Tiffin, Ohio - October 13, 2010 - The nationally ranked Heidelberg University baseball team closed a chapter in its storied history over the weekend of Oct. 8, and officially began a new section as well.
Under the guidance of veteran head coach Matt Palm, along with assistant coaches Chad Fitzgerald, Shaun Pfeil and Keith Theis, Heidelberg concluded its 2010 fall ball season with its annual inter-squad World Series and its annual banquet.
The banquet was held at the Camden Falls Banquet Center in Tiffin, Ohio on Sunday, Oct. 10. The entire baseball family gathered to celebrate Heidelberg’s 2010 Ohio Athletic Conference Regular Season and Tournament titles, as well as its Mideast Regional trophy and its trip to the Division III World Series. Heidelberg finished the 2010 season at 42-8 and was 15-3 in the OAC. Its 42 wins set a new single season record.
Honored at the banquet were the award winners from the Spring. Overall, Heidelberg had eight All-Americans, including five honored by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and three by D3Baseball.com. Within the Mideast Region, the Berg garnered player, pitcher and coach of the year honors, while eight were named to the all-region team. Within the OAC, a league-leading eight players were honored as well.
In the classroom, Heidelberg’s student-athletes earned the NCAA Elite 88 Award, four were named all-district honorees, as well as six were Academic All-OAC picks.
End of the year awards that were voted on by the players were handed out. Ricardo Lizcano (Toledo, Ohio / Roy C. Start) was named the Most Valuable Player and Top Offensive Player. Steve Decker (Maumee, Ohio / Springfield) was tabbed the Top Defensive Player, while Ethan Holt (Galion, Ohio / West Holmes) and Andy Lowe (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Carroll) were selected as the Rookie of the Year and the Top Pitcher, respectively. Rounding out the awards was the Team Award which was given to Joe Rourke (Lockport, Ill. / Lockport Township).
Prior to the banquet, Heidelberg closed out its fall season with the Black Team topping the Orange Team 4-1 in its World Series. Teams were divided up by the senior class. Leading the Black Team was Coach Palm and Coach Theis, while Coach Fitzgerald and Coach Pfeil guided the Orange Team.
Game One
The Black Team posted a 3-2 victory in game one on Friday. Freshman right handed pitcher Zach O’Driscoll (Hudson, Ohio / Walsh Jesuit) started the game for Black. He went 6.1 innings, giving up one earned run, on four hits, to go along with five strike outs. Junior right hander Daniel Brannum (Jamestown, Ohio / Greeneview) picked up the win, going 1.2 innings in relief. Brannum gave up one run. Lizcano got the save throwing a scoreless ninth.
Black scored three unearned runs in the eighth inning for the win. Scoring for Black was Jason Lash (Strongsville, Ohio / Strongsville), Zach Colatruglio (Brunswick, Ohio / Brunswick) and Rourke. For the Orange Team, Alex Monroe (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston) hit a solo home run in the eighth to lead the way.
Game Two
The Orange Team redeemed itself with an 11-7 victory in game two. Senior Willie Brechun (Canton, Ohio / Canton Central Catholic) went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored to lead the Orange. Freshman Nate Debick (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Chagrin Falls) added two hits and two runs.
Orange was down 6-1 after two innings of action. Sophomore Tyler Fruhwirth (Beavercreek, Ohio / Beavercreek) did a good job in relief picking up the win. He went 6.1 innings, giving up one run on two hits. Junior Ross Pruitt (Ellettsville, Ind. / Edgewood) pitched a scoreless ninth for Orange.
Game Three
In the third game of the series, the Black Team returned to its winning ways, posting a 7-4 victory. Senior Andrew Buelow (Marysville, Mich. / Marysville) went 2-for-4 to lead the Black Team. Sophomore Steve Deckert (Akron, Ohio / Coventry) added a double and two runs scored.
Black started freshman left handed pitcher Brandon Kaminski (Macomb, Mich. / Dakota) who went 2.2 innings and gave up three earned runs. Freshman right handed pitcher Ryan Morris (North Royalton, Ohio / North Royalton) pitched 4.1 innings and earned the win. Morris gave up one run. Lowe, a senior right handed closer, pitched the final two innings and preserved the win.
Game Four
Continuing on in the win column in game four was the Black Team with a close 4-3 victory. The win also sealed the series and unseated the defending champions.
Senior right handed pitcher Brian Koehl (Sylvania, Ohio / Sylvania Northview) threw a complete-game four-hitter. Colatruglio hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning to put the Black Team ahead for good. He also added a double. Buelow, freshman Lukas Richardson (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Snyder) and Lizcano also had two hits apiece.
Game Five
The weekend concluded with a game five in which the Black Team had a stellar offensive showing. The Black Team exploded for 15 runs en route to blanking the Orange Team.
Buelow, Richardson, Lash, Rourke and freshman Chris Wells (Gahanna, Ohio / Saint Charles) all scored two runs apiece for the Black Team. Freshman left handed pitcher Karl Boedecker (Commerce Township, Mich. / Walled Lake) started the game and teamed up with Lowe and Brannum.
2010 Inter-Squad World Series Teams
Orange Team: Jordan Martin, Zavh Cherry, Ben Blystone, Nate Debick, Matt Hammel, Andrew Zenczak, Gar Keen, Willie Brechun, Ross Pruitt, Zach Maynard, Elvin Williams, Danny Kilger, Lashon Long, Alex Monroe, John Williamson, Tommy White, Sylvester Nino, Ethan Holt, Teddy Lowe, Tyler Fruwirth, Nathan James and Mitch Jones. Blake Thornton (student assistant)
Black Team: Joe Rourke, Joe Staab, Lukas Richardson, Joe Chiarappa, Will Tracy, Chris Tracy, Zach Colatruglio, Jason Lash, Derek Andrzejczak, Karl Boedecker, Brandon Kaminski, Arneal Squibb, Ricardo Lizcano, Steve Deckert, Andrew Buelow, Zach O'Driscoll, Ryan Morris, Daniel Brannum, Andy Lowe and Brian Koehl.