Mason baseball survives against East in rain-shortened game
PHOTOS: View photos from the game
Monday, April 28, 2008
The look on Ray Hamilton's face said it all.
After sitting through a 35-minute rain delay, the Thunderhawks' baseball contest Monday, April 28, at Mason was called in the middle of the fifth inning with the Comets leading 6-5 — much to Hamilton's chagrin.
Extras
East had just scored three runs in the top of the frame, but was unable to get across the tying run despite having the bases loaded with one out.
"I thought we were in a good spot given the fact that the weather was getting worse," Hamilton said. "If we get a hit there, we go ahead, and maybe the shoe's on the other foot. But that didn't happen."
Mason left-hander Grant Lewis (4-1) struck out Evin Dusold, and then induced Jared Riley to ground into a fielder's choice to end the threat.
"I tried to keep the ball down and away," Lewis said. "I knew I had to get them out because I knew they were going to call the game soon."
Mason jumped on East starter Jeff Nilsen in the first inning when Josh Stolz's groundout plated Bryan Apking.
In the third — with the wind blowing heavily from left to right — Colton Cattani connected on an opposite field two-run homer to right to give the Thunderhawks a 2-1 edge.
The Comets tied it in the third on Lewis' first homer of the season, and then poured it on an inning later, highlighted by Apking's three-run blast to dead center.
Destul Huff added a run-scoring single to cap the four-run frame.
"Give them some credit," Hamilton said. "They took advantage of some opportunities we gave them. They've got a good baseball team."
With the wind howling and the rain picking up, East made it interesting in the fifth.
Brad Blyberg led off with a walk, Cattani reached on an error and Matt Zompero chased home Blyberg with a double.
Another error plated a run to make it 6-4, followed by Luke Giddens' sacrifice fly for the first out of the inning.
Back-to-back singles by Noah Buettgen and pinch-hitter Brandon Manor loaded the bases, but Lewis buckled down.
"He's been doing that all year," Mason coach Ken Gray said. "If we have a No. 1, he's definitely it. He's been getting it done. He hasn't had a bad outing all year. He's the one we're counting on when we need a win."
Lewis punched out eight, allowed seven hits and walked four, while Nilsen (2-2) gave up eight hits and struck out four.
The Comets improve to 12-9 overall and 9-5 in the Greater Miami Conference; the 'Hawks fall to 13-7, 8-6.
"You always feel fortunate when you win," said Gray, whose squad avenged Friday's 5-4 loss to East. "It's tough playing in those conditions. You'd like to see them play to the end, anyway."
Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5113 or smatthews@coxohio.com.
