Eddies sweep into first place

Published 8:25 pm Wednesday, May 20, 2009

By By SCOTT NOVAK / Vigilant/Argus
It was there for the taking and host Edwardsburg took it.
"We stepped it up and hit the ball pretty hard all day," said Edwardsburg coach A.J. Gaideski.
The Eddies, who are no strangers from battling back to claim the Lakeland Conference championship, defeated Brandywine 7-4 and 5-4.
Last year, Edwardsburg had to finish up two games against two different opponents on the same day to tie the Bobcats for the conference championship.
On Tuesday, all they needed to do was sweep the top-ranked 'Cats and then win its final four league games to claim the undisputed title.
Edwardsburg will now face Buchanan on Friday and wrap up its regular season on May 27 against River Valley.
After taking the first game, the Eddies had to come-from-behind in the nightcap to take over first place.
Trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Edwardsburg was finally able to get to Brandywine pitcher Brad Ritchey.
Daniel Witucki got the rally started with an infield single. His slow roller toward Bobcats' first baseman Dominique Pompey was fielded, but Witucki was able to beat Pompey to the bag.
"We just didn't play it right," said Brandywine coach Dave Sidenbender. "I don't know if he was safe or out but we need to toss the ball to our pitcher. Our pitcher was there and we had an easy out."
That mistake was a painful one as Edwardsburg's Corey Johnson crushed a Ritchey offering over the left field fence to tie the game at 4-4.
"He missed the location on the home run," Sidenbender said. "It wasn't even suppose to be near the plate."
Ritchey retired the next two Eddies on ground ball and it appeared the Bobcats were going to escape with a win and the league title.
But Edwardsburg's Anonthy Martino, who hit a home run in the first game, singled to keep the rally alive.
He was replaced by pinch runner Taylor Coquillard, who raced home from first on a double to the right-center field gap by James Hack.
"I was just hoping that the lead-off guy (Witucki) got on so Corey Johnson would have a chance to tie it up with one swing," Gaideski said. "Then that happened and he tied it up with one swing. That electrified us. Then James Hack just hit a shot with a guy on first and we got (Coquillard) all the way to home."
After never really being in the first game, Brandywine looked to be in control of the second contest, leading 4-1 heading to the fifth inning.
The Eddies scratched out a run in the fifth, which set up the dramatic finish.
Zak Thompson pitched well enough to keep Edwardsburg in the game. He went the distance, allowing four runs on 13 hits.
Ritchey pitched well for Brandywine, giving up five runs on eight hits.
Johnson had a double to go along with his home run to lead Edwardsburg offensively.
Brandywine (26-3, 11-3 Lakeland) got doubles from Cody Udell, Pompey, Will Coar and Dan Reidenbach. Pompey also had a two-run single in the opening frame for the Bobcats.
It was all Edwardsburg (12-11, 8-2 Lakeland) in the opening game as the Eddies raced out to a 5-1 lead and never looked back.
Hack was the winning pitcher as he scattered seven hits.
Taylor Ort took the loss for the Bobcats.
Besides Martino's first inning two-run home run, the Eddies got a triple from Rick Krassow and doubles from Eric Stoneburner and Hack.
Pompey and Zach Edquist both had doubles for Brandywine.
First Game
Brandywine 000 120 1 – 4 7 3
Edwardsburg 201 220 x – 7 11 1
WP – James Hack (5-2) and Corey Johnson
LP – Taylor Ort (11-2) and Will Coar
2B: Dominique Pompey (B), Zach Edquist (B), Eric Stoneburner (E), Hack (E)
3B: Rick Krassow (E)
HR: Anthony Martino (E)
Second Game
Brandywine 200 200 0 – 4 13 1
Edwardsburg 100 010 3 – 5 8 2
WP – Zak Thompson (5-3) and Corey Johnson
LP – Brad Ritchey (4-1) and Will Coar
2B: Cody Udell (B), Dominique Pompey (B), Coar (B), Dan Reidenbach (B), Johnson (E), James Hack (E).
HR: Johnson (E)
Varsity records: Brandywine 26-3, 11-3 Lakeland; Edwardsburg 12-11, 8-2 Lakeland