The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Fifth is pivotal to NR downfall
North Ridgeville had its chances but couldn’t capitalize.
In a Division I Berea district semifinal May 23, the Rangers fell to Strongsville, 7-0.
Strongsville (15-13) advanced to the Division I Berea District final that will be played May 25.
Strongsville’s defense showed vulnerability in the fifth inning from two errors to load the bases. They managed to escape with the score at 0-0.
“If they score a run (in the fifth), I’m not saying that we don’t win, but it’s a totally different game,” Strongsville coach Doug Cicerchi said. “You would have had no idea on how that game would have shaken out. We were able to use that momentum and get on the board first. It did have that little bit of a feel that the first team to score would be in good shape (for the rest of the game).”
Defensively, North Ridgeville played as well as it possibly could to shut out the Mustangs for the first five innings. The Rangers allowed one runner on base from a walk.
North Ridgeville struggled to string hits together against Strongsville pitcher Jude Fisher, who gave up two hits.
“(Fischer) got us with weak contact,” North Ridgeville coach Matt Ponting said. “We had the bases loaded a couple of times, and they would make the bang-bang play. They got it done in the crucial situation. That’s why they are moving on.”
The tables turned at the top of the sixth for Strongsville to score two runs and mount pressure on the Rangers’ defense.
“It’s the way that we have to play to win. Some teams have multiple ways to win. We only have a couple, but we are really good at those couple of ways,” Cicerchi said.
Batting fifth for Strongsville, Brady Eckert recorded three RBI. One of which was from a single in the seventh.
Mustangs shortstop Brandon Lucek batted in two runs. He punched in the first run in the sixth inning.
On the mound, North Ridgeville pitcher Jake
Boynar threw six strikeouts over six innings pitched to break the school record for strikeouts in a season. He finished with a total of 76 strikeouts on the season.
“(Boynar) was dominant,” Ponting said. “He does everything that you ask for, for your pitcher. He did a great job. We got guys on and didn’t get them in. (Strongsville) got guys on and scored.”
This marked the end of one of the most successful seasons in North Ridgeville baseball. The Rangers finished with a 19-7 record and won their first conference title in 41 years.
“This is the best North Ridgeville team in a long time,” Ponting said. “This is the first to win the Southwestern Conference in over 40-some years.”