Fort Loramie’s Gabe Hart 2-hit Russia, striking out 6 in a complete-game 5-1 win. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
A pitching duel for the first five innings, Fort Loramie’s Gabe Hart allowed Russia just one hit Monday, handing the Raiders their first league loss.
Fort Loramie, OH – The term ‘showdown’ is a bit over the top in the middle of April and the high school baseball season. But when Loramie meets Russia there’s a bit more mustard on bun, regardless of the date.
That said, the series over the years has been highlighted by big moments and big performances, and Fort Loramie’s Gabe Hart added to the legacy Monday afternoon, spinning a 2-hitter, striking out six, to deliver Loramie a key Shelby County League win…and Russia its first league loss, 5-1.
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Hart was good enough to win on any occasion, powering his fastball by the Russia hitters while mixing in just enough off-speed and breaking stuff to keep the Raiders off stride.
“He threw just enough of the breaking ball to make us start looking for it,” said Russia coach Kevin Phlipot. “Somehow we got it in our head he was going to throw the curve and we quit looking for the fastball.”
Though hardly 90 miles per hour, Hart’s fastball was surprisingly alive with what coaches and scout call ‘late finish’. And except for Marshall University-bound Braylon Cordonnier’s one-out double to double to the gap in the first inning, Hart stymied a team known for its ability to power the fastball…and when they did hit it they hit it at a Loramie fielder.
“He’s capable of pitching like that,” said Fort Loramie coach Jeff Sanders. “Earlier this year he threw a three-hit shutout against Celina, so today was no surprise. He had good velocity, he threw strikes, and he commanded the strike zone.”
Raider power outage….Braylon Cordonnier’s double in the first was the Raiders’ only extra base hit.
“My velocity had been down a little,” admitted Hart, afterwards. “It wasn’t good against Anna last week in Dayton, but I did some work with the trainer and got it back. Today’s win was a great win for our team. The game against Celina was good but it wasn’t the same as beating Russia.”
And beating Russia on a day when Raiders starting pitcher Cooper Unverferth nearly matched Hart, pitch for pitch. But Loramie got to Unverferth first, in the bottom of the third to take a 1-0 lead when the Raiders’ starter had a lapse of control, walked three in the inning, and forced in Loramie’s Thomas Hoying with the first run of the game.
Russia hit some balls hard, but never looked comfortable at the plate. Their lone run was one they ‘eked’ out when left fielder Michael Grieshop walked to start the fifth, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and eventually scored from third base on a sacrifice fly ball by teammate Ben York to tie the score at 1-1.
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Still, Hart was undaunted, despite a pair of one-out walks in the top of the sixth. And with the go-ahead run on third base in the person of Braylon Cordonnier he threw the ball by Russia freshman Parker Lloyd, looking, for the third out. And no harm done.
Yet…..
Russia’s Cooper Unverferth matched Fort Loramie for the first five innings.
In the bottom of the inning Unverferth’s luck ran aground. After striking out the leadoff man, Gabe Hart turned hitter, lifting a short fly ball to center that Russia’s Vince Borchers made a diving attempt on, only to have umpire Steve Kirby rule it a trap for a base hit. Loramie’s Jace Ruhenkamp followed with a infield fly ball for the second out, and it appeared that Unverferth would escape…and almost did. Loramie third baseman Louis Hart then struck out swinging on a ball in the dirt that got by the catcher far enough for Hart to reach first base – runners at first and third.
Pinch-hitter Carson Arnold came to the plate to bat for Spencer Knouff, and hit Unverferth’s first pitch to center field for to drive in Hart with the go-ahead run. Chase Bornhorst followed with another base hit, and another run…and the #9 hitter, second baseman Zac Dues then dropped a perfect, but unexpected bunt down the third base that Russia played into two more runs. In the blink of an eye Loramie led, 5-1.
Loramie’s Chase Bornhorst made this play to knock off a Raider runner in the fourth.
Russia would go quietly in the top of the seventh, despite a one-out single by Zeb Borchers for their second hit of the game. But Borchers was left standing as York and Leo Counts flied out to end the game.
Loramie won it with 5 runs on 7 hits and had 1 error….Russia lost it with 1 runs on 2 hits and had 1 error. Loramie improved to 7-3 while Russia dropped to 6-4.
They will, of course, meet again on May 15, at Russia, for the SCL title, a share of the title, or with an eye out for Anna, who likewise is unbeaten in league play and is going to have its say after beating Fort Loramie 12-2 last week, with a rematch on May 8th. The Rockets also have two dates on its schedule with Russia, including next Monday, the 28th.
“The goal coming in today was to not give them free bases,” added Jeff Sanders. “They can hurt you with men on base with the bunt and hit-and-run. But Gabe commanded the strike zone, and he mixed things up well.
“But the big thing was he didn’t give them free bases.”
Just something to think about, come May 15.
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