by Ryan Mosher
As the Berlin baseball team honored their three seniors in their final home game of the season, they also faced a do or die game as they fought for a spot in the Class C Sectionals. The visiting Loudonville Christian Eagles entered the game as the CHVL’s number two team and were looking
to cement a number two seed in the Class D sectionals.
The Berlin seniors, Freddy Morine, Matt Morse and Eric Remington, were honored after the third inning in a brief ceremony.
Things did not start well on the diamond for the Mountaineers as the Eagles collected three hits and scored two runs in the first inning. In the bottom half of the inning Matt Morse had a one out single, but Berlin was stopped in their tracks as Loudonville turned a double play. That would become a theme for the visitors as they turned three double plays in the game.
The third inning proved to be the downfall of the Mountaineers’ game. After getting a quick first out, the next six batters all reached base and eventually scored. Loudonville sent 17 batters to the plate in the inning, scoring twelve runs on five hits, five walks, two hit batters and two reaching on errors. The Eagles held a commanding 14-0 lead after that inning, and, after tacking on another run in the top of the fourth, Berlin finally showed some life on offense.
In the bottom of the fourth, Aaron Gunlach drew a walk and advanced to third on a single by Morse. Gunlach then scored on a fielder’s choice by Freddy Morine. Morine then advanced on a stolen base and a passed ball. Remington grounded out, plating Morine. So after four full innings, the score was Loudonville 14, Berlin 2. Things only got worse for Berlin as the Eagles stretched the lead out to 19-2 heading into the final inning.
Ending With A Bang
Leading off the bottom of the seventh inning, Morine drilled a 1-2 pitch that landed out of sight down the left field hill. He cruised easily around the bases, ending his four year varsity career with a bang, a solo home run. That would end the scoring as well, as the Mountaineers fell 19-3. The loss most likely eliminates them from post season play, but that is in the hands of the Section II baseball seeding committee now. The seeding meeting will be held Tuesday morning.
Morine finished 1-3 with two runs, the home run and an RBI. Morse was 2-3, and Remington was also 2-3 with an RBI.