~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::H ~~~~5-::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::;::::::::~~ Dufour. Little' Miami ....................................73

21 .428

~:rl.1~'::.. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~

Kent, Batavia ..............................................62 Moebius, Seven Hilla ..................................62 Colmeoarn,lndlan Hll ..............................60 Lamasters:St. Xllvler .................................60

[r!~~=::::::::::::::::::::::::::~

Tackett,vl:?'ern Bnown ............................53 Rowe, Aiken ...............................................63 Stone,·Hamaton .......................:..................63 Romero,lakotll West ...............................51 Rosenacker, Elder ......................................73

5~~~li;:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::u

MIKell, CHCA ............................................. $7 Ober, Anderson ..........................................71

~S:ii"~:i6:;::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::*

~=:·::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~ Neat, Western His .....................................47 Noelcke, Locldand .......:..............................57 Bryce, Norwood .........................................62 Dediemar, Mariemont ................................67 Schreiner, Indian Hill .....~ ............................60

.

r:~ ~-~~ :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~

~==i~::::::::::::~::::::::::::::::::::E

.427

.426

.422 .422 .422 .422 27 .421 21 .420 .419 .419 25 .417 .417 .417 30 .416 22 .416 22 .415 28 .413 .413 21 .412 30 .411 23 .411 25 .410 27 .409 15 .409 29 .408 24 .407 24 .407 32 .406 .406 29 .406 30 .405 19 .404 23 .404 35 ..403 27 .402 24 .400 20 .400 22 .400 28 .400 26 .400 18 .398 31 .397 .397 .397 19 .396 30 .395.

19 .395 .394 29 .392 27 .391 38 .391 30.390 27 .389 26.388 28 .388 24 .387 24 .387 32 .388 27 .386 30 .385 20 .385 31 .383

26 26 25 25

26

26

r::e~a~e:= ;:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~ 25

Davis, Aule:la ..............................................63 Hart, Mfilord Clvistlan ................................48 Beyeriain, lakota West ..............................76 Minor, Merlemont .......................................48 Popp, Seven HRts .......................................66

~tlevllr~~~~d~~-::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~;

Hlnssen, Harrison ......................................92 Jones, Elder ............................................... n· Maundrei,Qlctnnstl CD ............................74 Barderf,CHCA ............................................72 Hutson, Western Brown .............................67 McNeely, Moeler ........, . ,......................62 Reisert, Moeler .......... . ,.........................63

g~~: ~:..:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::ro

Herrmann, McNicholas ..............................78 Stelnkoenlg, Lockland ................................52 Heinlein, Anderson ........:............................&!

Scheldl,.st..Xavler ..............:.......................66

26 26

26.382 24 .381

~~:::::::::::.:::~::. . :.·~ 25 .379 19 .360

:·::.:.:_:·_:

~~:~~~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~

~l:ar~= :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~ ~~r~:a~.~~ ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~

20 29 27 24 19 25 24 20 17

.an

.376 . .375 .375 .373. $73 .375 .370 $70

(Minknlrn 31 Innings pitched) .

Player, School W L IP Hammond, M89on .........7 0 41.0 Hazelbaker, St. Bemarcl.9 2 64.0 Bachman. Elder ............ .5 0 38.2 WhHe, Norwood .............7 0 42.0 Turpln,Labenon ........... .3 4 40.2 Runion, Norwood .......... .3 0 39.0 Etfrlng, Madeira .............7 1 41.1 Mineer, Anderson ......... .2 0 nla Patterson, Loveland ......3 1 nla Moeller .!!o. ..... .S Howard, Springboro ..... .6 3 47.0 Wilkerson, Loveland ......3 0 n/a Hayes, Reacing .............4 2 47.2 Duadey, Turpin ..............2 0 nla J. Minges, Ross ............ .6 2 nla Deatherage, Loveland ...4 o nla Simmons, P. Marian ..... 7 2 53.2 Nlsonger, Mariemont.. ... I 2 33.1 Cremer, w. Brown ..........5 o 32.2 Noelcke, Lockland ........ .5 4 57.1 Sharrock, St. Bemarcl ....2 2 35.0 Robarts, Sycamore ....... .2 1 31.1 Lewis, Anderson ........... .6 0 nla waners, Turpin ..............8 1 47.0 Shadoan, Sl Bemarcl ....4 2 39.0 Bowtln, Fairfield .............5 2 41.1 Aichele, Western Hils ....4 4 54.0 Holmes, Western Hils .. .3 1 31.0 Park, Edgewood ~ ...........8 1 46.0 Lancast.er. Ma900 ..........3 1 n/a Lux, f\nderson ...............6 1 nla Gertz, Reading .............. .3 2 33.2 wan, McNicholas .......... .5 2 44.2

Smith, Purcell Marian ......................................................3 B. Smith, Cincinnati CD ...................................................3

Division I SCHOOl., RECORD

LAST

1. Elder, 20-4 ................................................. 1 2. Hamlnon, 21·5 ........................................... 2 3. Falrfll!ld,IB-4 ...:.........................................3

r~.~:~·iini5":::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::J

Taylor, ARlen ...................................................................3

~~:b!:~sfee;;;a;;;·:::·.::::::::·.::::::·.:::::::::::·.::·:.::::::::::::..-l

Moore, McNicholas .........................................................3

~: =r:~~~::::S!:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~

6. Colerain, 15-9............................................7 7. Mason, 17-1! .............................................. 9 B. lakota West. 16-10 ................................... 8 9. St. Xavier, 13-10 ................................,....... 6 10. Sycamore, t:l-8 ....................................... 10 Othera (In llphabttlcal order): Glen Este 13-tt,lakotll East 13-tt,labanon 13-8, 03k Hills 12·10, Walnut Hills 14-3, Western HillstU. .

Divisions II·IV SCHOOl., RECORD

LAST

t. Madeira, tg.5 ............................................ t 2. Turpin, tg.5 ............................................... 2 3. Norwood, 2().6...........................................3 4. Loveland, 16-5...........................................4 5. Edgewood, 18-5 .........................~ .............. 5 8. Batavia, 14-2............................................. 6 7. PureeD Marian, 15-8 .................................. 7 8.Badin,t6-t1 .............................................. 8 9.landmerk Christian, 14-3..........................9 .

10. McNicholas, tl).t3................................. NR Otheta (In llphabebl ordel): Clncfn. naU Country Day 15-6, CHCA IS. tO, Clermont Northeastern 17·5, New Richmond 13·9 North College Hil 1t-5, Reading tt-to Ross 12·10, St. Blimarcl 20-5, Taylor t4-8.' Wyoming 12·7.

NOTE: Ret:Ords are regular Sllsson only.

Polis compiled by The Post's prep sports stAff.

Home runs

Byrnes.

Name, School Total Ferris, Colerain .............................................................. 14 Hazelbaker, St. Bamarcl ................................................ t2

~~~nilth~~ii·c:r;·::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~:::::::::::::J

.

Grissom, Hamiton ...........................................................7

~8= ~~.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~

Elfrlng, Madeira ..............................................................7 Moore, McNicholas .........................................................6 Rutapaugh, MRiorcl Christian ........................................... 6 Dane, Uttle Miami ............................................................6 Drake, Goshen ................................................................6 Gruber, St. Xavier ............................................................5 Pickeren, Norwood ..........................................................5 Fread, Uttle Miaml ...........................:...............................5

&:~= :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~

Stump, Turpin ................1............................................ :.... 5 Bayerialn,lakota West ................................................... 4 Novosel, Colerain ...........................................................4

=~~:a;;;;;;·::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Abrams. Lebanon ..........................!................................. 4 Satzarulo, Mason ............................................................ 4

Hahl, Indian HHI ............................ :.................................. 4 Colmenares, Indian HIU ..........................: .......:................ 4

t~£s.:::~~~::;::~~:-:;~:::::~::::::::::;;:;;:;;.:;:;:;;:::j

~':,fa'1ol8"ea!i·:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~ ~ ~~

26

~rn:.ssr::,-::::~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~ ~. ::

Ru

red

nS SC0

~:ii!~:::::::::::::::·:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~ Os Edg ood

Riddle, Middletown .....................................56 20 .357

=;:~~~i;a·:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~ ~ :~

18 .353 18 .353

=~w~=~rns·:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::ra ~ :~ Kretzer, Lebanon .......................................54 19 .352 Carpenter, Fairfield ....................................74 26 .351 =~~ ::-::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~ ~ ~

~:~;:c:~~~.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

White, Norwood .............................................................65

~:~.::,t~:~.~-~·~·i·~-~.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~

Jackson, Anderson ...........:........................................... 29

WShandoanT, St !Jemarcl .....................................................5577 s ers, urptn .............................................................

J. Minges, Ross .............................................................52 Bachman, Eidef .............................................................50 Bowlin, Fairfield ......................,......................................50

il-

PickereH, Norwood ........................................................ 27 · Munlln, Lockland ........................................................... 48 Kent. Batavia ............................... :................................. 28 THurplnalpln• LeSycabamorenon•••·•·.·•·•·.·.·.·.·.·.·•·•·•· . . ·.•·.·.·•·•·•·•·.·•·•·.·•·.·•·•·.·.·.·.·.•.·.·.·.· .......·.· .......•.·.·.......·.·.·~ Betscher, CHCA ............................................................

McGuire, Hamiton ........................................................

Schachlelter, Colereln ................................................... 44 Davis, lakota West .......................................................

Schnu<r, Batavia ....:.......................................................

J. Smith, Cincinnati CD ..................................................

Byrnes Moeler ,__ ~~i.~~ ;;;·::::::::::::::·.::::::::::::::::::::::·.:::::::::::·:.:::·.:~ Dane, Utue Mianii-: ..:........

M M Nichol Mi. Marksbury, Norwood .............................................. 42 oore, c as .......................................................

Davila, UHie Miami ........................................................ 42

8

26 26 26 26

..

43 43 ::::·.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::43

26 =~"'~~~~~~.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~~ ~!f'~~~rri5iiii·::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::l

~=-~t'i~~~~·-~.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 5 ~:J'~. c~~~~~~ co·:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: =~~:~: ~':~iiiir::::.r::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::J

Tabler. Moener .....................:........................................ 25 Bvrnes. MoeDer ................_. ..................................25

Triples

2.43

Levns, Anderson ........................................................... 67 Collins, Winton Woods .................................................. 66 Aichele, Western H~s ................................................... 66 ~ayesrdR;a:;gti0Nj.......................................................~

~~~~~:i~aefe~:':.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~~ R bl La E a n. kola ast ., ...................................................... 25 Drake, Goshen ..............................................................

Dufour, UtUe Miaml ....................................................... 25 Schnurr, Batavia ...........................................................25

~~~F:tifr:::::::::::::~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::i Mundt lakota West ........................................................& ~:.· f~':!.~~ .::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

25

~~~.~~~~!i~·::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~~ ~::O:'o~'~vief·:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~

ra~~~r~!~.::::::~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ll Rulapaugh, Mlllord Christian ......................................... tO

!:i~~;:::;;;;;:;;;:;::;:;:::::;:::;;;:;:;;;::;::::::;:;;;i

25

Sh=·. St. :mard··:::.::·::.::·:.::·~·.::·:.::::::·:::.::·.:·:.:::::::::·.::J~ Hailer. St. Bernard .........................................................30

lliott, t. mard ......................................................... 26 B. Smith, Cincinnati CO .................................................27 R. Ramirez, Madeira ..................................................... 27

Nome, School Total Ferris, Colllf!lln ..............................................................14 Dk:l<erson, Western Brown ........................................... 12

Fread. Utt1e Mlsml ...........................................................8 Betscher, CHCA ·..............................................................&

1.21

1.47 1.48 tO 6 64 1.50 nla n/a nla 1.61 11 18 65 1.75 nla nla nla 1.78 nla nla nla 1.81 nla nla nla 1.83 14 t5 37 1.89 9 nla 32 8 10 32 • 1.83 1.95 18 108 2.00 10 tO 39 2.01 9 21 nla nJa nil . 2.02 2.06 nla nla n/a 2.15 12 18 57 2.20 13 9 50 12 19 66 2.38 2.38 9 12 38 16 28 64 2.41 nla n11 nla 2.45 nla n/a nla 2.49 12 22 32 2.50 16 14 33

~!;:s:~~.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::·::::::::::::::::::·:::::::~ ~i!=·~~.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~ E S Ba Schneidef,NDrthwest ................................................... 53

Doubles

Hatcher, Purcell Menan .................................................. & Brown, Elder ..................................:................................ .8

243.0 9 5 43

~~r:e~~~':"scin·:::::::::::~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~ P:~ Edgewood ...... ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::64

.

Noelcke, Lockland ...............................:...........................9 Moore, McNicholas .........................................................9 Novosel, Colerain ............................................................9

44 nla 29 nla nla

Nome, School Tolll Hazelbaker, St. Bemarcl ..............................................124 Noelcke, Lockland .......................................................108

Name, School Total Hazelbakllf, St. Bamarcl ................................................47 Ferris, Colerain ................................................:............. 40

