Newspapers Online, Sports Story The Bryan Times- Bryan, Ohio, OH

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Bears tame Tigers

By JEFFERY R. RATLIFF - Special to the Times

LIBERTY CENTER - The Bryan Golden Bears, a perennial Northwest Ohio Athletic League powerhouse since the league adopted baseball 55 years ago, is once again back atop the conference standings.

Bryan clinched at least a share of the NWOAL title - their 23rd league championship - with a hard-fought 4-2 victory over the Tigers at Liberty Center's B.A. Miller Field Thursday.

It is the first league title for the Golden Bears since 2005.

"The league is very important to these guys," said first-year Bryan coach Tony Ebersole. "I don't think any of them have experienced a league title. At least we have a share."

Bryan, which is now 11-6 overall and 7-0 in the NWOAL, can win the title outright with a victory over Delta next Thursday.

The Golden Bears jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, scoring a run in the first and then three in the second.

Cody Thorp led off the game with a double and then moved to third on a fielderÕs choice. Thorp scored the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly to centerfield by Jeremy Robinson.

Levi Fisher and Dane Poncsak hit consecutive singles, but were stranded when Ben Elting's line drive was snared by LC third baseman Brad Thomas. Bryan went back to work on offense in the second inning, as Shawn Patten reached on a bunt single and Devin Poncsak was safe after an error to put runners on first and second.

After a sacrifice bunt, a walk to Thorp loaded the bases for Kevin Martin, who drove in a pair of runs with a single that chased Liberty Center starter Andrew Hesson from the mound.

Robinson drove in his second run of the game with a fielder's choice off of reliever Derek Hefflinger, who then walked the next batter to put runners on the corners. Hefflinger got out of the inning with a fly to centerfield.

Hefflinger then quieted the Bryan bats the rest of the game, setting down 11 of the first 13 batters he faced. The LC reliever did not allow a run the rest of the game, getting out of jams in the sixth and seventh innings to keep the Tigers in the contest.

"We told him that was his best outing of the year, maybe his career," said Liberty Center coach Ryan Miller of Hefflinger. "This was his last game on this field and hopefully it will help us move forward in the tournament."

Hefflinger pitched 5 2/3 innings of shutout relief, giving up two hits and three walks, while striking out three.

Robinson, the Bryan starter, was just as dominant for the first four innings, facing the minimum number of batters as Pat Brown's double for LC was wiped away by a double play after a line drive to Martin at first base.

The Tigers finally got on the scoreboard in the fifth inning, as Wes Shumaker drew a one-out walk and after a fielder's choice, Brown roped a triple to left-centerfield to bring in LC's first run.

A fly to centerfield stranded Brown at third.

In the sixth inning, Hefflinger opened with a walk and Andy Spiess moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt. After a flyout, Damian Maes drove in Hefflinger with a single.

Robinson got out of the inning, striking out the next batter.

Bryan loaded the bases in the seventh after Miller intentionally walked Patten and Hefflinger coaxed a grounder to short for the force to end the inning.

Brandon Neff smacked a one-out double in the bottom of the seventh and Ebersole went to Alex Nossaman for relief.

Nossaman struck out the first batter he faced, but then walked Logan Burdue to put the tying run on base before a fly ball to rightfield ended the game.

"They (Liberty Center) kept coming at us," said Ebersole. "Our hitting fell by the wayside, but our defense stayed strong and our pitching stepped up."

Robinson picked up the win, going 6 1/3 innings and allowing two runs on four hits and two walks. He struck out five. Nossaman, a sophomore, earned the save, getting the final two outs.

Ebersole said he wanted to see if his young pitcher was ready for the big moment.

"I thought it was a good time to find out," said Ebersole. "Today, I felt he had it and I felt confident in him. "(Jeremy's) always pitched well for me," added Ebersole. "He is unemotional on the mound. He does that very well."

Patten led the Bears with two singles, while Robinson and Martin each had a hit and two RBI.

Liberty Center was led on offense by Brown with a double, triple and RBI.

Miller said he was pleased with the way his team stayed in the game.

Bryan will face Maumee on Saturday at 12 p.m. in Defiance for their sectional baseball opener.

SPORTS HOURS
Results may be turned in from 7:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. Monday thru Thursday, from 9 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. on Fridays and 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturdays.
No one is in the office on Sundays so Saturday's results should be reported on Saturday if they are to be printed in Monday's paper.
Results that are turned in the next day will only have final scores printed in the paper unless there are circumstances that are not controllable.
Games can be telephoned in at 419-636-1111, faxed to the paper at 419-636-8937, or emailed to the Times at sports@bryantimes.com.
Results can also be dropped off at the Bryan Times office the night of the games before 11:30 p.m.