Sunday, April 02, 2000
NCC edges No. 1 Dixie
'Darkness gets the save' in shortened game
BY RAY SCHAEFER
Enquirer contributor
EDGEWOOD — Newport Central Catholic baseball coach Jeff Schulkens will take his team's 3-1 record and consider himself blessed.
The defending Ninth Region champion held on for a 12-11 win over Dixie Heights, ranked No.1 in The Enquirer's Northern Kentucky poll,Saturday at Turkey Foot Middle School.
NewCath started the day with a 5-3 loss at Enquirer No.4 Covington Catholic.
“Darkness gets the save,” Schulkens said after the game against Dixie, which lasted more than three hours. “I couldn't see the center fielder, I couldn't see the right fielder. I'm happy to be 3-1.”
NewCath is glad to have a complete team. Eight Thoroughbreds were members of the state All “A” and Ninth Region champion basketball team.
“Seven of these kids have only had practice twice,” Schulkens said.
Senior second baseman Matt Sharp was glad to finally see some offense against Dixie. He provided much of it, going 3-for-4 with a double.
“I bet our first three games, we had only 15 hits altogether,” Sharp said. “We only lost by two to CovCath. I took that as a positive.”
Once NewCath made it to Turkey Foot, the positives continued.
Start with sophomore shortstop Michael Pangallo. His two-out, two-run infield single put NewCath up 2-0 in the second inning.
Next, there was sophomore first baseman Kevin Maloney. His three-run homer to center field off losing pitcher Tom Unkraut in the third gave NewCath a 6-0 lead and eased the memory of a three-strikeout game against CovCath.
“I guess I just see the ball better (at Turkey Foot),” Maloney said.
Dixie coach Chris Maxwell said Unkraut's mechanics were off.
“He was aiming his pitches,” Maxwell said.
Finally, there was NewCath junior third baseman Hank Bosley. His two-run single, plus four wild pitches and an error resulted in five runs in the sixth inning and a 12-4 lead.
With darkness approaching, however, Dixie's offense was just getting started.
Maxwell said umpires J.J. Wurtz and David Buerger did Dixie a favor by letting the game go to the sixth, and the Colonels (3-1) took advantage. Right fielder Kyle Burch's double and pitcher Kyle Rader's three-run homer to center made the score 12-9.
Burch struck again in the seventh: a two-run single to center, which scored Adam Liechty and Troy Kenning.
Darkness, however, may also have had an effect on the game's final play. Wurtz called Dixie's Jay Johnson out for interfering with NewCath catcher Chris Meyer, who was trying to catch a ball just inside the first-base line.
“It was the right call,” Max well said. “Jay didn't know where it went, didn't know what to do.”
Maloney said after the game he is a little upset most coaches did not vote NewCath No.1 in The Enquirer's poll.
“I don't care what polls say,” Maloney said. “I know how we can play.”
• Bellevue 6, Campbell County 6 — Paul Eaglin's double in the bottom of the sixth inning drove in two runs as Bellevue managed to salvage a tie in a game suspended by darkness.
• Amelia 6, Loveland 5 — Scott Shelton drew a walk in the sixth inning, stole second and scored the winning run on Josh Reinhart's single.
• Lakota East 13-13, Northwest 3-9 — Leadoff batter Mike Rabin had five hits and scored six runs in the Thunderhawks' doubleheader victory over the Knights.
Fast-pitch softball
• Ryle 8, Valley View 7 — Amber Brady hit a home run in the bottom of the seventh for the Raiders.
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