Grizzlies End Tigers' Season
7/29/08
The best of three series returned to Riverside Park for the deciding game three on Tuesday night. The winner of the game would move on host Hanska on Wednesday night to determine the National Division champion. The loser would be done until next spring.
Searles started the scoring in the top of the third inning when they put together two straight hits off Springfield starter Jake Miesen. The hits along with a Tiger error, gave Searles the lead, 1-0.
Springfield didn't stay down long. In the bottom of the inning, Andy Moritz led off with a single. Brandon Wilhelmi followed with a walk. Moritz was retired at third when Matt Baier reached on a fielder's choice. Brady Schwab tied the game with a base hit. The Tigers grabbed the lead when Baier came in to score on a Ryan Sturm ground out.
Opportunities presented themselves for the Tigers in the forth and fifth when they got two runners on base in each inning, but they were unable to bring them around to increase their lead. Finally, in the bottom of the sixth, Dave Groebner started things when he crushed a double to deep left center field. Wilhelmi drove Groebner in with a single, pushing the Springfield lead to two at 3-1.
Miesen cruised through the forth, fifth and sixth innings, but ran into trouble in the top of the seventh. The Grizzlies put together three hits, along with a walk to score twice and tie the game. Miesen was lifted for Jon Diede with one out in the inning. Diede retired Searles in the eighth keeping the game tied. In the ninth, the Tiger defense struggled and Diede surrendered two unearned runs on just one hit, but with the help of three Springfield errors.
A pickoff and double play in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively, proved to be rallykillers for the Tigers. Searles took their 5-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth. The Tigers got two runners on, but as was the theme in the series, they were unable to bring them around to score.
Jon Diede took the hard luck loss, allowing two unearned runs on two hits during the final two and two-thirds innings. Brady Schwab and Bob Fink led the offensive attack with three hits each. Brandon Wilhelmi and Andy Moritz added two hits apiece.
Having won the game and the series, Searles moves on to the Region 2C Tournament. The loss ends Springfield's season with an overall record of 15-14. This season was marked by numerous injuries and the Tigers will have their goals set high when the calendar turns to 2009 with a healthy and more experienced squad. The Tigers would like to wish the Searles Grizzlies the best of luck in the Region 2C Tournament. They would also like to thank all those who supported Springfield Tiger baseball in 2008, especially families and friends who came out for the games. Big thank yous also go to all the sponsors and all those who contributed their time and talents to make Riverside Park a great place for baseball. Thank you! We'll see you in 2009!
Linescore
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | LOB | |
| Searles | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 8 |
| Springfield | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 6 | 9 |
Springfield Box
| AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | |||
| Wilhelmi, SS | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Baier, 3B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | HP | |
| Schwab, 2B | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| C. Moritz, PR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| R. Sturm, 1B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Fink, RF | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Z. Sturm, PR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Beers, LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Groebner, DH | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2B | |
| Miesen, P | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Diede, P | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| C. Sturm, CF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | SAC | |
| Tews, PH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| A. Moritz, C | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Kraska, PH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 36 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 5 | |||
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | |||
| Miesen | 6 1/3 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | ||
| Diede (L, 0-2) | 2 2/3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
Pictures
