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Heidelberg Wins OAC Regular Season Title
May 03, 2008
Press Release posted by Heidelberg Permalink
Despite battling rain throughout the afternoon (May 3, 2008) a few rays of sunshine shown through allowing the nationally-ranked Heidelberg College baseball team and ninth-year head coach Matt Palm to sweep a doubleheader over visiting John Carroll University at Peaceful Valley and earn the program’s second-consecutive, third overall, Ohio Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship. Heidelberg won game one 3-2 and posted the sweep with a 3-2 win in 11 innings in the nightcap.
Heidelberg’s 2008 regular season title is added to its 2003 and 2007 league championships and gives Heidelberg the honors of hosting the OAC Tournament May 8-10. Marietta College, Otterbein College and Mount Union College round out the four-team tournament field. The winner of the tournament earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals. The Berg will be in search of its second trip to the regionals, joining its 2004 team.
The two ’Berg victories improves Heidelberg, ranked 20th in the nation by D3baseball.com and 24th according to the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), to 33-7 overall, which tops the record book for wins in a season. It previously had won 32 contests in 2000, 2003 and 2004. Within the OAC, the Berg concludes the regular season at 15-3, tying the 2003 team for the most league victories in a season. John Carroll closes out its season at 22-15 overall and 10-8 versus league foes.
In game one, Heidelberg headed into its final at bat in a 2-2 tie. With two outs, Jeremy Wentworth (Johnstown, Ohio / St. Charles) drew a walk, while Willie Brechun (Clinton, Ohio / Canton Central Catholic) was hit by a pitch to advance Wentworth a base. Gar Keen (Fredericktown, Ohio / Highland) stepped to the plate and knocked one to right field, sending Wentworth flying around third headed for home. Wentworth eluded the tag from John Carroll’s catcher Christopher Cairo to give Heidelberg the win.
Emerging from the bullpen to throw the final 1.2 innings was two-time OAC Pitcher of the Week Andy Lowe (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Carroll). Lowe gave up just one hit and struck out one, while holding the Blue Streaks scoreless to extend his flawless record to 3-0 on the year.
Heidelberg connected for eight hits in the contest. Keen and Jason Lash (Strongsville, Ohio / Strongsville) each finished with two apiece, while Matt Grassley (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. / Grosse Pointe North) picked up a double in the fourth to record the Berg’s lone extra base hit of the game. Keen finished with two RBI and Wentworth scored twice.
The nightcap featured late inning heroics on behalf of the Berg once again. John Carroll held a 2-1 advantage heading into Heidelberg’s final at bat. Despite Steve Decker (Maumee, Ohio / Springfield) hitting into a double play he knocked in Grassley from third to tie the game and eventually forced extra innings. Grassley led the inning off with a single to left field.
Following a scoreless 10th inning from both sides, Grassley led off the 11th with a double to right field and stole third. Biagio Boytim (Brunswick, Oho / Brunswick) struck out for the Berg for the first out before John Carroll intentionally walked Decker and Brechun to load the bases for Wentworth. Wentworth sent one off the end of the bat to the shortstop to knock in Grassley for the game-winning run.
On the mound for the final inning and earning the win was Steve Calevro (Perrysburg, Ohio / Perrysburg). Calevro gave up just one hit and struck out one to up his record on the year to 5-0.
At the plate, Heidelberg finished with 10 hits led by Grassley’s 3-for-5 outing. Boytim finished with two hits, along with Andrew Buelow (Marysville, Ohio / Marysville). Grassley scored twice, while Wentworth scored once.
During the intermission between contests, Heidelberg recognized its 2008 seniors, pitchers Calevro and Andrew McFarland (Mansfield, Ohio / Madison), along with designated hitter Cody James (Belle Center, Ohio / Benjamin Logan), who were playing in their final regular season games in a ’Berg uniform. McFarland earned the start on the mound in game two and threw 7.0 innings, giving up eight hits and two earned runs, while striking out five. James served as the DH in both contests and finished the day with a hit and an RBI.
Heidelberg’s 2008 regular season title is added to its 2003 and 2007 league championships and gives Heidelberg the honors of hosting the OAC Tournament May 8-10. Marietta College, Otterbein College and Mount Union College round out the four-team tournament field. The winner of the tournament earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals. The Berg will be in search of its second trip to the regionals, joining its 2004 team.
The two ’Berg victories improves Heidelberg, ranked 20th in the nation by D3baseball.com and 24th according to the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), to 33-7 overall, which tops the record book for wins in a season. It previously had won 32 contests in 2000, 2003 and 2004. Within the OAC, the Berg concludes the regular season at 15-3, tying the 2003 team for the most league victories in a season. John Carroll closes out its season at 22-15 overall and 10-8 versus league foes.
In game one, Heidelberg headed into its final at bat in a 2-2 tie. With two outs, Jeremy Wentworth (Johnstown, Ohio / St. Charles) drew a walk, while Willie Brechun (Clinton, Ohio / Canton Central Catholic) was hit by a pitch to advance Wentworth a base. Gar Keen (Fredericktown, Ohio / Highland) stepped to the plate and knocked one to right field, sending Wentworth flying around third headed for home. Wentworth eluded the tag from John Carroll’s catcher Christopher Cairo to give Heidelberg the win.
Emerging from the bullpen to throw the final 1.2 innings was two-time OAC Pitcher of the Week Andy Lowe (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Carroll). Lowe gave up just one hit and struck out one, while holding the Blue Streaks scoreless to extend his flawless record to 3-0 on the year.
Heidelberg connected for eight hits in the contest. Keen and Jason Lash (Strongsville, Ohio / Strongsville) each finished with two apiece, while Matt Grassley (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. / Grosse Pointe North) picked up a double in the fourth to record the Berg’s lone extra base hit of the game. Keen finished with two RBI and Wentworth scored twice.
The nightcap featured late inning heroics on behalf of the Berg once again. John Carroll held a 2-1 advantage heading into Heidelberg’s final at bat. Despite Steve Decker (Maumee, Ohio / Springfield) hitting into a double play he knocked in Grassley from third to tie the game and eventually forced extra innings. Grassley led the inning off with a single to left field.
Following a scoreless 10th inning from both sides, Grassley led off the 11th with a double to right field and stole third. Biagio Boytim (Brunswick, Oho / Brunswick) struck out for the Berg for the first out before John Carroll intentionally walked Decker and Brechun to load the bases for Wentworth. Wentworth sent one off the end of the bat to the shortstop to knock in Grassley for the game-winning run.
On the mound for the final inning and earning the win was Steve Calevro (Perrysburg, Ohio / Perrysburg). Calevro gave up just one hit and struck out one to up his record on the year to 5-0.
At the plate, Heidelberg finished with 10 hits led by Grassley’s 3-for-5 outing. Boytim finished with two hits, along with Andrew Buelow (Marysville, Ohio / Marysville). Grassley scored twice, while Wentworth scored once.
During the intermission between contests, Heidelberg recognized its 2008 seniors, pitchers Calevro and Andrew McFarland (Mansfield, Ohio / Madison), along with designated hitter Cody James (Belle Center, Ohio / Benjamin Logan), who were playing in their final regular season games in a ’Berg uniform. McFarland earned the start on the mound in game two and threw 7.0 innings, giving up eight hits and two earned runs, while striking out five. James served as the DH in both contests and finished the day with a hit and an RBI.