Whippets lock up share of MOAC title After squandering late lead, Shelby rallies in final at bat
Daily Globe Sports Editor
“There are no shortcuts. Work hard, be patient, consistent and never give up” Author unknown
That would sum up Shelby’s baseball season, especially the last part of the quote.
After watching a 6-2 lead entering the top of the seventh implode into a 7-6 deficit just half an inning later, the Whippets very easily could have folded.
Instead, showing resiliency of a championship boxer, the SHS baseball team collectively got up off the canvas and continued fighting on.
Their reward was a dramatic 8-7 walk-off win against Clear Fork to sew up a share of the Mid Ohio Athletic Conference title. The red and gray completed league play at 10-2 with their tenth league win in a row and and improved to 20-2 with their 17th straight win. The latter streak equals the 2017 team for longest in school history.
In a season that saw Shelby stumble out of the starting gate with two losses to Ontario, the Whippets just continued to fight during a journey that surely has tested their mettle.
“The seventh inning was a microcosm of our season of just having to do it the hard way,” remarked SHS coach Jon Amicone.
“Tip your hat to Clear Fork who scores five in the top half. Then our guys were able to string some hits together in the bottom half. We’ve had that attitude all year.”
Shelby closer Blaine
Bowman labored through two thirds of inning that saw the Colts rally. He allowed four runs on three hits, two walks and two hit batters.
Trailing by one, Luke Shepherd opened the Shelby seventh with a walk and was replaced on the basepaths by pinch-runner Tanner Hartz. After Hartz advanced on a wild pitch, Logan Green’s single moved him to third.
Hartz tied the game at seven when he came home on a wild pitch while Green moved to second. Jeremy Holloway’s deep fly to center advanced Green to third. Alex Bruskotter then singled to left to plate Green with the game-winner.
With Bruskotter at the plate, plenty was going through Amicone minds as he stood in the coaching box 90 feet away.
The coach contemplated pinch-hitting him, but instead relied on his gut.
“Alex has been a big part of our season all year. When he came up to bat, all I could think about was the at bat at Ontario. He had a similar situation the bottom of the seventh at Ontario I believe. It didn’t work out for him or us at that at bat,” shared Amicone.
“I thought to myself, ‘he’s going to get it this time.’ At times you have to trust your gut and roll the dice. He’s a tremendous baseball player who has played a lot of varsity baseball. Round two I knew he was going to get it right,” continued the coach.
After Green crossed with the winning run and Bruskotter touched first base, the Whippets stormed out of their dugout and celebrated.
Clear Fork led 2-1 after one inning, but Shelby evened things at 2-2 in the third.
The Whippets pushed four runs across in the fifth. The big blow was a bases-loaded double off the left field fence by Holloway that plated three runs. Holloway would come home on Bruskotter’s double.
SHS rounded up 12 hits in the game and was paced by Bruskotter and Marshall Shepherd each with a double and two singles. Bowman and Green each had a pair of hits. Marek Albert and Holloway each smoked a double.
Green went 6 1/3 innings in the start for Shelby and allowed three runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.
“I’m proud of these kids and what they were able to accomplish. I hope they feel a sense of accomplishment. To start off the way we did and do what they did is something special. You play this game to win championships. When you have a nice group of kids who enjoy playing and enjoy each other, it means more. It’s a special group,” said Amicone.
Next up for the Whippets is a nonleague home clash with undefeated and state-ranked Colonel Crawford Friday. The Northern 10 Conference champs are 22-0.