“It tastes like metal,” said Lehman, wrinkling up his face before brightening. “It tastes like victory — sweetness.”
» PHOTOS: Nick Graham’s 49-image gallery from Hamilton
The Madison second baseman drove in the tie-breaking run and scored the insurance run in the Mohawks’ two-run fourth inning and junior left-hander Tristan Sipple piled up 11 strikeouts while allowing just two hits and one earned run in a complete game.
Junior center fielder Gabe Higgs and junior left fielder Turner Campbell also drove in a run each for Madison, which won a second consecutive district championship and the third in school history, according to coach Matt Morrison.
The Mohawks, winners of six straight games and seven of their last eight, will face either Dayton Christian or Versailles in a 6 p.m. regional semifinal May 30 at Wright State University. Madison (24-6) lost 8-5 to Dayton Christian on May 6.
Wednesday’s win served as a bit of revenge for the Mohawks, who lost to Madeira 5-1 in last season’s regional semifinal. One of the main differences between last year’s game and this season’s was Sipple, Morrison said.
“He had a lot better command today. He was pounding the strike zone and keeping them off balance,” Morrison said. “Sometimes you cringe at things like the ‘Michigan Revenge Tour. ‘The guys have gotten good at taking one game at a time.”
Sipple issued four walks, the fault as much the rain that fell intermittently through the first half of the game. The balls became so soggy that the umpire had to ask Hamilton athletic director Todd Grimm for new ones. Sipple didn’t walk anybody after the first batter of the fifth inning.
This year’s Mohawks were more focused against the Mustangs than last year’s, Lehman said.
“I think we took it for granted last season,” he said. “We want to go to state this year.”
That change in approach might be traced to Morrison’s work on his players’ mental states, which includes reading them books such as “Oh, The Things You’ll Do.”
“Yes, a Dr. Seuss book,” Morrison said. “It shows you what can happen when you take away your brain and insert your heart. The guys have really come together.”
Lehman’s review?
“It was pretty good stuff, once you dissected it,” he said.
Madeira (17-11) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second on a leadoff triple and one-out suicide squeeze bunt. Madison returned the favor in the bottom of the inning on Higgs’ one-out triple to left and Campbell’s suicide squeeze bunt that got past the pitcher for a hit.
The Mohawks took a 2-1 lead in the third on Svarda’s one-out single to center, junior first baseman Luke Hughes’ double to right and Higgs’ single to left, but Madeira tied it when Svarda was charged with a throwing error on a stolen base.
Sipple came up with a one-out single in the fourth and Lehman drilled the next pitch over the right fielder’s head for an RBI double. Lehman scored from second when sophomore shortstop Justin Gray’s bouncer took a bad hop and sailed over the Madeira shortstop’s left shoulder and into left field.
Madeira 010-100-0—2-2-1
Madison 011-200-x—4-7-2
WP — Tristan Sipple (8-0); LP — Casey Wirsing (4-1). Records: MADE 17-11, MADI 24-6
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