s~.;~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::n ~ ~

~:~~el~~;;~!ico..::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::J

n/1

Strikeouts

lawls, Ail<en ..............................................n 28 .364 Sweeney, Purcell Marlon ...........................66 24 .364

~~~~~~~~;;·:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::.'~

22 50 nla nla nla tt n/a nla

ERA 0.2i 0.44 0.54 0.5Q 1.03 1.15 1.18 1.20

;=~~~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::!

Smiley, Wyoming ........................................71 28 .366 B. Wilson, Reading .....................................71 .366 Eliott, St. Bemarcf ..........................:........... 74 27 .365 Wilson, Marlemont .....................................52 19 .385

Salzarulo, Mason ............................................................9

nla nla tO 124

Name, School Tolll Hazelbekllf. Sl Barnard ..................................................Q White, NotWOOd ................................................- ............7 Hammond, Mason ...........:..............................................7 Elfrlng, Madeira ............................................................... 7 Simmons, Purcel Marian ............................................... 7 J. Minges, Ross ...............................................................6 Lewis, Anderson ............................................................. 8 waners, Turpin .....................................................! .......... 6 Lux, Anderson ................................: ................................6

Matuszek,I'Urcell Marian ...........................73 27 .370

Fosh, Batavia ............................................... 51 Rock, lakota East ......................................51

ER BB SO nla 4 3 n/a 6 n/a 7 n/a nla

Wins

g:C,i~Titt:o~~a;;;r::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::'

Matuszek, Purcell Marian ..............................................."4 Louallen, Deer Park .........................................................4

25 .431

27 .429 30 .428

32 31 27 19 19 R. Ramlrtz. Madeira ..................................90 38

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~Sis

B. CD ...,....•........••..........

Schnurr, Batavia •••....•...............................•.63 35 .556 Pettit, FlitfiGid ............................................65 36 .554 .553 Rutapaugh. Milord Christian ........•.•......•.•••47

.

!'...f.l• {f(J Pitching leaders

Schnurr, Batavia ..............................................................3

fl'.

25

~~.,;tcW,:Snci·:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~~

Bachman, Harrison ....................................................... 41 Perry, Edgewood ...........................................................40 Sivils, Seven HMis ..........................................................40 Pa«erson, Loveland ......................................................40 Allen, Clnclnnsti.CD .......................................................39 Sharrock, St. ~arcl ................................................... 39 Holmes, Western Hills ...................................................38

~· ~~ ..........................................................~

J;n::,:.'lndian Af..::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::37

Moeller coach keeps ·winning You know how it is when you're fresh out of coll.ege. You think you're pretty sharp. You don't know yet just how much you don't know.

Eventually, though, you find out.

Mike Cameron did. Two years af. ter graduating from the University of Cincinnati, where he had played safety on the Bearcat football team, Cameron was unexpectedly promoted from junior-varsity baseball , coach to varsity head coach at Moeller High School.

N·o problem. Cameron had been hired primarily to coach the defensive backs under football coach · Gerry Faust and to teach health and physical education. But he had· played baseball at Purcell High School and, as a kid, had worked in the visitors' clubhouse at Crosley ' Field. He loved the game and thought he knew it pretty well, too.

After all, he had gone 14-6 in his one season as the JV coach. · He was no kid. He was 24 years old. He had been around. Then, he went to his first coaches' ·clinic.

"I really thought I knew something about, baseball," Cameron said. "I was listening to these people and I walked away thinking, 'We'll BILL KOCH never win a , ,._ " ., iC ..r game.' I was over.., ,;.. 1 vu whelmed."

Never win a game? That must have been one heck of a clinic be. cause in the 31 years since, Cameron has won 17 Greater Catholic League champipnships, three state championships and needs six more wins to reach 600 for his career. Only Tim ·Engleka of Centerville has won · more games in Ohio among active coaches.

"I never dreamed I would be in this position," Cameron said Wednesday before· his Crusaders lost to Elder, 7-2, to fall to 12-3 this· spring. · Moeller went 20-7 and won the GCL during Cameron's first year as a varsity coach in 1969, but Cameron admits to some jitters at the outset · of that season. Moeller had a senior second baseman named Buddy Bell, son of former Red Gus Bell. Carner-

on looked at Buddy and sensed that the kid he was supposed to be coaching probably knew more about baseball than he did.

"It was a little intimidating," Cameron said. "I guess you could say I was looking over my shoulder to see if Gus was saying, 'This guy doesn't know anything.' But that never happened. Gus never interfered." · _ · Buddy did feel inclined to offer his new coach some unsolicited advice, though. Cameron began his baseball coaching career with a football coach's mentality. H:e got upset over every failed at-bat, every missed scoring opportunity, every loss. One day,-after Moeller had lost two games in a row; Buddy suggested to Cameron that he should calm down.

It's a lesson Cameron needed to learn and one he hasn't.forgotten.

"We were sitting on the bench . one day and he said, 'Coach, in baseball you don't win every game. You don't get a hit every time,'" Cameron recalled. "He was telling me to relax."

Bell, now the manager of the Colorado Rockies, remembers the conversation. "Maybe I helped him .

See KOCH on 8C

Gr~nd. slam. helps

HIGH SCHOOLS . ..J""_,..~J -,.-w

Frank leads Moeller.

I

Junior tosses one-hitter _fost;;taff report

Junior right-hander John Frank, making his first career start, pitched a one-hitter Tuesday in Moeller's 5-0 win against Sycamore in a pon-league· high school baseball game.

Frank's bid for a no-hitter was broken up by bunt single in the sixth.

a

MOELLER

at SYCAMORE

000 500 0-5 8 0

000 000 0-0 1 0 WP-Frank (2.0). LP-Haunert. HITIING LEADERS: M-Tabler 2-4, 21!, 3 RBI; Frietch 2 RBI. RECORDS: MoeDer 14-5, Sycamore 11-7.

.

Moeller oust St.. X The Cincinnati Enquirer .

Paul Frietch provided a storybook ending to Moeller's 6-.5 victory over St. Xavier in the Division I sec· tiona! semifinals at Midland : Field on Wednesday.

On a 3-2 count with the bases loaded In the bottom of the seventh, Frietch hit a Dom Carmosino fastball over ~e right-center field fence.

With Moeller trailing 5-2 after St. X scored three in the top of the seventh, Tyler Tabler walked and advanced to second on a single by Jim Wood. Scott Byrnes flew out before Justin McNeely hit an infield single, and Adam Visnic struck out, setting the stage for the grand slam.

"Coach (Mike Cameron) pulled me aside before I batted and told me one pitch, one spot," Frietch said. "I . knew when I hit it the ball was out of the park.''

The blast was a thrill in more ways than one.. · "My mom (Mary Joan) died in 1988, when I was 5 years old," Frietch said. "Sunday is Mother's Day and I dedicated this week to her.''

II

Moeller tallies lOth straight win lf.-:1. (1-~{S

...

Post staff report

The Moeller High School . baseball team returned just thr~ starters from last season's 22-7 squad, but this has not b!*ln a, rebuilding year for the Crusaders.

Moeller won its lOth straight game Wednesday, pounding Roger Bacon, 13-3, in five innings in a Greater Catholic League game. Junior Adam Visnic had two hits and scored two runs .in Moellers eight-run third inning, giving reliever Kevin O'Brien his first win.

The Crusaders are ranked No. 2 in The Post's Division I Ohio-area poll - up two spots from last week. They are ranked No. 7 in the state coacheS' poll.

ROGER BACON 012 OG- 3 8 2 II MOEllER 218 11-13 19 2 WP-O'Brien (1.0). LP-Wilbum. HITIING LEADERS: RB-Westemdorf 2-3. M-Tabler 3-4, 2 ~B. 2 RBI; Byrnes 3-3, 2B; Frletch 3 RBI; Vlsnlc 3-4, 28; Reisert 2-3; Terwllllger 3-3, 28; Clar1< 2-2. RECORDS: Roger Bacon 4-10, 1-6 GCL North; Moeller 11·1, 7-1 GCL Sou1h.

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!Baseball geared up f9_r success

.' l . . . ' n1 1.J J). q~ .By:Annette Stierwalt J./- .2..- $lJ Defense may be the team s o Y Newcomers to watch include . Smith is one of the top hitters in a :staff Reporter . weakness, he said, with a young sophomore outfielder and second lineup that includes returners Ryan , ~-Rain and spring break ha:ve con- infield vulnerable t~ mistak~s- But baseman Jordan Gaietto as well as Schroer, Mar~ Maundrell, Roman ;spired to keep the high school base- the team _already 1s workmg to freshmen pitcher and second base- Dqty, ~on Sm1th _and_ Matt Cohen.

:b¥1 season from getting. into a flow _str~?gth~n 1ts defense. , . · ·yet, but the year is still young and We_ re a s~ong team,. Shrimp:local teams are hoping for big ton sa1d, notmg the fnendsh1p 'things among players as a building block to ·· 1·ng will be · key . for thelf · success. ,' . •p·1tch .

•'S · "Whe th erwe ~m.or · 1ose th a t' s re Hi h' School's baseball : ycamo ·d g h. Chr's Shr1·mpton what makes us a team. But in the 1 . · more ·team ·h : sa1 coac · h' lSth f• long run· I thmk we'll wm ·w o s now 10 lS year o th 1 , h 'd · · · : ~ th Av'ators games an ose, e sru . . :c<?eg var::y tor ~ ~ d fi0 ·urth Cincinnati Hills ~hristian :. : · t year e_ e~ s e . · Academy baseball coach Bob Gard:m the Greater Miami Conf:= With ner, now in his eighth year coaching .a 15-15 record and graduat . ee._ for the school, said senior experi: · "W~ have.~ sv:rry good ~~chmg encewill be the central element to .staff this ~ear, unpto~ sru · . . . the Eagles success this season. · : Key pitchers_ are sen~ors Justin . "We're hoping fo~ a better season ·Robert_s, who sig~ed Wlth Butler, because of senior experience. We -and M1ke Morgahs, who recently think. we've servdtl our dues," Gard· · d 'th N tr D s1gne W1 o e ~e. . ner said. . Other key players mclude seruor Last year the team finished sixth :catcher Mike S~pton, th~ coach'_s in the Miami Valley Conference son who recen~y s1gne~ W1th Man- with a 9-13 record, graduating two _etta, and senwr outfielder Matt seniors.

Unlike the past few years, nine Weber. . . . . . In addition, J~ors M~tt Dolan, a seniors are on this year's team.

Key returnees include seniors shortstop and p1tcher,_Mike_Gulker, .· .a second baseman, Ke1th Remhart,,a Ryan Betscher, who last year led the .third baseman, Joe Haunert, an out- city in stolen bases, pitcher John .fielder, and pitcher Justin Halpin Lucas, pitcher and third baseman will help lead the team. Also senior Bill Hauer, catcher Dan Shirk, ceo.fll'st baseman Zac~ Pierson as well. ter fielder Joe Choi and second base'as·senior designated hitter Brad man Ty Brumback, Speckert will be key to the team's Key juniors include first baseman ~ticcess, Shrimpton said.

John Snyder, catcher Billy Pohl, · Thanks to a tough league, all. pitcher Pat Healy and outfielder and l~ague games will be critical. . pitcher Dave Bardon. ·

man Rob Westa~ay, who together Jon Sm1th, the seruor, ~sa key player add e~~rgy and p1z~z to the team. at center ?eld and batting ~eadpff._ Cntical n1atches mclude games Dunn 1s happy about his p1tching against Madeira, Cincinnati Country and hitting depth but said the team's · Gardner sru'd. b'1g we ak:ness 1s . base runnmg. .

Day' and BataVIa, .

The. Eag1es will • use theu · expen· Among the s1x · wms · 1s · a v1ctory · ence, speed and hitting against the over North College Hill, who is . · the opposition, he srud. expected to challenge CCD for · · . · . · •· · v c f · 1 ''We are delighted w1th our team M1am1 a 11 ey on erence ht e. speed and hitting abilities so far," D~nn said the top remaining nonGardner said. . league contest is a showdown with Still depth in pitching could be a · Madeira. The team also has games weakness he said. against South Charleston (W.V.) and .• Overall, the Eagles hope to be a surpr:ise success Clermont Northformidable team, capturing the eastern.· . league championship and moving on Moeller head . coach Mike. in postseason competition.

Cameron, his long-time assistant "We think that's within the realm Paul Smith and new assistant coach of doing," Gardner said.

Eric Minschall have directed the A year after reaching the regional Crusaders to a 4-1 start through championship game Cincinnati April 7 .. The ·only loss was. against Country Day coach Tim Dunn's Elder, despite Moeller taking a oneIndians are 6-0 and looking like 'run lead into the seventh inning. they're serious about getting back.

Moe is 3-1 in the Greater • "We thought we had a shot at Catholic League. being undefeated right now," said· Cameronsaidhe'hastwofront-line Dunn of his squad, who is 4-0 in starting pitchers, but is concerned league play and has added.two wins about having enough depth in the arms race. Moeller has much experiover rival Indian Hill.

Country Day returns its three top ence coming back, but ;will have to pitchers from last year and the top adjust to an all-new starting outfield. seven batters in the order. Senior Senior Jason Ranz and junior Chris Torlone, junior Brett Smith Scott Byrnes are the key starting and Noah Allen are the key hurlers. pitchers, Ranz went 8-llast year and Smith is 3-0 with a save so far, ·'is off to a 2-0 start in 2000. Byrnes Allen has two wins and Torlone one. is 1-1 ·so far this year, but gave up

. thr .

--JUSt ee runs m the loss to Elder. . Ranz pla:ys fi.rst base and Byrne: second base when they're not pitch· ing. Junipr Tyler Tabler returns as tht starting shortstop. Justin McNeely Joe Neville and Rob Quatemeyer art all capable catch _ ki · h . tre th erds thma ill?g t al area ey w contn'b ta s ngh - an· u e .e1sew .ere .as .we11· .

Seruor Bnan Re1sert, who m1ss_ed Ia s t b. ase b a 11 season· b ecause o1 . . . .. . • mJury, ~~ll be a k~y ~ackup m~ er, as w1ll ~dam B1sruc. . ~~: . Paul Fntsch, last year's starter ~ third, moves to right field to ancho the new outfield, which includ~ center fielder Paul Held and Ie£ fielder Dave McGuffey. ··•· : Cameron sees the GCL as bclnj t h ·~ oug as ever. ~ Freelance wrire·r Ja ~ b ·• t 'b t d t th. mes e ~ con rz u e 0 IS story.

Greater Catholic

Moeller junior pitcher Scott Byrnes was in line to pick up the win, but Elder scored two unearned runs in the top of the seventh inning to triumph, 3-2.

ELDER 3, MOELLER 2 - Junior outfielder Richie Jones and senior pitcher Kyle Robbins each drove in unearned runs in the top of the seventh to give Elder a come-from-behind win.

ELDER at MOELLER

001 000 2-3 6 4 000 020 0-2 5 4

WP Robbins (1-0). LP-Byrnes (0.1 ). HITTING LEAD· ERS: E-Jones 2-4. M-Ranz 3-4. RECORDS: Elder 2-0, 1·0 South:Moeller1-1, 1-1.. ·

r.r•

AA

in on 600 for Crusaders

1-J.-:L ' ¡a~ position where I have a lot of input.

"He's a fair person. You want your son playing for him. He's very organized and a great teacher of fundamentals. He's a player's coach who teaches you life lessons."

When Cameron arrived at Moeller, the baseball program had been in existence for five years and had not done much to that point. In his first season, Cameron led the Crusaders to the league title, helped by a player named Buddy Bell who went on to a long and successful mqjor league career.

Bell had a stint with the Reds and is now the manager of the Colorado Rockies.

Since then, the Crusaders have made a habit of winning, claiming victories in 70 percent of the games since Cameron's arrival. The program has three state championships, corning in 1972, 1989 and 1993.

"Those were probably my favorite just because they did it," Cameron said. "They had the skill and a bit of luck, too. There were a lot of good players on those teams, and we've had a lot of great players whose teams didn't get that far.

"We were fortunate to have some very good ballplayers. Through a lot of hard work and sacrifice, they've won a lot of games for us."

The accomplishments of Moeller graduates Barry Larkin and Ken Griffey Jr. need no introduction, as the pair of potential Baseball Hall of Famers are united with the Reds after Griffey's arrival in February.

After dominating local high schools in a Moeller uniform, Griffey, a 1987 graduate, was the first overall pick in the amateur draft and has caused just a bit of a stir in town since his homecoming in a Reds uniform.

Larkin, of course, has been with the Reds from the beginning and has been synonymous with Reds baseball during his career, in which

he has brought home a multitude of awards including a World Series championship.

"I've been very fortunate to have some very outstanding ballplayers and team players;" Cameron said. "lt.doesn't make a difference here whether you're the No. 1 player or the 20th player on our team. They've all been important."

Coaching players such as Griffey have been an important part of Cameron and Smith's experience.

"It's pretty special to talk to some of the kids we've come into contact with, not just the pro players, but the professional people who have done great things with their lives," Smith said. "When you're running into guys who are 40 to 45 years old and they still call you Coach, that's a real special thing."

