Middletown Christian nips CCS

David A. Moodie, contributing photographer/Middletown Christian Eagles vs Cincinnati Christian Cougars at Monroe on Monday, April 27, 2009

Photos: Mid. Christian vs. Cin. Christian

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By John Bombatch , Staff Writer Updated 8:50 AM Tuesday, April 28, 2009

MONROE — In a game full of big defensive plays, Monday’s April 27 contest between visiting Cincinnati Christian and host Middletown Christian ended on another.

MCS fended off a CCS rally, thanks to a heads-up play at third, to hold on for a 5-4 win at Monroe Middle School.

With Cincinnati Christian’s Whitney Day on second with the game’s tying run and two out, MCS catcher Alyssa Walton fired to second in hopes of picking Day off the base. Instead the ball sailed over the shortstop’s head and into center field.

Day appeared to be a sure thing at third, but Eagle center fielder Rachel Spahr picked the ball up and fired a strike to third baseman Karla Yanes for the game-ending out.

“I was a little scared at first, because I saw the runner coming,” said Yanes, “but Rachel placed the throw right out in front of me. It was a perfect throw. All I had to do was scoop it up and tag her.”

Cougars assistant coach Tim Lotspeich admitted to waving Day on to third. “She couldn’t tell how far the ball had gone, so I told her to go,” he said. “But you don’t want to make the final out on the basepaths like that. That was a tough way to end a game.”

Yanes came up with two other defensive gems for MCS (7-3). In the third inning, she snared a line drive off Raychal Lotspeich’s bat to end the Cougars’ inning. She then ended the fourth inning by snaring yet another line drive, then quickly firing to Eagle first baseman Kristen Hine to double-up the runner on first.

“I’m really just proud of the whole team,” Yanes said. “I’m glad we could beat a really good team like Cincinnati Christian.”

Leadoff hitter Brittany Moore drove in two of the Eagles’ runs on a pair of bunt hits. “I was just waiting to see a pitch down the middle,” she explained. “That’s usually my job to bunt myself on like that. I was glad to help.”

In a game full of big plays at the bases, MCS even threw out a Cougar runner trying to steal home in the fifth inning.

The Cougars (4-4) had their share of solid defensive plays as well. In the third inning, pitcher Emmalee Reiser fired home to Day to tag out a sliding Tasha Balsbaugh. In the fourth, CCS centerfielder Krista Ayers fielded Miranda Alsept’s single on a hop and threw out Moore at the plate.

It’s supposed to rain, but MCS hopes to get just its second Metro Buckeye Conference game of the season in today when it travels north to play Troy Christian. CCS falls to 4-4 overall with the loss. They return to action today when they’ll host a nonleague game with North College Hill.

“This is a good victory in terms of helping our tournament seeding,” MCS coach Pat Spurlock said. “This was a really big win for us.”

Contact this writer at (513) 705-2851 or jbombatch@coxohio.com

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