By PATRICK YASINSKAS
SPRING HILL — When two evenly matched teams meet, something inevitably has to give.
That’s what happened Tuesday night in River Ridge’s 9-6 victory against Springstead in Game One of the best-of-three Class 5A Region 2 semifinal series. The tipping point came in the top of the sixth inning as River Ridge used a pair of home runs to break open what had been a close game.
“(River Ridge) is a good team,” Springstead coach David Cazanas said. “They’re just like us in a lot of ways. We did some good things. But they got the timely hits and that changed the momentum of the game.
With No. 6-seed Springstead holding a 6-5 lead after five innings, River Ridge’s No. 9 hitter Jager Golden led off the sixth with a home run over the left-field fence to tie the game. Tommy Deloreto followed with a single and Jacob Yeager drew a walk. That’s when Cazanas pulled starting pitcher Taryn Henrickson, who has been Springstead’s ace in the later part of the season.
Cazanas turned to freshman left-hander Phillippe Thibeault, who had pitched in only one varsity game this year after starting the season on the junior varsity team. That move didn’t work out well as River Ridge’s Cameron Kessell stepped in and hit a three-run home run over the left-field wall to put the No. 7-seed Knights ahead, 9-6. It was Kessell’s sixth home run of the season.
The Eagles (17-12) had opportunities to get back in the game in the sixth and seventh innings but came up short both times. Sophomore shortstop Nathaniel Sabino and junior catcher Andrew Ward each drew walks to give Springstead runners at first and second with one out. in the sixth inning. But River Ridge (16-8) turned a double play to get out of the inning.
Springstead also had the potential tying run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning. Senior second baseman Nathan Marsh led off the inning and was hit by a pitch. Senior third baseman Joey Rief followed with a single to left field to give the Eagles runners at first and second. But River Ridge pitcher Carson Cooley struck out the next batter. Henrickson then hit a hardline drive right at Yeager at shortstop. Yeager caught the ball and doubled up Marsh at second base to end the game.
“We had plenty of chances,” Cazanas said. “But we just didn’t take advantage of enough of them.”
The Eagles pounded on 11 hits on the night but stranded six runners in scoring position. Springstead fell behind early, allowing three River Ridge runs in the top of the first inning, but the Eagles bounced right back in their half of the first. Sabino led off the inning with a single and Ward drew a walk. Cazanas then called for a double steal that worked perfectly. Senior center fielder Dalton Williams then followed with a single to left field to drive in both runners.
Sabino, who already is drawing the attention of Major League Baseball scouts and college recruiters, tied the game, 3-3, with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the third inning. Ward then reached on an error and Williams followed with an infield single. Rief followed with a two-run single to put Springstead ahead. Rief advance to third with a stolen base and a fielder’s choice and gave the Eagles a 6-3 lead when he scored on a sacrifice fly by Tanner Henrickson.
But the Eagles squandered an opportunity to pad the lead in the fourth inning by stranding runners on first and second. River Ridge cut the lead to 6-5 by scoring twice in the bottom of the fifth inning and that cleared the way for the home-run barrage in the sixth.
Sabino led the Eagles with three hits. Williams, Ward, Rief and Taryn Henrickson had two hits each.
Springstead was scheduled to host River Ridge again Thursday night in Game Two of the series. If necessary, a deciding game will be played Saturday night at 7 at River Ridge.