Cameron and Smith consider Junior the type of person they're proud to have helped produce. "(Griffey) has been very generous," Smith said. "He's not going to comprornise anything for his family, and he has a lot of pressure on him. He's still a kid. He's the most gifted athlete I've seen in my life, and there have been quite a few that have come through here."

Players on this year's team have the chance to join the greats in Moeller lore.

The most¡ recent standout has been Eric Fischer, a left-handed pitcher and 1999 graduate who is in the Chicago White Sox minor league system after being drafted in the seventh round.

Then there's Chris Welsch, another 1999 grad who made just eight errors in three years playing middle infield. He is now at Kent State.

There are players like Adam Hyzdu, who broke Griffey's school home-run record and fueled the 1989 state champs before playing

in the minors. Former minor leaguer Mike Olexa was on the '89 team along with brothers Brad and Brian Hindersman.

Players like Bill Wesley, a 1971 grad who still holds several school pitching records. Or Bob Massong and Mark Kamphaus. Or Tom Waddle, who made a mark as a fullback for the Chicago Bears in the early 1990's.

Or Buddy Bell's sons -Mike, Ricky and David - who all have been drafted by major league baseball clubs. David Bell has become a third-generation major leaguer with the Seattle Mariners. Or the family of Jim, John, Jerry and Ben Thamann, whose succession ended when Ben graduated in 1983.

"They typify a lot about what high school baseball is all about," Cameron said of the Thamanns. "Their parents really supported the program."

Family has been a key part of Moeller baseball and Moeller athletics in general.

The Griffeys, Jr. and Sr., and the Bells -Buddy and father Gus- are two of the top four home-run hitting father-son combos of all-time. Cameron got to coach his son Joe, who graduated from Moeller in 1992, and Smith has had two sons go through the program.

At 55 years old, Cameron figures he has about 10 years of teaching left, but he will not be afraid to step down as baseball coach when the time comes.

"I'll coach while I still have the competitive fire to run a first-class program.'' he said. "If it's not there, I'm not going to cheat the kids; I'm going to tum it over to someone else.

"It takes a lot of commitment to run a winning program. Moeller started baseball. I didn't, and I suspect they'll still be around when I'm gone."

A4

:""._=--~-M~~~-~

.'

Friday's Division I state semifinals p~

.

t·-{-{l(i'

MOELLER

TOLEDO START

• HEAD COACH: Mike Cameron (33rd season, 606-271).

• RECORD: 22-6.

• ANAL STATE RANKING: No. 4 in Associated Press Division I poll. .

• YEARS IN STATE PlAYOFFS: 4 (1972, 1989, 1993, 2000).

• lAST TIME IN STATE PlAYOFFS: 1993, beat Barberton, 13-5. for state championship.

• STATE TITLES: 3 • 2000 REGIONAL RESULTS: Beat Miamisburg, 5-1; beat Elder, 5-4.

• TEAM STATS: Batting average: .345. Earned run average: 3.40.

• TOP PlAYERS: RF Pau I Frietch, Jr., (.481, 3 HR, 39 RBI); LHP/DH Scott Bynes. Jr., (.357 BA, 8·2, 1.64 ERA); RHP Jason Ranz, Sr., (5-0, 3.30 ERA); CJustin McNeely, Jr., (.378 BA, 33% caught stealing); 1B Joe Neville. Jr., (.283); SS Brian Reisert, Sr.. (.333); CF Tyler Tabler, Jr.. (.394 BA, 10 Dbls, 17 walks).

• QUOTE: "As a coaching staff. we felt it was important in getting the focus back after the Elder game. We've still got two games to play for a championship.

The state championship wasn't Monday," - coach Mike Cameron.

• HEAD COACH: Richard Arbinger (25 years, 568-144).

• RECORD: 23-3: • ANAL STATE RANKING: No. 1 in Associated Press Division I poll.

• YEARS IN STATE PlAYOFFS: 6 (1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000).

•lAST TIME IN STATE PlAYOFFS: 1997, lost to Hamilton. 8· 7, in Division I final.

• STATE TITLES: 1 (1994) • 2000 REGIONAL RESULTS: Beat Grove City, 4-2; beat Mansfield Madison, 4·0.

• TOP PlAYERS: LHP Justin Laraway, So., (10-0); RHP Derrick Peterson. Sr., (8·0).

• QUOTE: "We're just like every other team in the state. We're just like Moeller. We all have the goal of playing for ·a state championship," - coach Rich Arbinger.

CLEVELAND ST. IGNATIUS • HEAD COACH: Brian Morgan (1st year. 24-5).

• RECORD: 24·5.

• ANAL STATE RANKING: Unranked in Associated Press Division I poll.

• YEARS IN STATE PlAYOFFS: 5 (1993, 19, 19, 1997, 2000).

• lAST TIME IN STATE PlAYOFFS: 1997, lost in semifinals.

• STATE MLES: None.

• 2000 REGIONAL RESULT: Beat Brunswick, 2-1; beat Euclid, 8·0.

• TEAM STATS: Batting average: .369. Earned run average: 3.90.

• TOP PlAYERS: RF Dave Gresky, Sr., (.460 BA, 10 HR. 15 Dbl, 55 RBI); RHP John Baco. Sr., (8·0); LHP/1B Andy Hargrove, Sr., (2· 2. pitched no-hitter in regional final).

• QUOTE: "One of our greatest assests has been our hitting. We're getting the big hits, but we're getting the littie things done too." - coach Brian Morgan.

DUBUN COFFMAN • HEAD COACH: Tim Saunders (13th seasons, 226-134).

• RECORD: 22-B. • FINAL STATE RANKING: Unranked in Associated Press Division I poll.

• YEARS IN STATE PLAYOFFS: 3 (1955, 1963, 2000).

• LAST TIME IN STATE PLAYOFFS: 1963,1ost to Powhatan Point, 3-0, in Class A final.

• STATE TITLES: None .

• 2000 REGIONAL RESULTS: Beat Massillon Washington, 10-3; beat Hudson 10-5.

• TEAM STATS: Batting average: .363. Earned run average: 4.1 B. • TOP PLAYERS: LHP/RF Travis Thomas, Jr., (.444 BA, B-2, 3.85 ERA); RHPIRF Brock Hunton, So. (8-2, 2.29 ERA); SS Jack Lucas, Sr., (.435 BA); C Bart Hunton, Jr., (.435 BA).

• QUOTE: "We're a better hit-and-run team than sitting back and waiting for things to happen."

- coach Tim Saunders.

East All-Stars • Rob Phillips, Bethel-Tate, RB-LB • Ryan Brown, Deer Park, TB-DB • Jonathan Smith, CCD, RB-DB • Chad Kelley, Batavia, LB-TB • Santino Turnbow, Woodward, WR-SS • Michael Moore, Princeton,RB • Tim _Dooley, Madeira, QB-DB • Jus~n Dranschak, Kings, OLB-QB • Jam1e ~ooper, Purcell Malian, WR-FS • Matt Wilson, Goshen, QB-S • Adam Schneider, McNicholas WR • Chris Kent, Batavia, QB-LB ' • Brian Reisert, Moeller, QB • Steve Pickerell, Norwood, RB-OLB • John Fishback, Clennont Northeastern p • George Wells, Sycamore, RB ' • Mike Rabin, Lakota East, TB-DB • John Croswell, Williamsburg, LB-OG • M1ke Hurley, Kings, RB-DB • Jonat_han Jackson, Walnut Hills, FS-FB • Ron me Swearingin, Kings, RB-OLB

• Ryan Simmons, Princeton, WR-DB • Robert Hurt, Roger Bacon, LB-SS • Chad Bayowski, Turpin, TE-ILB • Blake Betz, Loveland, RB-MLB • Ryan DeBra, Milford, TE-DE • Mark Streaker, Deer Park FB • Vic Cole, Indian Hill FB-LB • Erik Jones. Lakota East, DB-OLB • R1chard Woods, Withrow, K • Ricky Ahrens, Anderson, DB • Wes Couch. New Richmond OT-DT • John Cardoza, Madeira DE-.DL • Oliver Hyams, Sycamor~. OT • Chns Hafertepen, McNicholas, G-DL • Justm S1mpson, Little Miami, OC-NT • Brett Henry, Sycamore, C • Scott Yelton, Princeton, DL-LB • Jon Perron, Moeller. OT • Andy Wenstrup, Amelia, OT-DE • Brett Minturn, Loveland OT-DE • Mike Wright, Purcell Ma'nan. TE-DE • Joe Polaneczky, McNicholas, WR • Shabbar Jones, Roger Bacon, G-NG

..

Moeller: Dethrones Elder 5-4~ From Page Dl

may have meant nothing if if wasn't for a spectacular catch by Frietch in right field with two Elder runners on in the top of the seventh. · With two outs, Richie Jones drew -a walk from Ranz and reached second on · an error.

Aaron Brown, Elder's No. 4 hitter, stepped to the plate and on a 2-1 pitch, sent a line drive into right-center that appeared to be in the gap. But Frietch made a diving catch.

'I always seen to get a good jump on the ball," Frietch said. "I ran as hard as I could to the spot where I thought the ball would be. I looked up and then lunged for it."

"I thought there was no chance to catch the ball, but

Division I .state pa~rings Friday at Ohio State • Moeller vs. Cleveland St. Ignatius, 11 a.m.

• Dublin Coffman vs. Toledo Start, 3 p.m. · Championship Saturday, 3 p.m.

it hung up there long enough to be caught," Elder coach Mark Thompson said. "But Ranz was the difference. He settled aown after the first inning and pitched a good game."

A victim of two Moeller errors, Ranz allowed three runs in the first inning while ·giving up three hits before reti,ring the next 11 batters.

"I thought about taking

Jason out in the first inning," Cameron said. "But lfe'set-. tled down and pitched P...iood game."

Ranz, the losing pitd!er in Moeller's 10-0 loss to':tlder in the 1999 regional ch"ainpionship game, was relieved.

"I didn't have a chance to get into the groove .if!; the first inning," Ranz sa1d. "1. was overthrowing and it was hard getting use to the:pitchjng mound." '"'" Mter the first, RattZ allowed only one hit with the only run unearned, coriiiiig in the fifth on two erront"' Bachman suffered the-loss, his first as a varsity pill:her for the Panthers.

M

Eltler .......................... 100 010 I 4 - · • ...................... 010 210 1.. I I WP-Ranz. LP-Baehman. Hitting - : ERosenacker 2 RBI. M-TerwMf/Cef 28, -Rill;< Tabler RBI; Byrnes RBI; Reisert RBI. Recordl:-22-6, Elder 22·5. Allllndance: 1,355'jllil6.

High school baseball! Moeller 5, Elder 4

The Cinc1nnat1 Enquirer,/ JeFF SWINGER

Moeller's Dawe McGuffy (31) is greeted by Paul Frietch (center) and C·ther teammates atter scorin~__tllf ~-iJ.l~6~1U\lJ1onday·~ regional. ~,--~.-,r?-,'r<.;,~-:'1

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Moeller advances to state Stars aplenty in 5-4 win over '99 champ Elder By la'fe Sch1tte The Cmrinnati

E<U[Uir~

FAIRBORN - Moeller could :-.ave had four players of the game: Paul Frietch, Bri;m Reisert, jason Ranz and Dave McGuffey.

All four contributed significantly in the Crusaders' 5-4 victory over defending state champion Elder in the Division I regional championship game M:mday. ~Uer advances to the Division I state semifinals against Cleveland St. Igna-

tius at 11 a.m. Friday at Ohio State University.

"What a great high scilool game and what memories these kids will have," Moeller coach Mike Came£on said. "The players were confident from the start, cnd when we fell three runs behind, I could see it in their eyes that three nms wouldn't win the game."

Moeller led only once, tut when it counted the most Tied 4-4 going into d1e bottom of the seventh, tile Crusaders scored the w~-

ning run wichout hitting the ball out of the infield.

Designated hitter Scott Byrnes reached second on an infield single and error off Elder ace Dan Bachman, who had. replaced starter Torr Spille in the fifth inning.

Frie9;ch was :.hen intentionally walked, with McGuffey put 91 as a pmch runner.

Adam VisPic reached first on a11 error by Elder shortstop Chris oraun on a tailor-made double-play ball, loading the bases with no outs. justin McNeely hit a ground ball that Braun fielded and threw home to easily get Byrnes oo a force. Reisert followed with an opposite-field grounder that

Rosenacker fielded. But McG:.~ffey beat the throw home, setting off a wild celebration.

"As soon as the ball w.as 'li:, I put my head down a 1d ::-ar1 as hard as I could toward :he plate," McGuffey said. "I looked up and hoped the umpire didn't call me out."

Reisert, who was :titless in twD previous at bats, had on,y one thing in mi:ld. ''I struggled early, and <Jl I .....-anted to do was hit tbe ball hard," Reise::t said.

'T•e dreamed of winning a state football championship, but now it will have to be ~ baseball instead."

The seventh-inning rally See MOELLER, Page DS

Northwest girls make state The Northwest softball team used a five-run second inning to IJeat Clayton Nortl'mont 5-2 in the Division I regional championship game Monday. The 1\nights will play in the state semifinals against Hilliard Darby at 3 p.m.

Friday in Ashland. The softball team is the first from Northwest to make a state 'inal four.

Story, OS

Regional rivals face off again Moeller, St. I in state semis

By Michael PeriJ The Cincinnati Enquirt!r

The two all-male high schools are separated by roughly 240 miles, yet they are hardly strangers.

Cincinnati's Archbishop Moeller and Cleveland's St. Ignatius, which meet today in the baseball state semifinals in Columbus, possess perhaps the most successful overall Division I athletic programs among Ohio's Catholic high schools.

Both have built reputations on football but have also combined to win team state titles in basketball, , baseball, wrestling, volley-

State semifinals¡ Baseball: Moeller vs. St Ignatius 11 a.m., today in Columbus SoftbaD: Northwest vs. Hilliard Darby, 3 p.m. today in Ashland.

ball, cross country, ice hockey and lacrosse, not to mention individual championships in golf, swimming, track, wrestling and cross country.

Moeller is bidding for its fourth baseball championship. Ignatius is making its fifth state final four appearance but has yet to win it all.

"With Ignatius and Moeller, there's a different aura about the game," said St. Ignatius baseball coach Brian Morgan, a 1993 graduate of the school. "You know if we beat them or they beat us, people are going to say you

beat one of the best teams in the state. That's in everything. Football. Basketball."

Last fall, St. Ignatius broke a tie with Moeller and set¡ a state record with its eighth football championship.

Moeller is 0-4 all-time against Ignatius in football, including two losses in state championship games (1989, '93). The schools have split four baseball games. In other sports, neither bas a notable edge, claim their athletic directors.

"You say 'St. Ignatius' and our kids know who they are, they know their reputation and they have a great deal of respect for them," Moeller baseball coach Mike Cameron said.

See RIVALRY, Page DS

·~~~?···-·-··· , .[,HE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

' State baseball

!

HIGH SCHOOLS

FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 2000 DS

~MoeDer-8t.

Ignatius meet in semis Crusaders seek 4th

St Ignatius will counter with undefeated John Baco, a senior right-han- down on I-71 around the Wilmington game. exit We tried to .find transportation, but der who is ~with a 1.98 ERA Andy Hargrove, the son of

By Dave Sc~utte "We had a scout at St I's regional the players ended up thumbing a ride." Baltimore manager Mike, is another "About 15 minutes before the ni Oitetit~roh'Ent;ul'rer game, and I also talked with Bill game, a van with psychedelic paint key player. Besides pitching a no-hitThe spirited rivalry between Slinger (St. Xavier coach)," Moeller and the radio blaring pulled into the ter against Elyria in the regional Moeller and Cleveland St Ignatius coach Mike Cameron said. "I underchampionship game, Hargrove plays usually is reserved for football. stand they are a good defensive team parking lot. Four of our players first base and bats .425. jumped out and ran into the stadium."

At 11 am. today in Columbus it that hits for power."

Cameron isn't preparing for any- · Second baseman Sanford Hejduk expands to baseball, as the Crusaders St. Ignatius is making its fifth has driven in 25 runs and bats .422. and Wildcats play in the Division I appearance in the state semifinals and thing like that again, but he is preparThe Wildcats are coached by Brian state semifinals. is 24-5 this year. The Wildcats haven't ing his team for Baco and right fielder Morgan, a former St. Ignatius player The winner advances to Saturday's won in their four previous state semi- Dave Gresky. state championship game against final appearances.

"I understand (Gresky) is their who pitched in the 1993 state semifinals and went on to play for the University of Toledo Start or Dublin Coffman.

Moeller has made three previous best player," Cameron said. "He hits North Carolina-Greensboro.

Scott Byrnes will pitch for Moeller. for power and also has a strong arm."

In 10 outings this season, Byrnes is 8- appearances and won the state title in 'They are very patient at bat," Gresky, the third batter in the 2, striking out 64 in 64 innings and 1972, '89 and '93, all under Cameron.

Cameron said. "We will be ctiaJwalking only seven.

"I remember the first trip to state in Wildcats lineup, hits .486 with school Ienged. Traditionally, the other three\ records of 10 home runs and 50 RBI. 1972," Cameron said. 'The bus broke teams that make the semifinals play St. Ignatius averages five runs a good, fundamental baseball."

state championship

Ditto for the Ignatius athletes.

Only distance prevents this from becoming · an even more ·· special and uruque competi~on.

And today the stakes are high: the winner advances to Saturday's championship game.

"It's better this way because the victory is sweeter," Cameron said. "You're beating such a good baseball program and a great athletic tradition."

Athletic director Dick Beerman has been at Moeller for 25 years. Dale Gabor is in his 17th year as AD and 26th year overall at St. Ignatius.

Both talk about the healthy respect the schools have for each other, the "good, fun rivalry," and the reasons why each has been able to build such a successful athletic program.

They believe it comes down to: a Parental support: "It doesn't matter whether it's the '70s or the new millennium here, our parents' support I has been at the highest possi. ble level throughout," Beerman said.

• Quality and longevity of coaches: Cameron is in his 32nd season as Moeller's baseball coach. Steve Klonne has been football coach since 1981. "Almost everyone of our head coaches has been in service 10 years or more in their sport at this school," Beerman said. _ • Discipline: "To be perfectly candid," Beerman said, "I don't think any school's or any individual's discipline is what it was 10 years ago, but I think our programs are still run at 1something approaching a high discipline level."

Expectations are high on and off the field of play.

The majority of athletic teams at each school begin their seasons with the oftenrealistic goal of winning - or at least challenging for - a state title.

"It begins with football," Gabor said. "They set the bar by which all the teams wanted to be compared. The other teams saw what it took

