Sunday, June 06, 1999

Big hits propel Madeira to first championship

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Fields stars; Novakov homer seals victory

BY MARK SCHMETZER
Enquirer contributor

Madeira 2B W.D. Hauck is too late with the tag on Campbell Memorial's Mike Hostal. (AP photos) | ZOOM |

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        COLUMBUS — The infield sprinklers at Cooper Stadium in Columbus started spraying during the awards ceremonies following the Ohio Division III state championship baseball game Saturday, but they couldn't put a damper on Madeira's spirits.

        The Mustangs (27-4) got three hits each from junior second baseman W.D. Hauck and senior pitcher/first baseman Kenny Fields in addition to a two-run, pinch-hit homer from junior Mike Novakov to overwhelm Campbell Memorial 10-4 and claim the state championship before a crowd of 1,019.

        “I don't know what to say,” said Jack Kuzniczci, whose team captured the first boys team state championship in the 75-year history of the school. “It's pandemonium, I guess. It feels great. A lot of guys came through.”

        Fields, one of Madeira's six senior starters, drove in two runs, stole two bases and pitched three innings of relief that helped the Mustangs take control. That was on top of the complete game he pitched Friday in Madeira's semifinals win.

Hauck steals home in the seventh inning, beating a diving tag by catcher Nick Perry. | ZOOM |

        “I really think it's huge,” he said of his being able to contribute in so many ways. “I've tried to take over the role of team leader, and I think being able to go out and get some hits and pitch well gives us confidence, and when we have confidence, we can do some things in the field.”

        Madeira needed several big defensive plays to keep Campbell Memorial (23-5) at bay.

        Junior left-handed starter John Elfring allowed five hits and two runs in three innings, but the damage might have been worse if not for senior right fielder Nick Parkhouse flagging down Chad Billec's bid for extra bases to end the Red Devils' two-run second. An inning later, senior center fielder Jon Newberry alertly forced out Joe Vrona at second base after being unable to come up with Brian Sacui's third-inning line drive.

        “To think that quick is great,” Kuzniczci said. “Newberry's been in a lot of state cross-country championships, and the basketball team reached the state tournament, so we've got a lot of guys who are used to competing at a high level. A lot of our guys play big-time summer baseball, so they're used to playing in big games.”

        Junior shortstop Tim Dooley, who pitched the seventh, followed with a diving stop of Eddie Rozum's grounder up the middle and, from his belly, flipped to Hauck for the inning-ending out.

        Madeira came into the game looking to run on Campbell Memorial catcher Nick Perry. Dooley led off the game with a walk, stole second, moved to third on Hauck's groundout and scored on Fields' single. Elfring followed with a run-scoring double.

        The Mustangs snapped the 2-2 tie in the third on Hauck's RBI double and Elfring's sacrifice fly. The Red Devils took advantage of two errors by Madeira junior catcher Tim Disbennett to tie the game with two unearned runs in the fourth, but the Mustangs took the lead for good in the fifth on Hauck's triple and Fields' single.

        They clinched it in the sixth on Novakov's homer, a 3-1 blast to left that traveled an estimat ed 375 feet.

        “It was a fastball, inside,” said Novakov, a junior. “I was looking fastball because it was 3-1. I didn't think anybody on our team could hit it out to left, but then I did. It hit me right away. I was excited, but then I settled down, because I knew we had to get six more outs.”

        “I think that took a lot out of them,” Fields said. “I think that broke their backs.”

        Madeira ....... 202 012 3—10  10  2

        Campbell Memorial ....... 020 200 0— 4   7  1

WP — Fields. LP — Hostal. Hitting leaders: M — Hauck 3-4, 2B, 3B, 3R; Fields 3-3, 3R, 3RBI; Case 2-4; Novakov 1-1, HR, 2RBI. C — Gozue 3-3; Elenis 2-3, 2R, 2B. Records: M 27-4; C 23-5.

       

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