MADISON TOWNSHIP — When Madison’s Michael Penney squared off against Ontario’s Alex Vrendenburgh on Thursday, it was clear runs would be hard to come by.
That was exactly that case in a 3-2 Madison win in a Division II sectional baseball title game on the Rams’ home field.
In fact, if not for a couple of controversial calls by the umpires, the two rivals may still be locked in a scoreless battle that featured two of the area’s best senior hurlers. Penney entered with a 1.17 ERA while Vrendenburgh had a 2.57 ERA.
But the win sends Madison (18-10) into Thursday’s district semifinal at Heidelberg University against either Bellevue or Huron. Those two teams play this week at BHS. Ontario, with a couple of regular-season games still to play, is 9-10.
CONTROVERSIAL FIFTH: With no score in the bottom of the fifth, Madison’s Doug Shenberger fanned for the second out, but reached base on a passed ball. Trenton Mortimer followed with a walk. Jacob Stone popped to short for the second out, setting the stage for the game’s crucial moment.
Sophomore Cal Rickert slammed a hard ground ball, speared by Ontario shortstop Avery Fisher. The shortstop glanced at second, but had no play, choosing instead to fire to first baseman Luke Gorbett. The throw reached the late-arriving Gorbett at the same time as a diving Rickert. Gorbett attempted to tag Rickert for the third out.
The base umpire quickly looked to his home plate partner for help on the call. His partner didn’t see the tag, loading the bases.
Veteran Ontario coach Dan Gorbett, who said he had a clear view of the play, pleaded his case to the two-man crew, to no avail.
“The base umpire said he was screened (on the play),” Gorbett said. (But) it was a tag. In my mind, it was a no-brainer,” Gorbett said. “I told the kids in my 32 years as a coach, this is one of the toughest tournament losses. It’s tough to take. It really wasn’t that close (a play).”
Rather than being out of the inning, Vrendenburgh had to face Madison hitting star Zane Harris, who came in batting .452 and already had two singles in the game. Harris smashed a hard groundball single past second baseman Mason Zahn, driving in two runs. Clean-up hitter Curtis French then singled to left, putting the Rams ahead 3-0.
Madison coach Doug Rickert, whose team won its 16th sectional title in his 18 years as the coach, said he didn’t have a clear view of the controversial play.
“Our first-base coach said he was safe,” he said. “I’m just glad Cal (slid) to give us a chance on the play.
“Zane Harris is one of the best hitters I have ever coached,” he said. “He is also one of the most patient. He has walked 38 times this season. But they had to pitch to him there. And Curtis French stayed mentally tough to get that third run across.”
CONTROVERSIAL SEVENTH: Ontario, held to one hit through six innings by Penney, refused to go quietly in its last at-bat. Gorbett and Jake Gleason both singled to start the seventh, advancing to second and third on a wild pitch.
Working from the stretch for one of the first times in the game, Penney was then called for back-to-back balks, cutting the Rams’ lead to 3-2 with still no one out.
But Penny, back in the wind-up, settled down and struck out two batters before inducing a ground out for the final out of the game.
“They tested (Penney’s) character,” Rickert said, still unsure what the umpires based the balk calls on. “It might have been the best thing that could have happened. He got out of the stretch and went back to the wind-up.”
GREAT PITCHING: Both coaches praised the opposition pitcher. Penney allowed two runs on three hits, striking out seven and walking none. Vredenburgh allowed three unearned runs on five hits, striking out five and walking three. Neither pitcher allowed an extra-base hit.
“Penney pitched a great game,” Gorbett said. “He was everything we had heard he was.”
Rickert said, “Vrendenburgh pitched a heckuva game. It’s just not easy to win tournament games. They have a Hall of Fame coach and a very good team.”
REGULAR-SEASON GAMES LEFT: Both teams still have regular-season games to play. Madison hosts Orrville on Monday in an Ohio Cardinal Conference game with a hope for a share of the league title with Wooster.
Ontario hosts Norwalk on Saturday in a Northern Ohio League game.