Tale of the tape St

·

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Moeller

Location

Cleveland

Cincinnati

District Southwest

Northeast

Nickname Wildcats

Crusaders

Grades 10-12 I ,005 students

Sports 13

684 stiN!ents

: -

Team state titles :

12

13

15

St. 1: Football 8, cross country 2, wrestling 1, ice hockey 1 Moeller: Football 7, basebaU 3,. volleyball 2, lacrosse 2, •" • basketball!

lnj'ormationfrom schools'~~ athletic directors ·-

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to win a state championsntp in football, they saw~ .ihe commitment that was oeiessary, and they just jumg~d on board and said they wanted to do the same thing:''t't's that old cliche, winrung breeds winning." , In some. cases, the success can cause disenchantmen~ to use Gabor's w61a.:around the state. :.. ,;:..

Morgan tells his pl~Y,~rs that each opponent constders its game against Ignatius'.'as a World Series. Moelle(feels the same way.

"Every game we~"play against somebody, tlie¥:re going to play their bes(gp'fne because they want tq-l~at Moeller," said senior shortstop Brian Reisert, wno also quarterbacked the C.fll~ad­ ers' football team. '"That makes some team's se'a'sons.

They'll go to their baruiuets and talk about beating M~l­ ler; who cares if theY,~~re 2-20 or whatever?"

From that aspect, ll's'~an even playing field today. ,.

Moeller and St. Ig'i~.gus are not intimidated or awed by each other. " ..,~, They expect a 'tough game. They expect tq::tfave to play well to win. · ~ • "All the mystique and' all the history kind of cancel each other out," Mq't'g'an said. "It comes down t<YWho plays better, it comes :cfo\vn to the actual game." new>r> ,utiU,

Grand slam energized Moeller's title run

By Kevin Goheen Post contributor

It's the situation every baseball Little Leaguer dreams. of. Whether playing in a neighborhood pickup game or just pretending in the backyard, the scenario is the same.

You're at bat with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning in the seventh game of the World Series. Your team is trailing by three and it's a full count.

It may not have been Game 7 of the World Series, but Moeller junior right fielder Paul Frietch's two-out, full-count grand slam in the seventh inning gave the Crusaders a 6-5 win against St. Xavier in their first game of the postseason, springboarding Moeller to the Division I state final four.

Moeller, 22-6 and ranked No. 4 in final Associated Press coaches poll,

plays unranked Cleveland St. Ignatius (24-5) at Ohio State University's Bill Davis Stadium at 11 a.m. Friday.

Top-ranked Toledo Start plays Dublin Coffman in the second semifinal at 3 p.m. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday at 3 p.m.

"I believe in it," Moeller coach Mike Cameron said about one play spurring a t.eam on. "After the St. X game, I definitely believe that has been a factor. They've gained a lot of confidence in themselves. The kids knew that three runs wouldn't be enough to beat them."

The three runs he referred to were

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those scored by Elder in the first inning of Monday's regional championship. Moeller fought back to win 5-4, earning its first trip to the state tournament since winning it all in 1993.

Cameron's teams are perfect in three state appearances.

Frietch has done more than hurt opponents at the plate. A converted infielder, he has adjusted quickly to playing the outfield. In the regional semifinals against Miamisburg, Frietch twice cut down runners trying to take extra bases. His sprawling seventh-inning catch in the gap in right-center field against Elder saved two runs and gave the Crusaders an opportunity to win the game in their last at-bat.

In St. Ignatius, Moeller will be seeing a team well accustomed to Cincinnati baseball. The Wildcats are 4-0 against Queen City teams this season,

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beating La Salle, Glen Este and St. Xavier twice.

"It's not a surprise at all we're here," said first-year St. Ignatius coach Brian Morgan. "Our pitching can go four or five deep. . . . If our first guy gets in trouble early, I won't hesitate to take him out."

Moeller will go with junior lefty Scott Byrnes, who gave up just four hits in beating Miamisburg, 5-1, in the regional semifinal. Morgan said he hadn't decided on his starter, but was leaning toward senior right-hander John Baco or senior left-hander Andy Hargrove.

Baco is 8-0 and shut down Brunswick, 2-1, on three hits in the regional semifinal. Hargrove, son of Baltimore Orioles manager Mike Hargrove, threw his second career no-hitter in the regional final against Euclid. His first came last year vs. Oak Hills.

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Moeller in semis for fourth time

By Bob Queenan Post contributor

Moeller is the only remaining local team in the state baseball tournament, and coach Mike Cameron's Crusaders have an excellent history in the state finals.

Moeller, ranked No. 4 in the final state rankings by the Associated Press, has three state crowns to its credit, winning in 1972, 1989 and 1993.

This is the Crusaders' fourth state semifinal appearance, the last coming in 1993.

The Crusaders (22-6), who knocked off defending Division I state champion Elder Monday in the regional final, will play CleveMike land St. Ignatius (24-5) at 11 a.m.

Cameron Friday in Columbus in the state semifinals at Bill Davis Stadium.

The winner meets the winner of the Friday game at 3 p.m. between Dublin Coffman (22-8) and Toledo Start (21-0). The final is Saturday at 3 p.m. at Bill Davis Stadium.

SOFTBALL- Northwest is the only local team remaining in the tournament.

The Division I Knights have made the state semifinals for the first time in school history.

Northwest (22-5), which defeated Clayton North- ¡ mont this week for the regional crown, will play Hilliard Darby (26-6) Friday at 3 p.m. at Brookside Park in Ashland, Ohio.

The Northwest-Darby winner meets the winner of the Friday game between Youngstown Boardman (25-4) and Elyria (22-5) in the championship game on Saturday at 4 p.m.

TRACK & FIELD - The Russo brothers, Frank and Ron, will take a strong contingent of competitors to the state track and field finals Friday and Saturday at Welcome Stadium in Dayton.

The weekend's events begin at 9:30 a.m. Friday with the Division Ill, 4x800 relay finals.

Ron's Colerain girls and boys, led by distance runners Alison Zeiner and Mason Ward, hope to bring home titles from Dayton.

"We won the cross country title," said Ron Russo, speaking of his girls' team, "but we were 14th in state competition last year. I'd really be happy with a top-five finish or better."

Frank's La Salle Lancers are headed by distance runner Steve Padgett.

Different game but same aim Byrnes wants 2nd state title at Moeller

By Dave Schutte The Cincinnati E111[Uirer

One state championship title is usually enough to satisfy a high school athlete.

That'¡s not the case with Scott Byrnes, the ace . of Moeller's pitching staff who would like to add a second state title before graduating next year.

A member of Moeller's 1999 state championship basketball team, Byrnes will be on the mound Friday when the Crusaders play Cleveland St. Ignatius in the Division I state baseball semifinals at Ohio State University.

"I played about 15 minutes a game for the basket-

ball team," said Byrnes, a junior. "Tyler (Tabler) and I are the only baseball players who were on the team, and we'd like to also win in baseball."

During Moeller's baseball tournament run, Byrnes has been the catalyst, winning three games, including a 6-5 victory over St. Xavier on Paul Frietch's grand slam in the seventh inning.

Last year, Byrnes wasn't moved up to varsity until early May because of the prolonged basketball season. He pitched the first month .for the junior varsity.

"Scotty's arm wasn't ready, because the basketball season ran so late," Moeller coach Mike Cameron said. "He pitched one good game against Hamilton and beat them 4-2 but also had some rough outings." ....

See BYRNES, Page 87

1~'4'1."1

~-»:·v·Byrnes:

-~~:·Leading ·;~~~Moeller '''"J"

From Page 81

·:·~- ~

Cameron challenged Byrnes to on becoming the complete · pitcher during the summer.

"Scotty needed to learn how to field the position, hold runners on base and spot his pitches better," Cameron said.

"Becoming a complete pitcher "'also includes learning the proper preparation from start to start.

Pitchers develop a routine. Some don't. throw at all the day after a ~:: start, while some toss long."

Byrnes accepted the challenge.

"Last year I tried to overpower · most batters,'' Byrnes said. "I '.' was getting ripped pretty good __ and quickly came to realize that r .vv_had to change."

Byrnes' has completed nine of 10 games for an 8-2 record (both •c'losses to Elder), pitching 64 in.· nings, striking out 64 and walking only seve~ ,w Byrnes' best pitch is a curve that most 'o~onents have had ·;:;::,trouble hittin Thi&, coupled with : a fastball that h been clocked at ~86-87 mph, rna ~Bxmes even more effective. ~ \ ,_ --~ "Scotty's biggest areii of im-· .. -provement is contro~an:d loca- ! tion," Cameron said.

In Moeller's regional semifinal ,.,victory over Miamisburg, Byrnes\ · was ahead on the count against 22 of the 25 batters he faced . .... ~.. Cameron's original plans didn't include Byrnes taking over as the No. 1 starter. But when Jason .

-Ranz went down with shoulder tendinitis, Byrnes got the call.

During the final week of the regular season, Moeller's hopes al":\~ most went out the· window when ·"'"Byrnes was hit in the pitching arm by a line drive off the bat of Elder's •Richie Jones.

"I .heard a crack and thought the season was over," Byrnes sa1d. "It turned out to be a bruise, and I didn't miss a turn."

When Byrnes is on the mound, the Crusaders play with confidence.

"The kids believe we can't be beaten when Scotty is pitching," Cameron said. "It's one of those -things you want kids to feel." ... :. Byrn~s is ready for St. Ignatius. +n "All :the football players re"'member that St. Ignatius beat us ~:~wo years ago, and they want us ""':to do well," Byrnes said. "There's nv•no bad teams at state, and I'm looking forward to the challenge."

-~::-~work

1

State. semifinals I St. I 5, Moe.ll er 4 (8 innings)

The Cincmnati Enquirer/CRAIG RUTILE

Moeller catcher Justin McNeely whips off his mask after the St. Ignatius· Bill Lazio scores the winning run in

'the eighth inning.

Moeller falls short of finals Softball • Northwest fell to Hilliard Darby 4-1 in the Division ·1 state semifinals. This was the first appearance by a Northwest team in the state semifinals. After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, Darby scored runs in the second, third and fourth innings. 02

Track Boys: The St. Xavier 3,200-

meter relay team made school history Friday at the Division I state track meet by winning the state title. It is the Bombers first track state title.

1)2

llirls: Colerain's 3,200-meter

-elay team won the state title ly passing the team from )ublin Coffman on the last ap.02

Error-prone Crusaders ousted in 8 innings in semis Frietch to catch the ball runBy Dave Schutte ning away from the infield.

'This isn't The Cincinnati Enquirer was tricky all COLUMBUS - Victory customary of day,"Theandwind I misjudged one was within the grasp of the ball," Frietch said. "It kept the team.'

Moeller baseball team, but carrying back, and I wasn't

the Crusaders let it get away.

Single runs in the seventh and eighth innings carried Cleveland St. Ignatius to a 5-4 victory over the Crusaders in the Division I stale semifinals Friday at Bill· Davis Stadium.

Wildcats left fielder Bill Lazio hit a leadoff triple in the eighth inning off Moeller's Scott Byrnes to get the ball rolling for St. Ignatius.

"I went up looking for a fastball, and that's the pitch I got," Lazio said. "When I hit

Moeller coacl!i Mike

Cameron on his team's five errors

the ball, I wasn't sure if it would fall in. I prayed tha:t it was in the gap."

Lazio scored the winning run on Joe Morris' sacrifice fly to right field.

When Morris hit the ball toward short right, it appeared Moeller outfielder Paul Frietch might be able to throw out Lazio at the plate.

But a strong wind forced

in position to throw."

But Lazio almost got caught in the blunder of the year. Rather than stay on the base for the tag, he was halfway down the third-base line with St. Ignatius coach Brian Morgan yelling for him to get back and tag up.

"I don't know what I was thinking," Lazio said. "I stood there watching the ball. It may have been close if he (Frietch) had caught the See MOELLER, Page 02

High school baseball! Moeller seeks fourth state title

-

MikeCMiei'OII

Age: 53 Career: 1968-2000 Career Record: 605269 (1968-2000) Schools: Purcell High School (1959-63); University of Cincinnati (1963-67); Moeller (1968-2000) GCL TIUes: 17 (1969, '71, '72, '77, '78, '80, '81, '82, '83, '85, '89, '90, '91, '92, '96, '97, '98).

State tiUes: 1972, " I 1989,1993 '}i Drafted players: Ken Griffey, Jr., Buddy Bell, , len Mutuszek, Barry Larkin, Bill Long, David Bell, Michael Bell, Ricky Bell, Ricky Bennett, Shawn Brennan, Bob Bresnen, Jack Crable, Mark Davis, Dwayne DuBois, Adam Hyzdu,. , Steve Larkin, Mike Olexa, Mike Schwarber, Tom .~ Schwarber, Mike Sylvester, Jimmy Thamann, Bill Wesley, MattWollert.

ter Tim 720 (actiVe) Augle Bossu, Cleveland ¡Benedictine 673 (retired) Mike Cameron, Moeller 605 (active)

Nation's al-tine leadilg coaches

1. Gene Schultz, Lancing Kee, La. 1,186 (retired) 30. Mike Cameron, Moeller 605

Moeller shortstop Brian Reisert says coach Mike Cameron "is always there to help you."

Cameron: 600 wins and ootmting Retirement not in coach's immediate plans Br Dave Schutte The Cincinnati Enquirer

Since Mike Cameron took over in the 1968 season, the Moeller baseball team ha~ three state championships (1972, '89, '93), 605 victories and 17 Greater Catholic League championships.

Again this season, Moeller is in the chase for a state

title. The Crusaders have a 21-4 record - the 18th season they have won at least 20 games.

On Friday (2 p.m.) at Wright State University, the Crusaders meet Miamisburg in the Division I regional semifinals with Elder playing Troy in the second game at 5 p.m.

"When I came to Moeller, I was hired basically to

coach football," said Cameron, who is only the second baseball coach Moeller has ever had. "I asked about baseball and there happened to be an assistant coaching job open."

Cameron spent one year under George Markley before assuming the head coaching job.

"To be honest, I thought I knew a lot about the game

until I attended! a baseball clinic at Ohio State," Cameron said. "I walked out thinking that I would never win a game the next season.

I thought I'd never be able to organize a practice like these gays. I wa.s intimidated."

However, Cameron's first year was an overwhelming success. The Buddy Bell-led Crusaders went 20-7 and were the No. 1 seed in the district tournament. But, Moeller lost in the first

game to Purcell Marian.

"I was pretty cocky after the first year," Cameron said. "But, the next season we were shot down. We went 12-10 and finished last in the league. This brought me back to reality."

Cameron credits former MoellerfNotre Dame/Akron football coach Gerry Faust and former Moeller and McNicholas basketball See MOELLER, Page D3

Moeller: Baseball going

for fourth state crown From Page D1

coach Jerry Doerger with much of his success.

"Gerry (Faust) was my mentor," Cameron said. "He took me aside and told me what to expect and offered support. Jerry Doerger was also an influence on me."

Cameron is the first to admit that he has been blessed with many talented players including major-leaguers Ken Griffey, Jr. Buddy Bell, Len Mutuszek, Barry Larkin, Bill Long and David Bell.

"The only player who I thought was a sure thing was Junior," Cameron said.

Overall, 26 of Cameron's players have signed major-league contracts with more than 80 going on to .p,lay college baseball.

Never in my wildest dreams did I see this happening to me," Cameron said. "I couldn't have scripted a better career of winning 600 games and coaching so IDl!n.Y outstanding pl~!fers."

Moeller shortstop Brian Reisert has nothing but praise for Carner-

on and was elated to play a part in the 600th victory that came two weeks ago against Badin.

"Coach Cameron is a straightup guy who's always there to help you," Reisert said. "He's always willing to stay after practice, and I've learned a lot about the game from him."

Cameron also points to 27-year assistant coach Paul Smith as playing a role in the success of Moeller baseball.

"Paul never had any ambitions to be a head coach and our relationship has been great," Cameron said. "We meet during the day to discuss practice and the things we want to accomplish."

As for retirement, Cameron has no plans at this time.

"It's been a rewarding career and Moeller has afforded me everything I could ever expect," Cameron said. "I've had a lot of things working for me - good kids, supportive parents and Pan! Smith."

WE

SPORTS

THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

Cameron wins No. 600 Moeller coach beats Badin to reach milestone 11w Cincinnati Enquirer

Mike Cameron Moeller's veteran baseb;ll coach, reached the 600-victory piateau Thursday when the Crusaders defeated Hamilton Badin 6-1 at Blue Ash. Moeller's victory was also Cameron's gift to Purcell Marian, his alma mater.

It enabled Purcell Marian to clinch a tie with Badin for the Greater Catholic League North championship, the Cavaliers' first league title in 25 years.

In his 32nd year as varsity coach at Moeller, Carneron's teams have won 17 Greater Catholic League tities and three state championships (1972, 1989, 1993) along with numerous sectiona! and district titles.

Cameron has coached 24 .

