'Berg Wraps Up Successful Fall Season

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The Heidelberg University baseball team concluded its 2008 fall season with a inter-squad World Series. After three weeks of workouts the seniors split up to draft two teams for the 2008 Fall World Series. The Orange team was led by L.B. Emrhein (Seven Hills, Ohio / Padua Franciscan), Biagio Boytim (Brunswick, Ohio / Brunswick) and David Paddock (Westerville, Ohio / North), while the Black team was guided by Bryan Hartman (Circleville, Ohio / Logan Elm), Jeremy Wentworth (Johnstown, Ohio / St. Charles), Jack Bault (Atwater, Ohio / Waterloo) and Matt Grassley (Gross Pointe, Mich. / Grosse Pointe North).
 
The black team jumped out to an early lead in the best of five series thanks to a dominant pitching performance by freshman Sylvester Nino (Willard, Ohio / Willard). The victory was short lived because the Orange team turned the momentum taking games two and three forcing a decisive day four.
 
Down in the series, the Black team made an early statement with a lopsided win in game four, with sophomore Andy Lowe (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Carroll) mowing down opposing hitters. Offensively, Wentworth, Grassley and Travis McClarney (Mt. Vernon, Ind. / Reitz) led the Black team in a 10-run barrage to send the series into game five.
 
With the series on the line the Orange team gave the ball to freshman southpaw Elvin Williams (Euclid, Ohio / Euclid). Williams pitched five strong innings before giving the ball to fellow classmate Daniel Brannum (Jamestown, Ohio / Greeneview) to complete the game. The two pitchers combined for impressive performances and led the Orange team to the series victory.
 
The Fall World Series concluded with a banquet at Camden Falls in Tiffin. The banquet served as a celebration for the successful 2007 championship season and was the official kickoff for the 2009 campaign. Ninth-year head coach Matt Palm emceed the event and led the recognition for all 2008 award winners.
 
At the banquet Jason Lash (Strongsville, Ohio / Strongsville) was honored for his two-time selection as Ohio Athletic Conference Hitter of the Week, while Lowe and Jake Gossman (Westerville, Ohio / South) each were tabbed OAC Pitcher of the Week. Earning a spot on the All-OAC First Team was Steve Calevro (Perrysburg, Ohio / Perrysburg), Gar Keen (Fredericktown, Ohio / Highland), Lash and Wentworth, while Grassley, Paddock and Andrew McFarland (Mansfield, Ohio / Madison) were tabbed second team honorees. Earning a spot on the honorable mention list was Steve Decker (Maumee, Ohio / Springfield), Gossman and Lowe.
 
Aiding in Heidelberg’s run at the OAC Tournament Championship was a solid effort by six all-tournament performers led by Most Valuable Player Lowe, along with Keen, Boytim, Willie Brechun (Clinton, Ohio / Canton Central Catholic), Grassley and Wentworth. Brechun carried his strong play over to the Mideast Regional where he joined Everett Thomas (Evansville, Ind. / Harrison) on the All-Mideast Region Tournament Team.
 
Heidelberg placed five players on the All-Mideast Region team led by first team members Wentworth and Lash, along with second team honoree Thomas. Garnering third team accolades was Grassley and Lowe. Wentworth went on to be tabbed a Third Team All-American, marking just the fourth player in the history of the program to earn All-American distinction.
 
Not to be outdone from the accolades players received on the diamond, but Calevro was voted to the ESPN the Magazine Academic District IV Second Team. Calevro also was voted to the Academic All-OAC First Team, while McFarland was an honorable mention selection.
 
The banquet concluded with the team awards that are voted on by the players. Earning the Offensive Award was Wentworth, while its counterpart, the Defensive Award, went to Decker. Lash was tabbed the Rookie of the Year, while Lowe received the Best Pitcher Award. Rounding out the team awards was the Team Award which was awarded to Alex Clyborn (Westerville, Ohio / Marbourne Academy).