Senior Duo's Ninth Puts 'Berg in Title Game

Seniors Jeremy Wentworth (Johnstown, Ohio / St. Charles) and Matt Grassley’s (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. / Grosse Pointe North) speed and effectiveness at the plate helped to secure a 13-12 Heidelberg University victory over Otterbein College in game three of the 2009 Ohio Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament hosted by the Berg at Peaceful Valley today, May 8.
 
The Berg is the no. 1 seed in the four-team double elimination tournament and have secured a spot in the championship game for the second-straight year, and fourth time overall. Heidelberg’s opponent is yet to be determined. Under the guidance of 10th-year head coach Matt Palm, Heidelberg will look to make it two-consecutive tournament titles and three overall.
 
For the year, Heidelberg is ranked fifth in the nation according to D3baseball.com and stand at 35-7 overall. The Cardinals, the no. 2 seed, falls to 23-16 overall and will face the winner of no. 3 Marietta College and no. 4 John Carroll University tomorrow, May 9, at 12:30 p.m.
 
Heidelberg was the visitors on the scoreboard, and headed into the top of the ninth in a 12-12 tie. Ricky Lizcano (Toledo, Ohio / Roy C. Start) reached on a fielding error by the third baseman to lead off the inning. Two batters later, Wentworth out ran a double play to keep Heidelberg alive. Wentworth stole second and advanced to third on a balk. Grassley stepped to the plate and knocked in the eventual game-winning run with a hit to right center field (Audio).
 
Otterbein threatened in its final at bat. A.J. Barnes started things off with a single to right center. Next batter, John Quimby, hit into a fielder’s choice for the first out. At the hot corner, Lizcano, fielded a hard hit ball to start a game-ending double play at second and first base.  
 
The game opened with an extended first inning, as both teams bated around and finished the inning in a 5-5 tie. Heidelberg’s Willie Brechun (Canton, Ohio / Canton Central Catholic) had a three-run home run, as did Otterbein’s John Sansbury.
 
Heidelberg continued its scoring streak and went on to outscore the Cardinals 7-0 over the next five innings. Gar Keen (Sparta, Ohio / Highland) had a solo home run to help lead a three-run fourth inning, along with three Otterbein miscues.
 
Otterbein began its comeback with seven runs over innings seven and eight. Sansbury had a two-run double to left center field to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth.
 
Heidelberg and Otterbein combined for 27 hits, with the Berg holding a 15-12 advantage. Keen and Lizcano each went 3-for-5 to lead the way for Heidelberg. Keen had two home runs on the day, while Brechun and Grassley added one apiece. Knocking in three runs each was Keen and Brechun.
 
 Sansbury led the Otterbein hitters with a 3-for-4 outing.
 
On the mound, Andy Lowe (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Carroll) closed out the game, pitching the final 2.2 innings and picked up the win to improve to 3-1. He gave up four hits and three runs, while striking out two. Sylvester Nino (Willard, Ohio / Willard) got the start on the mound. Nino gave up five runs in the first inning, but once he settled in,he threw five scorelss innings. OVerall he finished with six hits and had five strike outs.
 
Picking up the loss was Alex Hayes. Hayes threw the final inning and gave up one hit and a run. For the year he stands at 4-3.