players drafted by professional teams including Buddy Bell, Barry Larkin, David Bell, Len Matuszek, Bill Long and Ken Griffey Jr. Although the Crusaders finished second behind Elder in the GCL South this season, Moeller is 16-5 with two ~egular-season ga~es r~mammg ~efore the Divis1on I sectiOnal tournament next week.

"One of the biggest thrills was in 1969 when we won our first league title by beating Elder at Oskamp Field," Cameron said. "I'll never forget the 500 people lined up along the field and the wild celebration back at the school."

Ill> Summit Country Day 13, CHCA 11 - After losing twice to CHCA during the season, the Silver Knights scored two runs in the eighth inning to pull off the upset.

Sean Kuhn led off the eighth with a single. Danny

el-Tate 0, Division II sectional, Rivers tar- Dana Hott drove in five runs, and the Wildcats took advantage of eight Tiger errors.

Ill> Reading 7, Purcell Marian 2, Division II sectional, Riverstar - Winning pitcher Maria Gallo struck out seven and allowed only three hits.

Ill> Clermont Northeastern 7, Wyoming 3- Division II sectional, Riverstar -Stephanie Roy's RBI in the sixth inning triggered a fourrun Rockets rally.

Ill> Goshen 19, North College Hill 1, Division II sectional, Riverstar - Emily Patrick celebrated her 18th birthday with a career-high 17 strikeouts in the victory.

Rachel Toles paced the offense with five RBI. . ~Rained _out: Four DiVISIOn I sect10nal softball games at Rumpke Park were postponed. They were resSoftball cheduled for today beginning Ill> Deer Park 15, Beth- at 4 p.m.

Reynolds reached first base on an error, and Steve Stickle drew a walk.

Dave Marquez broke the tie, driving in Kuhn with an infield single, and winning pitcher Grant Bailey followed with an RBI single.

Ill> Lockland 4, Middletown Christian 0, Division IV sectional, Tealtown- Dan Noelcke struck out 12 and scatter~d two hits, while freshman Tim Cox drove in two insurance runs with a double in the sixth inning.

Ill> Middletown Madison 11, East Clinton 1, Dayton Division III sectional, Middletown Madison - Chris Drury led off the game with a homer for the Mohawks.

Ill> Reading 11, Deer Park 1, Division III sectional, Tealtown - A base-loaded triple by Mitch Hayes triggered a seven-run first inning for the Blue Devils.

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2000 BS

NBA playoffs (Firat rotllld, boat-of·IIYI) WICIIUdiJ

Seattle I 04. Utili> 93, serles tied 2-2 Rllflday Indiana 96, Mttwaukee 95; Pacers win sertes 3-2 Today Seat118 at utall, 8 p.m. (TNT) Seeramento at LA. lakers, 10:30 p.m. (TNT)

The Associated Press

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The Cincinnati Enqulrer(Emesi Coleman

Bethel-Tate's Cassie Dreigon is safe at second base as Deer Park's Jenni Harp can't hold on to the ball.

Deer Park won 15-0.

LOS ANGELES Should Sacramento beat the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center tonight to win their best-of-five first-round playoff series, it might rank right up there as one of the biggest upsets in sports history - certainly the biggest shocker ever in the NBA playoffs.

"Of course it would," Lakers star Kobe Bryant said Thursday.

The oddsmakers established the Lakers as 10-point favorites.

,High schools

Grand slam helps Moeller oust St. X The Cincinnati Enquirer

Paul Frietch provided a storybook ending to Moeller's 6-5 victory over St. Xavier in the Division I sectional semifinals at Midland Field on Wednesday.

On a 3-2 count with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, Frietch hit a Dom Carmosino fastball over the right-center field fence.

With Moeller trailing 5-2 after St. X scored three in the top of the seventh, Tyler Tabler walked and advanced to second on a single by Jim Wood. Scott Byrnes flew out before Justin McNeely hit an infield single, and Adam Visnic struck out, setting the stage for the grand slam.

"Coach (Mike Cameron) pulled me aside before I batted and told me one pitch, one spot," Frietch said. "I knew when I hit it the ball was out of the park."

The blast was a thrill in more ways than one.

"My mom (Mary Joan) died in 1988, when I was 5 years old," Frietch said. "Sunday is Mother's Day and I dedicated this week to her." ll> Elder 7, Mason 6, ~ Division I at Anderson - Aa-

ron Brown slid around the throw at home to score the winning run in the ninth. ll> Amelia 6, Walnut Hills 0, Division I at Anderson - Joe Smith pitched a five-hit complete game. ll> Glen Este 10, Anderson 0, Division I at Midland - Sophomore Matt Knabe scattered three hits. ll> Norwood 8, Western Brown 1, Division II at Roselawn - Mike Marksbury struck out a career-high 16, while younger brother, Matt, went 3-for-4 with two RBI. ll> Loveland 11, Roger Bacon 4, Division II at Roselawn - Nate Engel drove in four runs, including three in the first inning with a home run, for the Tigers. ll> McNicholas 8, Purcell Marian 4, Division II at Roselawn - Joe Harrmann had a homer and three RBI as the Rockets advanced to Friday's championship game against Norwood. ll> Ross 11, Turpin 0, Division II at Roselawn Justin Minges struck out eight, including the final five, to pull off the upset of the No. c2-seeded Spartans.

Dti SAIURDAY, r:.!AY 13,2000

V~

I'. IVIU

THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

Flying Pig Marathon

Moeller wins sectional Defeats Glen Este 10-4

By Dave Schutte The Cincinnati Empdrer

Mter sitting out most of the season with tendinitis in the right shoulder, Moeller pitcher Jason Ranz was eager to return tc the lineup.

Relying on i1is fastball, Ranz turned in five solid innings in Mo-~ller's 10-4 victory Friday over Glen Este in the Division I sectional championship game at Midland Field.

The victory advances Moeller into the District championship 4 p.m. Thursday against Lakota West at Midland Field.

Although Ranz wasn't overpowering, he was in command until allowing three consecutive singles in the sixth inning. John Frank took over and ended the ral-

ly.

"I've been off the past 21f2 weeks," Ranz said. "The arm is feeling better a:1d today I stuck with the fastball. I'm now getting my confidence back and expect to pitch some more in the tour-

nament."

Moeller coach Mike Cameron was satisfied with the performance by Ranz, one of the Crusaders' mainstays last season.

"Jason pitched three in· nings Monday and was free to go today," Cameron said.

"He worked hard on rehab and wanted the ball. He is a workhorse and a very confident player."

Another plus for Ranz was Moeller's five-run outburst in the first inning including Joe Neville's base-loaded triple with two outs.

"That was the big hit of the game," Cameron said.

"It came with two out on a two-strike oitch. We would have only ·been ahead 2-0 and the way Glen Este has been hitting the bali, we could have been in trouble."

The Crusaders added three runs in the second inning behind Justin McNee· ly's two-run triple.

"It was an inside fastball," McNeely said. "Their pitcher (freshman Landen Dickerson) seemed nervous and I sat back on the ball."

Paul. Frietch, who hit a grand slam in the seventh inning to beat St. Xavier 6-5

No ringers allowed Last year's Kenyan winner To take part can still get in the Flying was late entry You Pig. There will be registration

By John Fay The Cincinnati Enquirer

Last year, as Kenya's Elly Rono was running away with the first Flying Pig Marathon, the people at Channel 9 were running around trying to figure out who Rono was.

The Pig, which will be run Sunday at 6:45 a.m., is a people's race. No effort is made to bring. in elite runners. Rono simply showed up and ran.

"We don't pay them," race director Rich Williams said. "We don't put them up.

We don't do anything special for them."

But the $1,600 for first place does draw some top t.__ __;__;__;_...;..:....___ _ _~~---'--_;_~_;_.::.;.J runners. Rono was an examThe C:incinnati t:rqum;GLENN HARTONC pie, as a last-minute regisMoeller's winning pitcher Jason Ranz threw five trant. Barring someone signinnings and gave up tour runs to Gten Este. ing up today, the favorite for Sunday's second running of on Wednesday, continued his ready tu plav." · . . the Pig is Rudolph Jun. hot streak. He went 2-for-3 . with a double and two RBL Mmder ~dded two ms:rr-- Jun, a native of Czechosloal!-ce runs rr: the fourth m- vakia Jiving in Fort Walton "During 'Jatting :Jractice rung.

Beach, Fla., finished second at school, the kids were Moeller beat Lakota West to Rono last year. Rono ran a loose." Cameron said. "They ::.0-4 or Monday.

2:21:15; Jun was 1:16 bewere joking and fcoling ellen Est·J.........,........ uo 001 o- 4 8 n dh aroand but once we di:;- No"J)~~,;.;;;;··i:P:v~;.:e!~~- ~~~.;i:!~d.:s~ M~ I D" SC OQ S erynes 24: '<lc~eer,2·3, 38, 2 RBI; Fnetch 3·3, cussed the pregame, I cot:.ld see they were focused a:1d ~3 . 23~~~l~~~~~~,~-~i'~,~-~.RBI.G-~,,

H"

Elder ralll•eS tO beat Ameli•a 6 5 •

Panthers score two runs in seventh inning

By Dave Schutte The Cincinnati E•1quirer

"We're Elder. Get it done."

Those were the words that Elder coach Mark Thompson gave the Panthers on his way to the third base coaching box to start the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Panthers responded wr.th two runs to pull out a 6-5 victory over Amelia in the Division I sectional championship game at Midland Field. ''I'm tired of this and it's got to stop," Th0n:p~(':; s<.id.

"You can't expect to come

from behind in every game.

We're due to blow somebody out."

The victory earned Elder a spot in the district championship game next Saturday against Fairfield.

With two outs and the bases empty in the seventh inning, Aaron Brown doubled.

"I was looking for a fastball but got a curve," Brown said. "I hit it well, but I could tell it wasn't going to go out."

Kurt Rosenacker hit a line drive into left-center field, scoring Brown with the tying run. Rosenacker went to third on the throw home.

"They (Amelia) were on their heals and their heads dropped," Thompson said.

"That's the time to take ad\'antage of the situation." !\~c.:k !C::-;:1y, inserted into the game in :he sixth, laid a

bunt dawn the third-base line on the first pitch that <\melia third baseman Steve Y.~dle·· ner felded. But, Kahr:y beat the t'!l:-ow wl:ile Rose:u:cker scored.

W!:en Rosenacker cro~sed the plate, a wild celebratio'1 broke out with all the E~der players piling on.

"TI:e bunt could have been better, but w'1;:;n I 3aw the pitcher (Nick B:-own'ng) stumble, I !;.new I had 2 chance to beat the thnw,' Kahnv said. "It should have been -closer to the Iine l:ut it WJrked'out."

Eider was its ovm worst enemy early in the ga:ne, aLowing the Barons five unearned runs, four coiT.ing in the fot:rth for a 4-2 lead.

"T1at was ven· ·Jncharacteristic of us,'' · Tho11~son ,aid. "The ldt side Jf the :n:;eld have been solid all

season."

Amelia had a chance to break the game open in the fifth inug, bt:t Kurt Davis was throw cut at home trying to score f~om second on a single by Jc.y Vinson.

Dav:s. Ar::e:ia's starting pitcher, opened the door for the Panther:, in the sixth, walking P.J. Volker and Kyle Robbiru; to open the inning.

Browning replaced Davis and al:owec only o:Je run, cutting the Baron leld to 5-4.

"The players knew that Amelia was a .500 team and took them too lightly," Thomp:;on said. "I can only hc:pe t:1ey learr,ed a lesson from the gar:1e." .•melfa ····~ •••• ·····---~00~ 410

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WP-Sp!l!e LP-Srn,lill6. Hitting leaders: Ale'1,1 2-3, 2 q&:: ~mscn :-::. Madlener JB, 2 RB!: C·ntoes ?.·3. 21. CVJI)I! ia. E-Jones 2B; Brow·1 1-3 2B; \11 ·~r 2B; ;>ate! 2 RBI. Re<:ords: [ 22·4, Amelia m2· 14.

h

at Kroger Health Expo from I 0 a.m .. to 8 p.m. today.

hind.

Orlando Velasquez, a runner from Albuquerque, projects he will finish in 2:18.

Another contender will be Darrin Moorman from 01benberg, Ind. He expects to run 2:20.

The fact the U.S. Olympic Trials took place last week pretty much precludes any of the top U.S. men from running.

Last year's women's winner, Sommer Settell, is not running. Three runners with a projected finish time of under three hours have registered: Jody Benware of Wheaton, Ill.; Martha Perkins of Lexington and Patti Shepard of Penrose, N.C. Settell won last year in 2:58:10.

The forecast, which calls for a high of 66 degrees and low of 49, is perfect for

marathoning, That might entice someone to show up.

"You don't know for sure until they're here and on the starting line," Williams said.

About 6,000 runners had registered for the race as of Friday. That's slightly ahead of last year's pace, when the race drew 6,150.

"We had 350 sign up at the race expo last year," Pig founder Bob Coughlin said.

"I think we'll do better than that with the weather we're supposed to get. We'll be right around 6,500."

The biggest change between last year and this year is that the course has been changed. The finish line now is at Sawyer Point just east of downtown, because that's a better place for a post-race party than last year's finish at Union Terminal.

"The other thing people will notice is there's more entertainment," Coughlin said. "We have 50 percent more. We added a lot to the more desolate areas of the course."

The Flying Piglet Kids' Fun Run and Festival is today from 9 a.m. to noon at Sawyer Point.

1

McNicholas upsets Norwood 7-4

ThecincinnauEnquirer The magic carpet ride by the McNicholas baseball team continued on Friday at R 1 p k ose awn ar · For the second consecutive game, the Rockets pulled an upset, knocking off No. 1 seeded Norwood 7-4 in the Division II sectional

hi

champions 'p game.

The sectional championship is the third in four years for McNicholas and advances the Rockets into the Division II district championship next week at the University of Dayton.

Chuck Moore hit a threerun homer in the seventh inning to break a 4-4 tie. Jon Cremons pitched 2% innings of one-hit relief to pickup the victory.

Ill> Loveland 10, Ross 6, Division II at Roselawn Matt Beck's two-run triple and Nate Engle's RBI-triple triggered a five-run fifth inning rally that erased a 6-4

deficit. . . . The secttona! champtonshtp t.s Loveland s third cons~cuttve and a~v~ces the Ttgers to the distnct championship next week at the University of Dayton.

Ill> Cincinnati Country Day 15 , Landmark 5, Division IV at Tealtown _The Indians jumped out to an 11-2 lead and neve~ loo~ed back to cl~tm t~etr third straight sectional tttle.

Alt_hough Landmark won the Mta.ml Va~ley Conference champwnshtp, they lost twice to Cincinnati Country Day early in the season.

Chris Torlone and Brett Smith each drove in three runs for the Indians.

Ill> Middletown Fenwick 12, Fayetteville 2, Division IV at Tealtown The Falcons used home runs to defeat the Rockets for the sectional championship.

Senior center fielder Kyle Wolf homered in the first and second innings and junior

Bu~s

first baseman Matt smacked two-run . homers rn the second and third.

Kentucky softball Ill> Highl~ds 12, D~yton 2 _- Mtke Bur_ns tnes not thmk about his slowpitch so~ball coaching career that ts nearly over.

Highlands extended Bums' career by at least two more games in Friday's state tournament at Rivershore Sports Complex. The Bluebirds' win over Dayton gave Burns a berth in the winners bracket semifinals.

A familiar nemesis awaits at 9:30 a.m. today - Louisville Holy Cross, the team that beat Highlands in last year's state tournament.

NewCath meets Newport in the other 9:30 a.m. semifinal. The Thoroughbreds have beaten Newport four times this season.

Ill> Results, 08

!lflATURDAY, W.AY 27, 2000

SPORTS

THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

'Elder rallies, faces rival for regional titl¢ M"9eller game today 'should b.e; a classic' Bfl)ave SchuHe '1'lrRCfindnnati EnqtJirer

FAIRBORN - Minutes aftet-Eider defeated Troy 12-6 in' ~'Division I regional semifinal at Wright State University,

Panthers coach Mark Thompson was looking ahead.

"If you love baseball, tomorrow's game against Moeller is what it's all about," Thompson said. "It's something you live for as a coach and player and the type of game you love to play. It should be a classic."

For the second consecutive year, Moeller and defending state champion Elder

will play for the regional championship and a berth in the state semifinals.

Elder's Tom Spille will oppose Moeller's Jason Ranz, who took the loss in the Panthers' 10-0 defeat of the Crusaders in last season's regional finals.

The meeting today will be the third game this year between Elder and Moeller.

The Panthers won the first

two.

Friday, as in the four previous tournament games, Elder's offense didn't come alive until the Panthers fell behind early. Starting pitcher Dan Bachman walked a batter and hit another and allowed a single to jumpstart Troy.

"I wasn't worried when I gave up two runs in the first inning," Bachman said. "I

knew we'd score some runs and come back."

Bachman's mind was 62 miles away much of the game. His grandfather, Bob, suffered a heart attack Thursday night and underwent surgery early Friday.

But before arriving at Wright State about 4 p.m., Bachman got the word that Bob Bachman's surgery was successful.

Byrnes pitches Moeller to semis .....,.

tyjtave Schutte 'f1i¢.ndnnati Enquirer

:::J!:i\IRBORN - The Moel'!Ct:'Crusaders continue to p\ey-· nearly flav.less postseason baseball.

Behind an impressive performance by junior pitcher Scotty Byrnes a~ well as timely hitting and outstanding defense, the Crusaders rolled to a~ victory over Miamisburg ~ Division I regional semiliitiiS at Wright State.

- Nroeller will meet Elder today for the regional championship and a berth in the Division LState semifinals.

"Scott's been a money pitcher all season," Moeller coach Mike Caneron said.

Byrnes allowed only one ruu;.in the sixth inning on a hl!J'IJing cui:ve that Chris Lebel::.tient over the left-field fence at the 330-foot mark. . _"..My fastball had good movement todav, and I was able to throw ihe curve for stl::iKes," Byrnes said. "It's ~ easier pitching with a ~·

