All of the Bombers’ damage was done with two outs, including Jon Brus’ RBI double and Alex Markley’s two-run single for a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. St. Xavier (22-4) tacked on another score on Nick Meyer’s two-out single in the third.
“We just couldn’t get that third out in crucial situations, and they were able to capitalize with four runs,” Fairfield coach Tommy Begley said. “When you look at a scoreboard at this point, you’re looking at one pitch here, one pitch there, it could have gone a different way and maybe we’re standing on the winning side ready to play West tomorrow. But St. X did a great job.”
PHOTOS: Greg Lynch’s gallery from the game
DIVISION I: Extra baseball leads to West win
DIVISION III: Carlisle advances to regional final
Fairfield (23-7) got one run back in the fourth on Trinidad Selvie’s two-out base hit and an error, which allowed Brock Mathis to score, but the Indians couldn’t add to it with runners on the corners.
More opportunities would come later without results.
Noah Bauman doubled to lead off in the fifth but didn’t get any further than second, and Fairfield left two runners on in the sixth. Evan Trentman and Nolan McWhorter each went 2-for-3 to lead the Indians’ offense, which outhit St. X 7-6 for the game despite a strong outing from junior Nathan Kappers (8-1), who went the distance for the win.
“That (4-0 lead) was clutch,” Bombers coach Bob Sherlock said. “It really set the tone to get on the board early, and we knew with Nate Kappers on the mound we were going to be in good shape. But Fairfield is a tough team to beat, so we were never really out of the woods with them.”
The Indians ended up pulling starter Kurt Lange with one out in the second inning after he walked No. 9 hitter Grant Kirby. Reliever Shane Hatfield lasted three frames, giving up one run on three hits with four walks before handing the ball off to Tyler Morgan.
Morgan, a junior, allowed one hit in 2.2 scoreless innings to close out the program’s impressive first season under Begley.
“The hardest job as a coach is to look at your guys in the face when it’s all over, but I talked to them about 20 wins for the first time since 2010, sectional championship for the first time since 2010 and a district championship for the first time since 2002,” Begley said. “There are a lot of programs that are already done right now that would love to have the tournament run and season we’ve had. It’s just unfortunate when it ends.”
St. Xavier 301-000-0—4-6-2
Fairfield 000-100-0—1-7-0
WP — Nathan Kappers (8-1); LP — Kurt Lange (6-3). Records: S 22-4, F 23-7
About the Author