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By Scott Huff
HOLLAND – Somehow – some way – everyone knew that the game between intra-district rivals Council Rock South and Council Rock North would be decided by a single run in the seventh inning.And it was South third baseman Eric Ebert who blasted the game winning ‘single’ in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs to present the Golden Hawks with a crucial 3-2 Suburban One National Conference victory.
“When I first hit it, I thought it was going to be caught,” said Ebert as the ball trickled off the glove of North center fielder Kelly Adams who made a heroic effort in deep left center field. “It was the longest single of my life.
“I love to be put in that situation with the game on the line,” continued Ebert. “I was looking for a ball to drive, and I got one.”
There weren’t too many balls to drive in the game as both starters – A.J. Wright for South and Scott Runzer for North – limited scoring opportunities.
In fact, Wright threw five hitless and scoreless innings for the Hawks before tiring in the sixth inning.
“He is a real competitor and I felt good about handing him the ball in this big game,” said Council Rock South head coach Greg Young. “He lost a little command in the sixth inning, but he pitched a great game against a very good baseball team.”
Council Rock South had taken a 2-0 lead in the third inning as Bill Fleming walked but was erased on a fielder’s choice groundout by Max Weiler. Weiler advanced to second base on a groundout and scored on an RBI single by Tom Boyd.
Boyd scooted to third base on a single off the bat of Mike Tomeo. And while Justin Thomas was at the plate, an errant pick-off throw by the catcher allowed Boyd to score the second run of the inning.
Runzer – who struck out eight – was impressive and did not permit another run until the fateful seventh inning.“Runzer kept us off balance the entire game,” said Young as the Hawks managed just five hits. “He has a good breaking ball to go along with his fast ball.”
“Runzer threw strikes, and when you throw strikes you stay in games,” said Council Rock North head coach Dan Kusters. “I’m proud of the way we came back, and we put ourselves in a position to win the game.”
Rock North finally solved the Wright riddle and put a pair of runs on the scoreboard in the sixth inning.
With out, Runzer collected the first Indian hit of the game when he crushed a double to center field. He scored moments later when Adams also doubled to the gap.
Wright ran out of gas and walked both Thomas and Ryan Hartley to load the bases and was lifted by Young in favor of lefty Greg Welsh.
“That is a very difficult position to put a relief pitcher in,” said Young. “And I thought that Greg did a great job.”
Welsh did walk the first batter he faced – Indian outfielder Lee Marvel – to force in a run. But he induced a double play by the next hitter, and the game was knotted at 2-2 to enter the seventh inning.
It looked as if North might have taken the lead in the top of the seventh inning. With one out, Matt Hone struck out but was safe on a wild pitch on the third strike. He went to second on a passed ball and to third base on a groundout.
With Adams batting with two strikes and two outs, Hone broke for the plate and appeared to slide under the tag of the catcher, but Adams was called out on strikes and the inning ended.
“That was a gutsy call by them to try and steal home,” said Young. “But that’s what a good team does, and North is a good team.
“Right now we are in first place in the conference, but they are right behind us,” added Young. “I won’t be the least bit surprised if both of these teams make the district playoffs.”
“When May 18th comes around, I hope we’re both there,” said Kusters. “We both have played good baseball this year, and we both deserve to be there.”
Somehow – some way.
CR NORTH 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 - 2 2 1
CR SOUTH 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 - 3 5 0
CR North: Matt Hone ss 4 0 0 0; Tyler Farrell c 1 0 0 0; Scott Runzer p 4 1 1 0; Kelly Adams cf 4 1 1 1; Ryan Venner dh 2 0 0 0; Ryan Hartley 2b 2 0 0 0; Lee Marvel lf 2 0 0 1; Tim Filer 1b 3 0 0 0; Ryan Maley 3b 2 0 0 0. Totals 23 2 2 2.
CR South: Bill Fleming ss 3 0 2 0; Max Weiler dh 3 1 0 0; Eric Ebert 3b 4 0 1 1; Tom Boyd lf 3 1 1 1; Mike Tomeo rf 2 0 1 0; Justin Thomas 1b 3 0 0 0; Kelly Downs cf 3 0 0 0; Alex Tomlinson c 1 1 0 0; Jerry Mulderig 2b 2 0 0 0. Totals 24 3 5 2.
E- {CRN – 1} {CRS – 0}. 2B – {CRN – Runzer, Adams} {CRS – Fleming} SB – {CRN- Venner} {CRS – Tomeo} LOB – {CRN – 8} {CRS – 7}.
Inn H R ER BB K
CR North
Runzer (L) 6.2 5 3 2 5 8
CR South
Wright 5.1 2 2 2 6 5
Welsh (W) 1.2 0 0 0 2 2
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