David McGuffey homered in the first inning with Jim Wood on first base, giving the Crusaders a 2-0 lead they held until McGuffey a two-run blast in the · for a 4-0 lead.

It was McGuffey's game in the tournament. He started early in the season before hitting woes sent him • to the bench. He started Friday as the designated hitter for catcher Justin McNeely.

"Justin is a little banged up," Cameron said." ... David has been swinging the bat well, and that's why he was in there today."

The Crusaders added a final run in the seventh when Paul Frietch hit a single, driving in Wood.

Frietch, a junior right fielder, also threw out one runner at third base in the second inning and another at second in the third inning.

"Those were big plays," Miamisburg coach Karlos Patterson said. "But the Byrnes kid was the difference."

- · · ...................... 200 002 l-5 7 l IIIUIII................... 000 001 el-l 4 2 WP-Bymes {10 Ks). LP-Holp (8 Ks). Hittllt leaders: HR. 2 RBI: McGoffey HR, 2 RBI: FrleiCII RBI. Mlanisburli-Let>er HR: SChombwg 2·3. Reco rds: r.taml<burg 23·7, -

--Byrnes

22·6.

Errors plague 2 area teams .in semifinals contributor

I

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"-----------.:...--------------~-----...l The Cincinnati Enquirer/MICHAEL SNYDER

Moeller pitcher Scott Byrnes (4) is congratulated by teammates after striking out I 0 Miamisburg batters in a 5-l victory.

Madeira robbed of chance to defend 8J;Jlen Walpole

~ contributo•

:::a:ILLSBORO - Single~ation baseball tourna~s do not favor repeat wipners, and the defending state champion Madeira Mustangs found out why in Friday's 3-1loss to Bellefontalne Benjamin Logan in the regional semifmals at HillsI

boro's Dick Shaffer Field.

Two outstanding Benjamin Logan defensive plays robbed Madeira freshman second baseman Jorge Ramirez of two would-be RBI singles, and they proved the difference in the game.

"The game could easily have gone either wa~," Madeira coach Jack Kuzniczci said. "We hit the ball as well

composure, I knew we 'could come back."

• Elder took the lead i'n the fourth inning, taking advantage of an error in the outfield.

Elder added two more runs in the fifth and put'away the game in the sixth inning with five runs.

----........... oo1 421 c.-12 u a

Trey -------...... 200 100 1- 1 1 4 WP-8odmon IS Ks, 7-<l). LP-lre _.. ~ 2·3; llroMI 2·3: W!lwo:n 28; llol>lh 21!. Tooy-Qoood 2-4, laYey 2 RBI; 5dlo!or 2-4.

E--

Fenwick, CCD ousted from postseason

~...,...

Crusaders top Miamisburg

"I never thought of not starting Dan," Thompson said.

"He's such a competitor."

Elder scored in the third inning when Troy starter J.P. Jung allowed a single by Richie Jones before waLking three batters to force in a run.

"I was worried about Jung, because he's a real competitor and throws well," Thompson said. "But when I saw him lose his

or even better than they did.

They got the hits when they needed them."

With runners on second and third and one out in the fourth inning, Ramirez ripped a line drive up the middle. But Raiders pitcher Josh Baughman got his glove up in time to make the catch, mostly in self-defense.

Madeira failed to score,

and Logan scored twice in its half of the inning to take a 3-0 lead.

The Mustangs drew within 3-1 on a sixth-inning Mike Novakov RBI single. With two outs and Novakov on second, Ramirez again batted in a nm-producing situation.

This time he looped what appeared to be a hit into

shallow left field, but Logan's David Gilbert dove head-first to make the catch and end the Mustangs' rally.

"If those two go through, we probably win the ballgame," Kuzniczci said of Ramirez's 'almost' hits.

- · ·------------.... 000 001 el-l 7 1 ...~ LOCOO ...........001 WI'~ (711"1, 1~)-

200 x-4 7 I

lP-Cifoi'll(!l-2,

_.. ~ ~ 2·3, RBI; r. 0001oy 2-4: OlsWnet! 1·3, 21!. BL-!Wno 2-3. 2 21!. Rll, 2R: G:lwrt 2·3. 211111. _ , 8L ~. II 22-6.

HUBER HEIGHTS St. Henry, the Division IV defending state champion, took advantage of two errors in the second inning to beat Middletown Fenwick 5-3 Friday afternoon in a regional semifinal game at Wayne High School.

A Fenwick error on a ground ball by leadoff batter Joe Wourms was followed by a bunt single and a sacrifice bunt before Fenwick's second error allowed a run to score. The next batter, Nathan Schwieterman, drove in the second nm of the inning with a sacrifice fly. "'We've been a strong defensive team all year," Fenwick coach Bob McCormick said. "When you get this far in the tournament, there isn't much room for error."

Fenwick scored two runs in the top of the first, but St. Henry pitcher Neil Schmitz settled down after that and held the Falcons (18-11) to four hits and a run the remainder of the game.

"I knew in the first inning I wasn't throwing my best," Schmitz said. "Once we got the lead, I settled down and threw strikes and let the defense do the rest."

Fenwick closed the gap to 5-3 in the fourth when Gra-

ham Halcomb singled in Jamie Studer.

St. Henry caught a break in the fifth inning. Fenwick's Nick Callsen drove a ball deep to center field. Brent ' Bohman tracked the ball , down, and as he made the catch, a gate on the outfield wall swung open to give Bohman extra space.

"These are the defending state champions, and we played right with them," McCormick said. "We had an outstanding season." , _ k ............- ...... 200 100 0-J I J IL ....., ............... Z21 000 x-1 t 0

W!'·Sdlm!U. LP-nd<. Hlt1lnC ~: F-Collsen RBI; S110der 2-3, RBI; Haleoml> 1·3, RBI. SH-Scllwletemoon 2·2, RBI: Bollman 28: llast

2·3. 2RBI: l Wooumos 1·2, RBI. Rec- F 18-11, SH 20-tO.

Fort Loramie 11, CCD 1 Mental mistakes and shaky fielding ended Cincinnati Country Day's hopes of a rematch with St. Henry in the regional championship game. The Indians lost 1-0 to St. Henry last year in the regional fmals.

The Indians committed 10 errors, four in the first inning, as Fort Loramie defeated them in five innings Friday.

"Errors are infectious.

Normally we are a pretty good fielding team," ceo coach Tim Dunn said.

"We absolutely caught them on the right day," Fort Loramie coach Bill Sturwold said. "I've seen them before, and they played well.

They have a nice program."

-11

FOftL•-·-·--------J01 I I CCD .............................. ooo 01- 1 • 10 W!'-Retlman. LP-Smltlo 16-2). H1t11nC liedon: Fl-AsolaCt 2-4, 2R81; Golobclomldl 2-4, 28:

~·~u~~-~~

-..s:CCD2t-7.

I

'I

•

CHCA has .successful day at regional track, tenms

~ Cincinnati Er.quirer iqocal singles players Eric Th,ornas, Jason Zimmermann anilo Ryan McCarthy along witt-iSt. Xavier's two doubles te~rvs. advanced Friday to the •semifinals of the Divisioos I and 11 state tennis totlrhaments today in Columbu~.'

,Zimmermann, a Cincinna(i :Hills Christian Academy junior, has the toughest task in :the Division II singles semifinals.

I

I

He meets defending state champion Michael Rubi_n from Toledo Central Cathohc at 9 a.m. today.

McCarthy, an Indian Hill junior,_ reached_ the Div~sion II sem1finals wtth two vtctories Friday. McCarthy plays Joel Carney, a senior at Canton Central Catholic.

Walnut Hills' freshman sensation, Thomas, won two matches to reach the Division I state semifinals.

He'll play Jeff Kader, a

junior from Geneva. Canton McKinley senior Ben Kirkse~ m~ets Geneva's p_e:nck Sptce m the other D1vtston I semi.

Th~ win~ers meet for the champtonshtp about noon.

St. Xavier's doubles teams of Andy Bartish/Bob Ernst and Sean Shiels/Neil Sehgal finished third and fourth at the district meet last week but came on strong Friday.

Bartish and Ernst play

Patrick Thompson and Mike Nor~ika of ~edina in the st:mtfinals. Shtels a?d Sehgal wtll play Andy Ftsher and Tommy Hurst of Upper Arlington.

Regional track

The Cincinnati Country Day girls 3,200-meter relay team qualified to the state meet with a fourth-place finish Friday at Welcome Stadiurn in Dayton.

- , Lockland sophomore De-

Shawn Wynn was one of Cinci~~a~i's bright spots i~ ~he Dtvtst~n III ~eet, qual_tfying today s f)Jilillng finals m the 100 and 200 meters and in the 400-meter relay.

Wynn recorded the fastest times in the 100 (11.46) and 200 (22.90), and the Panthers relay team was sixth in 45.28.

The finals in the running events wi II begin at 4:30p.m. today, with the top four finishers advancing to

next week's state meet.

Tu Pri~ o~ CHC~ qualified to today s fmals . m .three events. He was third m the 100 (23.21) and 200 (23.31) and eighth in the 4~ (43.09).

The CHCA gtrls team turned in an outstanding performance, qualifying three relay teams (400, 800 and 1,600) and individuals in three events.

Hurdler Lauren Kirk recorded the fastest qualifying time in the 100 hurdles and

the second-fastest in the 300 hurdles. Kal Morris (100) and Erin Leeper (200) also qualified to the finals.

Among other locals, CCD's Delilah Jolmson qualified third in the 100 hurdles, and team-

mate Meridy Vollmer was eighth in the 300 hurdles. Madeira's Nyesha Hoyt was fourth in the 100 hurdles, and Seven Hills' Melanie Finn was seventh in the 300.

; a aa ace ;

4 a

THE CINCINN.ATI

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UIRER

Bloop ends McNicholas' run Miracle season stops in semis

By Ray Schaefer Enquirer rvntrihutor

PIQUA, Ohio- The McNicholas miracle baseball season ended Friday, but not without a year's worth of drama.

Columbus Bishop Watterson beat the Rockets 5-4 in nine innings in the Division II regional semifinals at Hardman Field on Mike Vaccaro's bloop single to left.

Watterson and Vandalia Butler play for the title at 1 p.m. today.

Butler eliminated Loveland 4-0.

McNicholas coach Wallv Corbett wasn't sure at first what to make of the game, but he had plenty to say about the Rockets winning nine of their last 11 games. "[ don't know what to say," Corbett said. ''That was fun, that was unbelievable."

Vaccaro's single off losing pitcher Jon Cremoa~ scored freshman first baseman Jeff Carroll from second, and it capped a 4-for-5 day.

"It was a fastball away," Vaccaro said. "I flicked at it. I was trying to foul it off. It found green."

McNicholas still had a chance to win in the seventh, but the threat died when a squeeze play failed.

Justin Feldkamp tried to get a bat on Watterson pitcher Jason Seelman's curve, but he didn't and Mike Wager was tagged out trying to get back to third.

Wally Theado otherwise dominated McNicholas. He had a no-hitter going over the first three innings. Only one Rocket.

Moore, got the ball to the outfield. and only two, Feldkamp and first baseman Nick Schmidt, reached second base.

McNicholas turned a 5-13 nightmare into a regional semifinal berth largely on senior pitcher Dave Wall's right arm - a sound strategy because ht> went into Fridav w1th a 7-2 record - but it was Wall who was largely responsible for Watterson's 2-0 lead after one inning.

Wall walked the bases loaded, and Vaccaro scored when McNicholas sophomore third baseman Joe Harrmann's throw home pulled senior catcher Mike Wager

off the plate.

Theado's grounder to shortstop made it 2-0 two batters later.

McNicholu .................. 000 004 000-4 7 0 Blahop Watteroon ............... 210 010 001-5 8 3 Hitting leaders· M-Shadley-Whlte 2-3, 28. 2 RBI: Moore 2-3. 28. 2 RBI. BW-Vaccaro 4-5. 2 RBI. Records: M

14·15. BW 22·5.

Vandalia Butler 4, Loveland 1 Vandaha Butler baseball coach Trent Dues was shocked his team was even in the Ohio Division II baseball tournament.

Loveland wished the Aviators would ha\·e staved in Division I. Junior p1trher ·Tom Hertlein's three hits and two RBI lt>d Butler in Friday's regional semifinals at Hardman Park.

Butler meets Columbus Watterson/McNicholas for the tie at 1 p.m. today.

"It's a new feeling,'' Hertlein ~aid. "It's pretty good. I've never had a game like this."

Hertlein also struck out five, and he said he'd never had a day like Friday, but would he like to stay in Di\·ision II? "If we can keep going like yeah," Hertlein said. " ~•"·~~·"• wrong with Division Il."

LOADED!

&0 Month Lease

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~ltle & reg1strat1on 1nc1udes, liB r10ntt1s 12 OW milt'S per

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UEREPORT

s sa a s a s a a

ONLINE Visit enquirer.com for the latest baseball coverage.

THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

American League 1

AL LEAGUE

rsday•s games) GABRHPct.

44 44 42 46 40 45 46 45 43 46

175 164 152 153 142 169 162 167 156 171

41 29 43 46 27 34 35 29 28 39

69 64 59 59 52 61 57 58 54 59

.394 .390 .366 .386 .366 .361 .352 .347 .346 .345

IUNS

...... ' ... ' "'" .. .................. """"' .......................... ' ................... ,.... , .............................

48 43 43 43 41 41 .................. , ......... 39 .............. ' ....... "' 39 ............................. 39 RBI ................ """' ""' 48 ................. """"'" 48 ........... 47 .......................... 46 .......... 43 ............ " ......... " 42 ............. """"' ...... 41 ' 41 ~ITS

69 ............ " ............ 64 .................... """ 63 '"" ................... 62 ...... """"' """'" 61 ........... ......... ...... 61 ....................... ,. 59 ........................ , 59 ....................... , 59 " 59 LES

...................... ' """""' ........ ," ........................ ... ,.......... , .. ". .... ,.................. .........................

17 17 16 16 16 15

lASES

""" ................... 18 .. """"' ......... " 17 ................. ""' 16 15 ........ 14 ........................ , 12 ' ................. , ... 12 lNG Ilona)

.............. 7-0 .............. 8·0 ........ ... , 7-1 ............. 7-1 ............. 1·1 ...... .. .... 6-1 ......... .... 5-1 ... , ........ , 5·1

4.34 2.18 1.44

2.94 3.83 2.41 2.83 3.22

)UTS

.................... , 113 .................... , 70 ... ""' ..... 67 ................. "'" 61 58

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.................... 58 ....................... 58 5

·._.· ·..................... ................... 14 12 .................... 11

10 .......... 9

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............ , .................. 8 :AN LEAIUE

ursday's games) QABRHPcl. l1.t tQ1

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t:.Q

Martinez (No, not Pedro) beats Yanks Ramon goes 7; Sox open 1-game lead The Associated Press

NEW YORK - In a game interrupted when a fan fell from the upper deck onto the screen behind home plate, the Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees 4-1 Friday night on the pitching of Ramon Martinez.

Mike Stanley hit a tworun homer and Carl Everett had a two-run single as Boston broke a first -place tie with the Yankees in the AL East. New York has lost nine of 13.

The Yankees have dropped six straight regularseason games to Boston.

"It was a great outing," Martinez said. "I'm the kind of pitcher that once I get going, I'm pretty consistent."

The game marked the start of the Yankees' no-alcohol policy in the bleachers. The bleachers usually hold the most rowdy fans at Yankee Stadium, but the crowd of 54.4 70 was startled by what happened in the upper deck in the third inning .

With Wilson Delgado of the Yankees batting, a 24year-old man fell headfirst onto the netting behind the plate. As play continued for two more outs, the fan remained motionless for about five minutes before suddenly sitting up and raising both arms high.

"I've never seen anything like that before," Martinez said. "Only in the movies."

The Red Sox and Yan-

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Balti....., 001 214 OOl-8 13 0 LOB-Oakland 6, Ballrmore 10. 26-JaGrambt (4), DeShields (15], Con,ne (11). HR-Surhoff (5,r off Mulder: Conrne (5:r off Mulder: Rrpke11 (9) off Mulder; Stairs (7) off Enckson; CJohnson (7) off Mulder. RBis-Gne~e (33). Starrs (22) Tejada ·:34). Bordick (37). DeShrelds 2 (25). Conrne2 (20) R,pken (3J) Surlloff (20), Clohr>Son [23) S8-8KAn derson (6). DeShrelds (16). GID~-DeShrelds

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Tampa Bay 200 002 4 9 0 f·Sele 2 :2) LOB-Seat11e 9, ramp~ Bay 6. 28-EMar trnez (9). Cameron (9). McGnff 2 (9) HR-Buhner (10) off KMHemandez; SCO( (1) off Sele; Henderson (3) off Trachsel RBis-Henderson (3), Buhner 4 (36], Camwon 2 (18).

DW>Ison 2 111) Mdeme 2 (13) SCox 2 (3) McGnff(34) Castrrla (191 SB-fMartt'lez (1). Sf-Mclemore. GIDP-Hen . derscm. Cameron, -rammell. frJherty DP-Seattle 2. Tampa Bay 2

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Blue Jays 8, Tigers 2 DETROIT - Darrin Fletcher hit his third grand slam of the season to power Toronto .

Fletcher's slam, the sixth of his career, keyed a sevenrun eighth as the Blue Jays broke open a pitchers duel between starters Frank Castillo and Dave Mlicki .

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Twins 10, Rangers 2 MINNEAPOLIS - Eric Milton allowed two hits in seven innings, and Jay Canizaro had four RBI to help Minnesota break a fourgame losing streak.

The Twins, who lost all 12 games to Texas last season, have won three of the four games played between the two teams this year.

Milton (4-1) walked three and gave up two runs in the first two innings, before settling down to win his second straight start.

The second Texas run came when Scarborough Green stole home, easily beating Milton's pitch to the plate .

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THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER , ··.

84, Ff'liDAY, MAY 26, 2000

Division I basfeball playoffs

Diwision II baseball playoffs .q

Moeller, Elder: • onemnaway

ene COnfidence Me ick

By Dave Sclmite 'llie OiiClimati ENquirer

The 1998 baseball season remains in the mind of Chuck Moore, a senior and member of McNicholas' Division II state•championship team.

"It• was the greatest experience fve had in high school," Moore, said. "It would be incredible if we could do it .again:' Tqday in Piqua, coach Willie,. Corbett's Rockets (1414) play Columbus Bishop Wat:t~rson (21-5) in the DiVi,~ion II regional semifinals.

The winner advances to Satu!=day's title game against the'Wihner of Loveland/ Vari'd.lliia Butler, also today in Piqtrdl Nmonth ago, Moore had no thoughts of a second state title, with !he Rockets struggling to a 5'13Hrecord. .'fu!~lost a lot of close games early," Moore said. ''The turning point came when we beat La Salle after trailing early in the;";o/<)me. This gave us the conflUence we needed." l'vTo"ore, who leads the Roclrets with a .420 average, and Kyle Shadley-Wbite (.320) wesr ' the only returning

mil

u

from matchup,

starters from a McNicholas team that graduated 12 seniors.

Corbett, in his third year. at McNicholas, said a 1().0 loss to Elder was the turning point in the season. ''The Elder loss taught the players <I lesson," Corbett said.

"Elder hit almost every ball to the opposite field and our guys learned you don't have to pull every b;~ll."

Corbett then observed a long-aw:~ited dedication from the players.

"It was sort of like we were down on the mat," Corbett said. ''The kids could either stay down and qnit or get up and fighl They decided to fight" Dave Wall, a senior who pitched only two innings last season, is the mainstay of the pitching staff with a 7-2 record.

Senior relievers Jon Cremow> and Steve Bosse have si;<: saves down the stretch. Watterson will be a tough for.~ for the Rockets.

The Eagles are 21-5, riding the ann of pitcher Wally Theado (6-1, 2-01 ERA) and four other three-game winThe Cincinnati Enquirer/GARY LANDERS ners, and the bat of Brandon Chuck Moore, one of only two returning starters for McNicholas, is hitting .420.

Cornell (,463 average).

in the postseason.

Sehgal/Sean Shiels and Seven "Nino hits with the left hand · Hills' Justin Sakai-Alex and Aldo wiU1 .the right and Corllisar. In winning the disthey complement each other," trict singles championships, Fairfield . ~oach . - .Dave neith~r Thomas (D~"!s~on I) bles_titles ~·e (,reg Pipkms ~d Daniel Snnth of _W~ut Hills and . St. ~~VJers Andy Bartish/Bob .~rnst and Ned

"I've played every infield position," Reisert said. "I started at third, moved to first and then to second before

1

gles, doubles players pursue state titles

By O'l!W Sclmite

The Division I and II state tournaments begin at 9 a.m: Expectations are high for today (two rounds) and Cincl11nati performers Saturday (semifinals · and "01.\r· (Division I) ·doubles cl1~pi?nship) at Ohio State

area have won state titles.

The biggest surprise at the district meet were the Wbite brothers, senior Aldo and soph- . o~or~ Nino, of Fairfield..After

'llie Oircbmati EJJqtt£,?!r

.~ill:~:~~~i~~~aid.i-lJJl~=t~9~~;h~';ilie ·;;~-~~:~!:t:;ction~r=Bllf~1!J::;~£~;:~~~-d~~-.:~:~::~:~;~:~~ . :!~~Hs·~fue~nect "Jason Zimmermann (CHCA) 'will bFtough in Division II singles;lnd Eric Thomas (Walnut Hills) 'could win Division !." ,'

boys tenms .t?~rnament Smgles players dunng .the . expru_rded to two diVIsions, only regular season, the Whites five smgles players an~ 1~ dou: wante? to play together for a hies teams from the CmCJnnati final time as doubles partners

'

taking over at shortstop."

Byrnes and Jason Ranz;-' have been led the pitching •< staff, which also features Chris Postler (3-1), John Frank (3-1),Jared Nolan (2-1)~: and Kevin O'Brien (2-0).

"Scotty has unbelievable · stats," Cameron. said. "He has.\ pitched 57 innings in nine games, struck out 53 and. · walked only six." '· · Th~ Crusader offense also .. has been strong, scoring 190 · runs while batting .347 as a team. Eight of the nine starters are hitting .300 or better.

Elder's task against Troy may be tougher than expect-··. ed. ._ ''Troy is a scrappy-type'· team that manufactures; runs," Elder coach Mark Thompson said. 'They like to .. hit-and-i·un and bunt and,,. steal."

The Trojans' starting pitch-,, · er is J.P. Jung, who has three · tournament victories. . "Jung's fastball is in the mid-80s but he also has a' . good slider and curve,"_·, Thompson said. "He's a real• ·. competitor who shows a lot of . emotion, which the team' feeds off of."

Thompson said the' Panthers won't look past Troy.

"We haven't exactly · · burned anyone in the tourna-·· ment," Thompson said. ''We . just gave the players informa- ··' tion on Troy today (fuesday) ·· · but we haven't talked about··

Shortly after the Division I district tournament was completed Saturday, the talk started: Elder vs. Moeller in a regional championship game.

But each must first win a semifinal game today.

Moeller meets Miamisburg in the 2 p.m. opening game 'at Wright State, with Elder playing Troy at 5 p.m. The winners meet for the regional title Saturday at 1 p.m.

Moeller may b~ a team of destiny.

The Crusaders appeared ready to bow out against St Xavier in the secHonal semifinals but Paul Frietch hit a grand slam on a 3-2 pitch with two out in the bottom of the seventh for the vic.:tory. .

"Paul's home rtm gave us so much con:fider;:ce," senior shortstop Brian Reisert said.

"It carried over in'to the next two games."

Since the victo:ry over St. X, the Crusaders have easily beaten Glen Este and Lakota West with Scott Byrnes winning both games.

Moeller's succ<css this season has surprised Cameron.

The entire out:fie1d from the 1999 team was los~ to graduation, along with four other starters.

'Tyler Tabler and Justin McNeely were the only returning star terse," Cameron said. ''We started moving a lot of people around b the infield before we ciune uu with a set thegame. lineup."

-

State tennis

. Jlre @lJicilmatiEtlqmrer

By Dave Schutte

es. ZJ?lffierm~nn s to~ghest foe ~ be M1ke Ru?rn, the defending state champ~on from Canton Central Catholic.

~~

'''Fhey~remimhme-of··.last=·--;

years Elder team. The type of '· team that scares me. is one that plays good defense and ; executes fundamentally. Troy ·' · is that type of team."

·-,

Performers of the week

Early losses lead to victories for

By Dave Schutte JlJe Ctircilmati E11qrtirer

ALDO WHITE (left) and NINO WHITE Fairfield Tennis : Aldo senior; Nino sophomore · ·~rothers teamed up to win the : (!district championship after ~firlishing fourth in the sectional. :HC!d played singles until forming ' doubles team for postseason.

MIKE RENDER Sycamore Track Senior Won the 110 high hurdles and 300 intermediate hurdles and was on the third-place 400 relay team at district meet.

Loveland coach Dave Evans liked what he saw in his team before the season began. Then two injuries occurred that changed his approach.

Projected starting pitchers Mike Patterson and Matt Beck were sidelined with arm problems. ''We lost two great players (Larry Schildmeyer and John Hembree) and felt we we would be respectable," Evans said. "Everything worked out fine except for Mike and Matt suffering injuries."

But despite the losses, the Tigers went 19-8 this season, tying Norwood for the FAVC Cardinal Division title and

The Cincinnati Enquirer/ERNEST COLEMAN

Ryan Douglas (left) has four-straight pitching wins and Paul Riesenberg is Loveland's top hitter at .455. · going on to win the Division II sectional and districtchampionships.

Today at Hardman Field in

Piqua, the Tigers play Vandalia Butler in the Division II regional semifi· nals, with McNicholas facing·

Columbus Watterson in the second game.

The winners plav Saturday for the regional championship, with the winner advancing to the state semifinals next week in Columbus.

Much of Loveland's success is due to Ryan Douglas (who will start today), Phil Deis and Mike Deatherage, who have stepped up their pitching responsibilities.

"Mike (Patterson) developed arm problems late in the season and hasn't pitched an inning in the tournament," Evans said. "Ryan took over and has won four c.onsecutive games - two in the tournament."

Deatherage is 4-1 while Deis also has tht·own well ·with added mound duties.

~-'·1

Offensively, Paul Riesenberg (.455), Nick Kowatsch (.355) and Blake Porter (.333) lead the Tigers.

Evans said Vandalia Butler, a team that beat Moeller 17-0 during the regular season, is filled with stars.

"Our assistants watched them play Badin and were impressed with how fundamentally strong they were and how well they play defense," Evans said.

Butler was a Division I power until this year when it dropped two students below the cutoff.

"If Ryan (Douglas) is on, he will give any team fits," Evans said. "He is left-handed and gets all three pitches over. He's on a roll."

'· . ~:

> .: : .> < ~: :• '· : :: · ~·:

:: ; ::·· · "· · " :: "' · c; r,,·;

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_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ . c ._ _ _:.._,._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _- , - - - - - - - ' - - - - ' · ,

Division Ill baseball playoffs Seven Hills Tennis Comisar sophomore; Sakai senoir ·WJ,!JUOIIBs duo won the sectional iinirnli,r<•rl second in the district earn a berth to the state

iBILLY HOPKINS Beechwood Tennis Junior Finished the ~~:agular season at 15-1 and runner-up at the 1regional to earn a state berth.

\,:',

.

.

Madeira looks like repeat champ, not rebuilt one

By Dave Schutte 'llic 01tcimtati Ellquirer

This season was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Madeira, the defending Division III state champion.

Instead, coach Jack Kuzniczki found a way to replace seven starters, including the entire pitching staff.

1be result Madeira wort a second consecutive Cincinnati Hills League title and captured

sectional and district championships. Today at Hillsboro, Madeira plays Bellefontaine Benjamin Logan in the Division III regional semifinals, with the winner advancing to Saturday's chan1Pionship.

The Mustangs' 20.5 record and postseason success surprises Loveland coach Dave Evans. ''They're .good, but nowhere ilear what they were .last year," Evans said. "If Jack wins it this year, he should be the coach of

the century."

The pitching staff is led by John Elfring, who has three tournament wins and a 9-1 record. Offensively, Madeira relies on Rick Ramirez (.410 batting average) and Tim Dooley (.376).

The Mustangs' season hasn't been without adversity.

Two starters quit in the middle of the season after they were disciplined for rules violations during a doubleheader against

Loveland.

Several days lal:r.er, Dooley was diagnosed with rrnononucleosis and missed fi.ive games, including the tournmment opener. He returned last:~week.

"I hate to say it, bmt the team came together after the two players quit," Kuzniczki said. ''We weren't sure if Tim would come back; but he's one of the toughest kids I've ever coached and he made a qnick recovery."

The Mustangs' opponent,

Benjamin Logan, is No. 5 in ' Ohio and won 12 consecutive games en route to a 23-5 record.

'They have a left-handed pitcher (Tommy Baughman) · who mixes his pitches well and ,. also a good catcher, which is ' half the equation in high school baseball," Kuzniczki said. ''They like to run and they're also a •·'. very good defensive team."

Madeira has won its three tournament games by a combined 31-4.

Division IV baseball playoffs KATIE MADDEN Boone County

Boone County ..'-J.'""'"----·-··· · - · ..Softball ____ _

Country Day hopes for another fast start in regional test

By Dave Schutte

Duty was moved into the leadoff meets Middletown Fenwick (18-

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/~~ P~~~ch Tim

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Dunn "'""

"We had to replace the num- that averages seven runs a , ", ter

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';, •

llYHRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2000

WEMQ .

Beth Liz Robyn Conner Burris Swedersky sycamore Northwest Northwest Junior pitcher Coach of Year Senior pi~cher DI Player of Year FAVC, Sectional, Record: 15-3, District, Regional 0.35 ERA, 151 Record: 18-5, champions K's 0.76 ERA

.Iackie Cornelius Oak Hills Junior catcher Batting Avg.: .397, 22 R, 21 RBI, 19 SB

THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

· Emily Breitholle Fairfield Junior pitcher Record: 13-2, 0.40 ERA, 133 Ks'.

Dick Jackie Kristin Gray_· Arszman Gering Roger Bacon Roger Bacon Lakota East Coach of Year Junior outfielder · Senior P/OF 011: Player of Year Sectional Batting Avg.: Batting Avg.: .383; Champions .367, 17 R, 4 12-6, 2.53 ERA. 3B.

.Amanda Carrie Jill Higgins Browning ..

Engel .

Amelia · · Lakota West Seton Senior infielder · Senior catcher ·Junior infielder Batting Avg.: · Batting Avg.: .

Batting Avg.: .382, 22 R, 21 .369, 20 RBI. .443 RBI

Randi Huffman Ross Senior P/inf.

Record: 18-2, 0.18 ERA, 159 Ks.

Meredith Hilleary Gin. Country Day Senior pitcher .

Dill Player of Year Record: 16-2, 1.30 ERA, 211K's

Tara Kay Ia Corner Schlie Deer Park Badin Senior pitcher . Senior infielder Record: 125 K's Batting Avg: .484

Jim Danielle ·. Hilleary Holden Gin. Country Day Fayetteville Coach of Year So ph. P/lnf. .MVC Champ 95 K's.

(16-0) Record: 18-2.

Sarah Melvin Sycamore Senior infielder Batting Avg.: .398, 13 SB, 23 R

Stephanie Sarah Salas Beck McAuley Lakota West Junior infielder Senior pitcher Batting average: Record: 10-5, .398.

0.98 ERA

Jackie Burgdorf Mt. Notre Dame Junior catcher Batting Avg.: .380

Emily Holt Roger. Bacon Senior catcher Batting Avg.: .319.

Haley Warden Indian Hill Senior infielder Batting Avg.: .528

Liz Hunt Roger Bacon Senior OF Batting Avg.: .463, 16 SB

Nikki Brookbank Finneytowri Senior pitCher Record: 18-4, · 160 K's, Avg.: .. 500, 34SB

Katie Bunch SummifC.Day Junior infielder Batting Avg.: . .475

Stephanie Roy . · Clermont NE Junior pitcher Record: 14-4, 1.21 ERA.

Rachel · Toles Goshen ··Senior infielder Batting Avg.: .500, 22 RBI

Holly· Dana Phillips Hott Turpin beer Park Junior catcher · Senior infielder Batting Avg,: Batting Avg.: .456, 26 RBI .426 .

. Mike Mike Donnie Jack Came.ron White Ferris Bouldin Colerain .Moeller Norwood Norwood · Junior Coach of Year Senior Coach of Ye<1r Dl Player of Year Record: 23-7 · D11 Player of Year Record: 21-7 Batting Avg.: .524, . Sectional, District, Record: 8-1 Co-Champs 15HR,37RBI Regional champs FRA: 0.83 FAVC

Brett ·Smith Cin.Country Di!Y .Junior PISS DIV Player of Year · Record:4-1, 0.93 ERA, Avg.: .582

Aaron Tim ·ounn Brown Elder Cin. Country Day .

Coach of Year Senior infielder Record: 21-7 · Batting Avg.: .486, 24 RBI Sectional and District Champs

·Matt Davis Mason Senior P/OF -· Batting Avg: A03, 32 RBI

Ryan Shawn Pettit . Aichele · FairfieldWestern Hills Senior infielder · Junior infielder . Batting Avg.: Batting AVg.:. .541, 28 RBI .441, 32.RBI.

.Adam Paul Frietch Grissom Hamilton Moeller Junior outfielder Senior infi.elder Batting Avg.: Batting Avg.: .482, 39 RBI .447, 36 RBI ·

·Lewis Jones Hiunilton Senior infielder Batting Avg.: .317, 25 RBI ·

David Novosel Colerain Senior infielder Batting Avg.: .423, 27 RBI

Dan Terrv Bachman Stone Elder Hamilton Senior infielder Senior pitcher · Record: 8~1, Batting Avg.: .370, 2.9 RBI 0.45 ERA

Scott Paul T.J. Scott Byrnes Hammond Graves ··Stocker Moeller Mason Landmark Chr. Clermont NE Junior pitcher. Junior pitcher Senior P/lnf.

Senior P/lnt Record: 8-3, Record: 7-0, Record: 5-1, Record: 6-1, 1.67 ERA 0.26 ERA ·. 1.22 ERA, Avg.: . 0.20 ERA, Avg.: .683, 25 RBI .418, 29 RBI

Brooks C.J. Robinson Hazelbaker · Holden St. Bernard Fayetteville Junior pitcher Senior P/OF Record: 8-1, Batting Avg.: 0.14 ERA .585, 29 RBI.

Andy Tony Scou Gloeckner Sa mad Redmond North College Hill North College Hill Batavia Junior infielder Senior pitcher Junior infielder Batting Avg.: Batting Avg.: Record: 4-1, .444. 25 RBI, 1,31 ERA .488 26 R

Matt Marksbury Norwood Freshman P/lnf. .Record: 2-1, .

2.6-ERA, Avg.: 415, 17 RBI

Zach Steve Zeigler Soli mann Glen Este St Xavier Senior outfielder Senior catcher Batting Avg.: ·Batting Avg.: .390, 30 RBI. .406, 22 R, 10 SB, 18 RBI

P.J. John Pope Elfring Wyoming Madeira Senior pitcher : Soph. infielder Batting Avg.: Record: 7-1, .553 1.18 ERA

Josh Stith Western Brown Senior infielder Batting Avg.: .537 .

Lebanon; Leah Tufts, Lebanon; Amanda Bartels, .Amelia; Kyla . Lauren Cook, Little Miami; Amy · Chaney, Fairfield; Jesse Burgess, Ward, Little Miami; Sara Swan, . Fairfield; KeiJy Gwin, Princeton; Loveland; Elaine Haubner, Ross; Kristin Forbes, Amelia; Cheryl Rachel Montezinos, Ross; Jennifer Brown, Fairfield; Ciji Nelson, · Fairfield; Krystle Roemer; Hamilton; . Hidson, Wilmington; Miranda Skidmore, Wilmington.

Kim McFarland, Anderson; Kayla Thomas, Glen Este; Danielle Smith, · · Ann Staubach, Madeira; Harlanda Glen Este; Sarah Vest, Harrison; Jill ·Stallworth, Finneytown; Kristen Nolte, Reading; Robyn Tuchfarber, Slaven, Harrison. · Dee.r Park; Dana Forbes, Indian .Hill; Usa Sieling, Mason; Lora Suzanne Geary, Finneytown; Terra Richardson, Mason; Samantha Fish. Reading; Kari Young, Deer Meister, Northwest; C.J.Aichele,.

Parlf.; Terri Estep, Reading; Maria Northwest; Holly Phillips, Turpin; GaWp, Reading. · Kelli Galbraith, KinQs; Lindy Margaret Stath, Western Hills; Pritchard, Lebanon; Sara Swan, Mis:j!y Mahlerwein, Mount Healthy; Loveland; Sally Cox, Norwood; Cry;J;tal McKinney, Hughes; Dara Elaine Haubner, Ross; Rachel Gor@on, Walnut Hills; Sarah Gerrety, Monterinos, Ross; Angie Heintz, Mercy; Kristen Bodley, McAuley; .

Mollllnt Healthy; Karen Turner, Mount lauren McDonald, St. Ursula.

Healthy; Alycia Laner, Western Hills; . Katie Ireland, St. Ursula; Annie Kristi Luehrmann, Mount Healthy; Neumann, Seton; Kara Lorenz, Martha Fairbanks, Walnut Hills; Ursuline; Danielle LaVaglio, Mount . Michelle Barrett, Mount Healthy. · Ashley Baker, Cincinnati Country Notre Dame; Melissa Boehm, McNicholas; Beth Mitchell, Day; Tina Wolfram, Fayetteville; Holly· Barber, Western Brown; McNicholas; Casey Ruberg, McNicholas; Kati Straub, New Brandi Wallace·, Western Brown; Richmond; Janae Chaney, Fairfield; Raechel White, Fayetteville; Amy Celia Nowicki, Lakota West; Lisa Shay, Georgetown; Amanda Cox, · Barber, Western Brown; Holly Fayetteville; Annie Barrett, Barber, Western Brown; Brandi Cincinnati Country Day; Lori . .

Wallace, western. Brown.

Burwinkel, Fayetteville; Erin Hanlon, Amy lnabnitt, Goshen; Kelli Wes~ern Brown; Jessica Hupe, Waynesville·. · Galbraith, Kings; Lindy Pritchard,

Roger Drake . Goshen Junior P/lnf.

Batting Avg.: ;517

FAVC Cardinal . GCL North GCL South

ace

Baseball Madeira Anderson, Mason Loveland, Norwood McNicholas Elder None None Hamilton Western Hfils Miamisburg Edgewood Land~ Christian Clermont NE

. Softball Deer Park Northwest Ross None None Seton McNicholas Sycamore, Fairfield Western Hills W. Carrollton Franklin Cincinnati CD Hillsboro

Justin Mundt Lakota West Senior infielder Batting Avg.: .446, 32 RBI

Rob Drozd, Lakota East; Tom Price, Oak Hills; Jim Wernke, Oak Hills; Jeff Schmitt, Oak Hills; Zapata K~mp, Aiken; Delma Hill, .

Aiken; Chris Taylor, Aiken; Jason Bettett, Withrow; · DeWight Richardson, Hughes; Johnny Holmes, Western Hills; Gal Battle, Mount Healthy; Clint McGhee, Walnut Hills; Joe Piening, Western Hills.

Pat LeMasters, St. Xavier; Kurt Rosenacker, Elder; Eric Scheidt, St. Xavier; Don Negel, La Salle; Reggie Watson, La Salle; Tyler Tabler, Moeller; Jeff Lammers, Elder; Brian Reisert, .Moeller; Adam Visnic, Moeller; Jason Ranz, Moeller; Keith Jackson, St. Xavier; John Slone, St. Xavier; Doin Carmosino; St. Xavier; Kyle Robbins, Elder; T.J. Kroth, St. Xavier.

Tom Begley, Hamilton; Everitt Hibbard, Fairfield; Tom Day, Lakota East; Jon Szary, Colerain; Adam Heed, Fairfield; Roddy Steiger, Lakota West; Mike Rabin, lakota East; Josh Thomas, Milford; Josh Romero,

Richie Jack Schnurr Kuzniczci Batavia Madeira Senior Coach of Year Dill Player of Year Record: 22-6 .

Record: 3-0, 0.00 CHL, Sectional, ERA Avg.: .576 District champs

Justin McNeely Mike Moeller Shrimpton Junior catcher Sycamore Batting Avg.: · Senior catcher .358, 15 RBI Batting Avg.: .444, 19 RBI

Paul Riesenberg Loveland Senior OF Batting Avg.: .450

Lakota West; Jason Bowlin, Fairfield; Shaun Harrison, Princeton; John Rinck, Princeton; Brandon Beyerlein, LakotaWest; Austin Rhoades, Lakota West; Jeff Schachleit:er, Colerain; Staurt Jackson, Princeton. . Ricky Luz, Anderson; Kurt Davis, Amelia; Chris Payne Harrison; Matt Ogde111, Glen Este; Todd Hoffert, IViiason; Jensen Lewis, Ander:son; Randy Henly, NorthwJest; Shawn Hinson, Harrison; Steve Woods, Anders;on; Marty Ober, Andersom.

Tim Dooley, Madeiira; Nick Janning, lnoian 'Hil\; 'lVIitch Hayes, Reading; Tim . Disbennett, Madeira; David Winters, Mariemont; Chris · Wilson, Reading; Tony Ramirez, Madeira; Andrew Schreiner, Indian Hill; Tim Nisonger, Mariemont; Jeff Warnock, Taylor; Charlie Hahl, Indian Hill.

Chad Polard, Winton Woods; Drew Walters, . Turpin; Justin Stump, .. Turpin; Matt Ogden, Glen Este; Roger Drake, Goshen; Casey Abrams, Lebanon;

Richie Jones Elder Junior OF Batting Avg.: ·. .388.

Mike Dane, Little Miami; Dave DuFour, Little Miami; Nick Kowatsch, Loveland; Donnie White, Norwood; Mike Marksbury, Norwood; Steve Pickerell, Norwood; Adam Bryce, Norwood; Dam Bogolo, Ross; Scott Mingis, Ross; Brian Williams, Wilmington.

Domriinic Frankey, Badin; 1\:J\e Ma\us2e\<., ?u.ce\\

Marian; Mike Smith, Purcell Marian; Chris Hunt, Roger Bacon; Tony Hichting, Badin, Rick Sweeney, Purcell Marian; Chuck Moore, McNicholas; Mark Nichting, Badin; E.J. Simmons, Purcell Marian; Joe Becker, Badin.

Adam Hoefler, North College Hill; Dan Hageman, Georgetown; Tim earlier, Fayetteville; Willie Young, Batavia; Eric Crew, Seven Hills; Dickerson, Western Brown; Mike McKinney, Lockland; Zac Faulkner, Fayetteville; Andrew Sutton, Batavia; Danny Meyer, Fayetteville; J. Kramer, Western Brown; Luke Howard, Springboro; Bryan Hartwig, North College Hill.

ihisweek · Catch player profiles and game highlights with host Pau! Daugherty of tpe Enquirer. · ~ 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Ch. 9 .

)

Call your results in to the Enquirer

at 768-8452. Call after 6 p.m. week· . days, noon on weekends.

' '

B~ FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2000

.,

ThE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER l'

J

J}ld rtop team, but GMC top conference 3'

BY DAVE SCHUITE "We have two to three pitchers The·GincinnatiEnquirer f!:03ChiS who look to be capable," Cameron D~fendingstatechampionElder Pts . said. "Our weaknesses are team edg{id St. Xavier for the No. ·1 rankspeed, pitching depth and inexperi, 1. Elder (1 0) ........... 194 erice in the outfield." · ingin TheEnquirer'sDivisionipre- 2 St Xavier (8) 190 6 •. Mason·. Pitchm'g t's· the seasbn baseball poll. . . . " .. .. " . th h 3. Hamilton. (2) ........ 167 strengthofaCometsteamthatlost . · IM ·· starters · · to graduation. ., ifth e coac es are on targ_et 4. Fairfield (3) .... · · . · .143 six ranl,dng etop10teams,itappears 5 Moeller(3) 142 MattDaVI·s (7-3,.2.31ERA) and ihe Greater Miami Conference may · ·········· 6. Mason ............. 105 Pau!Hammond(9-1,2.30ERA)will . ~hfo~e of the toughest leagues in 7. Sycamore ............ 64 anchor the pitching staff while Todd slx.· of the top 10teams are mem- 8. Colerain ............. 58 Hoffert (.389) is the only returning .

9. Lakota West ........ .42 proven hitter. . ber~:of the GMC: Hamilton (3), . 10. Lakota East ........ .41 7. Sycamore: A team loaded Fair'field (4), Sycamore (7), Col· Others: La Salle 40, Ander· with seniors, the Aviators should be erail\'(8), Lakota West (9) artdlako- son-36, Harrison 33, Glen Este "'""_··t (10). · · . . 1 9 improved With four returning ta """" 31 0 k H'll s 31 , prmce · 1ud'mg pttc · hers · Matt H_ ·l.e're·•s_alookatthet.op 10·.· A , I'a 3 1M'lf d 2 W on t , star ters, me , me 1a • I or , es ern Dolcm (2-1, 2.22 ERA) Mike Mor1, Elder: "Offensively and on HillS 2, Hughes 2. '· galls r4-1,2.72ERA) and Justin Butthe "mound we should be very ~ ler (3-2, 5.25 ERA). good,"coachMarkThompsonsaid. 'd. h" d.

S (5-D MikeShrimpton(.472),theson 'We have five returning pitchers 1 p1tc mg uo ofTerry tone · of coach Chris Shrimpton, should and,!O~eturnirigletter'winners.'' record) and Lewis Jones (3-1) to - 1jlompson's only concern is the build around. The Big Blue also will be one of the best offensive players infield. · rely on Adam Grissom (.467batting in the Cincinnati area.

"Ilmeld defense is a big question · average), Ryan McGuire (.370) and 8. Colerain: The Cardinals have mru:~.''Thompson said.'We lost the· Jay Stitsinger (.306) to spark the depth in the pitching department .:~ · infield ·to graduati'on." · o"ense'', · Coach <::hris Newton returns six enw.~ 1l' Dan Bachman and Kyle Robbins 4. Fairfield: The'Inctians are led players (David Novosel, Mike.Ferhead the pitching staff.. Catcher by Ryan Pettit (.417), Adam Reed ris, John Fiasco, Ed Ducey, Mike Klotz, Jon Szary) who hit .325 or AarqnBrown(.420battingaverage), (.339),MikeNewton(J18) ,Everett better, along with pitchers Ed Rich\):! Jones (.540) and]effl.ammers Hubbard (.473) and Bryan Carpen- Ducey (3-0) and Kyle Funk (2-4). (.415) atethetopoffensivethreats. ter (.492).

2; St Xavier:TheBombersare But coach Ralph Smith will rely 9. lakota West The Firebirds strong offensively behind Steve on an inexperienced pitching staff S~lOu!d be tough to handle if the SoUWann (.429 batting average), thatincludestwovetemns~ Kevin pttchmg staff develo~s. Catcher Keith Jackson (.423), Eric Scheidt Shelley (6-1, 1.77 ERt\) and Hamil- Josh ~omero ~.335 b~tting a~erage, (.39S), Dan George (.313) and Pat ton transfer Jason Bowlin. . . who Signed wtth ~dtana, willle~d LeMasters (.312), 5. Moeller: Coach Mike an offense that mcludes Justin ButRandyNewsom (5-1) is the Cameron (5~265car~errecor~) Mu~dt (.418) and Andy Dunn only proven starting pitcher, and should reach the 6(J().wm mark this <· 33 ~ · . . that.~.:ould pose a major problemfor season with a team that has solid Frurfield transfer Roddy Stel~er, the ~ombers in the tough Greater hitting and pitching. ~on York, ~un~tand Ryan.Gilley Cailiolic League. · Justin McNeeley (.383) and will lead the pitching staff..

3~ Hamilton: Pitching and Tyler Tabler (.341) should emerge 10. IJikota. East: Ftrst:Year defense are·the strengths of the Big as two of the best offensive players coach Ray H~tlt?n, 197-64m 11 · Enquirer file photo Blue, a team that reloads each year. in Cincinnati with Jason Ranz (8-1) y~ars at Ro~s, inhen!S a ~am loaded Co_ach Dart Bowling has the sol- the top returning pitcher. . ~~ expenenced pttching and sol- Dan Bachman iE: one of five returning pitchers for No. 1 Elder this season. "Offensively and on the mound, we should be ' . td·hitters. verj good," Elde:r coach Mark Thompson sa)SJ. ·

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,o. l Badin reloads with strong offelise, young pitching -:.::o;;:...':--:--~---·,

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ing also will be the strength ~fa Rockets team that lost seven of nine starters to graduation.

"We have seven good arms," coach Willy Corbett said. "But we~ll be inexperienced at six of eight positions and winning early games will be important in order to gain confidence."

'The pitchers Corbett is relying on include Matt Kaiser, Jon Cremons and Chuck Moore. · 4 • Ross: First-year coach Jay 1 inlierited a team loaded oneoftheTigers'stn~ngthswit Lyte J·uniors Adam Wilkinson, Mike, withpitchingdepthandastrong Patterson . Mike Deathrage, infield. · Kevin Gr~bb and R''flll Douglas ·'The Minges brothers, Justin joining senior Josh V\fustnian and fllld Scott, will lead a pitching Jon Andre. staff that also includes Kevin HutGlen Este tran:;fer Blake son, Lonnie Lack, Matt Wyant, Porter, outfielder Paul Riesen- and Dominic Bogolo. Catcher berg, four-year starter Blake Betz Derrick Ramsey is also back. and third-year · catcher Nate.

"Defensively, we'll be very Engel will provide the offensive strong at catcher, shortstop (Hutpunch. son), second (Frank Russo) and

._h__aS pitching depth .

BY DAVE SCHUITE :1Jie Cincinnati Enquirer . . . _-When voting in The Enquirer's :Division II-III-N preseason base·!iall poll, Badin coach Mark ;Maus didn't includ·e his squad.

-::But 10 of the 14 coaches :thought differently and made ·Badin No_. 1. The Rams have .·.w.er_aged 21.victorie·sa season -<fnd. won two Division II state :ehampionships the past 10years. ·I;oveland, McNicholas, Ross and :Madeira round out the top five. . : Here's a lookatthe top 10: :- 1. Badin: This could be one ·<!fthe Rams' best offensive teams :in recent years led by Dominic.

-E'rankey (.412), Adam· Kuzma : 0372), Luke Bowling (.305) and

---- ~

Sean MtGowah (3-0, 2.45 ERA) and Forpey (2-D, 1.97 ERA) will anchor a young pitching staff that will also rely on Joe Becker and Jason Hunt. · h "We ~rurn three-fourthsof t e infiel , plus Adam (Kuzma) in center · fie~d," Maus said.

"McGowah, Forney, Hunt and Becker have varsity innings but have not thrown a lot at this level." .

2. Loveland: Pitching will bhe

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·~om;, pitching is very deep but Matt Moll • DanMouch, along inexperienced," with .of talented players 5. Madeira: The defending . up from ... JV telilll, to develop Division III state champion Mus- . into a strol!j~· unit. . tangs will have a tough time 7. Norwood: Although the repeating unless ·their young Indians depth and numbers, pitchers quickly develop. they_ wi,1 ifield another strong Btit coach Jack Kuzniczci will offensiv¢-team. field a strong offensive team Ste\re Pickerill (.358 batting behind Tim Dooley (.383), John average), Mili:e Marksbury · Elfriiig (.414), Tim Disbennett (.312),!'~lair Murphy (.241) and (.327), Rick Ramirez (.352) and. Adam Bryce (.368) will provide Mike Novakov (.449). the of{ense for pitchers Matt and Defensively,Madeirahasvir- Mark Marksbury, Chad tually the entire infield· back. McQ_··ueen, Donnie White and · Pitching is the major concern JeffRunion. with Dooley (4-1). Jeff Bookout 8. Kings: Some may think the (0-0) and Chris Crawford (1-0). Knights are overrated at this 6 •. Roger Bacon: Pitcher Po,/pt in the season but counting Chris Hunt and infielder/out- out any team coached by veteran fielder Joe Gering are the Spar- Gary Schiering has been a mistans' only returning. starters take in past seasons. although outfielder Andy Holt , With only oneretnrning letter saw Jimited action duririg tht? . winner Ueromy Osborne), Kings tourQament last year. · i;naystruggle early due to a lack 1

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roster that includes only four seniors and five juniors.

9. Purcell Marian: The Cav-. aliersmay be the most underrated team in the tap 10.

Coach Tom Nerl's team is not only blessed with outstanding · speed, he also has six solid hitters in Mike Smi~h, Kyle Matuszek, Vince berry, Rick Sweeney, Nate Staley and E.).

Simmon.

"Our speed 1•-~ outstandt'ng :s 'th· four guys '''h · 45 v o run · or b tterm· the 40 "N- 1 ·a "O e • · er sat · ur weaknesses are il1experience at catcher and firstt•ase."

10. New Rkhmond: 'The Lions are led by Casey Poynter (.430 batting average) and Nathan Burns (.310).

However a lack of experience, especially in the pitching depart. ment, could be tough to overwt.

Div.II..III..IV

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Pis 1. Badin (1 0) .. , ....... 118 2. Loveland (2) ...... ·... 106 3. McNicholas. (1) .......88 4. Ross .............. .79 5. Madeira (1) ..........64 6. Roger Bacon ...•.....59· 7. Norwood ............55 8. Kings .......,........ 46 IM · 36 9. Puree!

N R' anan h d....... .24 10. ew IC mon ......

Others: Clermont Northeast· ern 16, Batavia 14, Turpin 12 , Taylor 11, Wyoming 10, little Miami 8, Cincinnati Country Day 8, Hillsboro 7, Indian Hill6, Franklin 5, Lebanon 4, BethelTate 3, St. Bernard 3, Mariemont 2, Edgewood 2, Northwest 2, Summit Country Day 2, Western· Brown 2, Finneytown 1.

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Japan a hit with ba International opener. may become trend USA Today

TOKYO - Calling it a smashing success, Commissioner Bud Selig said Opening Series 2000 between the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs was just the beginning of Major League Baseball's foray into foreign markets. · . . "We accomplished .everything we set out to accomplish," said Selig, who hopes to decide in a few months baseball's foreign plans for next year.

Cubs· slugger Sammy Sosa wouldn't mind one bit if the next stop is his native Dominican Republic. ~'That would be nice," Sosa said.

"We're looking to promote baseball all over the world. .Wherever they want us to go, we're going to go."

Judging by the response of the Cubs and the Mets to the historic two-game season-opening series in Japan, teams probably will be lining uP to volunteer when baseball determines its next destination.

"I'm sure I speak for the entire team in saying that we had a great time," Mets catcher Mike Piazza said.

"The class of the. Japanese people, the way we were received and the way we were treated, is something we'll ne,ver forget."

Selig. said he was gratified that so

5 . 0 5 0 5 0 2 3 1 3 0 2 . 0 0 1 1 37 5

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Ordonezss many players echo~& what Piazza said Reedp 0 0 about the first reglllar-season games Nunnally ph 0 I Mora ph·U·cf held outside North ~eric~.

Totals 6 8 The season-opelllilg senes at the Chicago Bl BB R H so AB Tokyo Dome drew capacity crowds of EYoung 2b 0 4 0 1' 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 55,000 for both games. Selig said the Bufordcf 0 1 1 4 0 0 Sosa rf 0 2 0 2 0 3 games had maximum ~mp~ct because Grace lb 0 3 5 0 1 0 Rodriguez If they counted in the standings.

0 0 0 0 0 OaYoung p 0 0 0 . 0 1 3 4 After losing 5-3 ,in; Wednesday's AndrewsJb 0 0 0 0 0 sS 3 opener, the Mets .<bounced back Huson 1 0 0 Llnlak ph 1 0 0 0 0 Nieves ss 1 0 0 0 Thursday with a 5- t :victory, in 11 Girardic 0 0 1 1 5 1 0 0 Farnsworth p 0 0 0 1 iimings. .

0 0 0 0 0 0 Outfielder Benny Agbayani provid- Karchnerp 0 0 0 Brown ph 1 0 ·o .0 0 0 0 0 Gulhrlep 0 ed the show-stopper, stroking a grand WHUamsp 0 0 0 0 0 0 slam in the top of the hth off rookie Herediap 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Aguilera.p 0 0 0 reliever Danny Young. ', 0 0 Reed ph 0 0 1 0 "It was down low where I like it," TBrock pr~lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 6 .

Tolals 36 Agbayani said. , . Sponsors named Agbayani MVP of New York .................................................. 000 010 ODD 04-5 6 " ......................................................000 010 ooo oo-1 5 the game. At a ,home plate celebra- Chicago E-Zeile (1), Ordonez {1). LOB-New York. 10, Chicago 10. 2B-Payton (1}; Bell (1). HR-Agbayani (1} off DaYOU['Ig. tion, he received a trophy replicating RBis-Henderson {1], Agbayanl 4 (4). 58-Henderson {1). a kabuto - a samurai helmet symbolic S~Reed,EVoung, Farnsworth. SF-Henderson.

Runners left In scoring position-New York 6 {Hamilton, of a Japanese warrior. i ,; .

Alfonzo, Piazza, Bell, O~donez 2); Chicago 4 {Sosa, Rodriguez "It was a great honor.;that the· 2, Girardi).

GIDPMEYoung, Huson. DP-New York 2.

Japanese people gave to m<t, and I'll always cherish that," said t\gbayani, New York IP H R ER BB so NP 2 4 90 B 4 1 0 who is expected to he option~d to the · Reed I 2 21 0 Franco 1 I 0 0 0 Wendel 'h 2 0 14 0 minors April 9 when the. IY,lets acti- · Cook W, 1·0 ¥.> 0 0 0 1 I B vate Glendon Rusch, the fifth starter Benitez 0 16 0 1 0 0 2 Chicago IP H R ER BB so NP in their rotation.

4 4 105 FarnsWorth m 3 1 I

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29 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Williams 1 0 0 0 0 11 0 3 0 0 Heredia 'h 0 0 0 1 13 Agul!era 1 0 0 0 DaYoung L, Il-l 1 . 3 4 4 2 0 2~ IBB-off Wendell {Sosa) 1. HBP-by Farnsworth Umpires~Home, HemandeZi First, Foster; Second, Kulpa; Marsh. T-3:55. A-55,000 (55,000).

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