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Nine-run third helps Marmion clinch regional
Updated: May 30, 2011 8:40PM
Marmion made it look easy Saturday in the title game of the Hampshire Class 3A Regional.
The No. 1 seed Cadets got another gem from senior pitcher Tim Tarter and used a big third inning to cruise to a 13-1, five-inning win over the host Whip-Purs. The Cadets have now won back-to-back regional titles and move on to the Rochelle Sectional.
Hampshire, the No. 3 seed, came off an upset of Burlington Central on Friday, and Marmion coach David Rakow wasn’t sure what to expect.
“We scouted them and it’s a team we really haven’t played in the past,” Rakow said. “We could control how we played and I liked the way we played, so I give our kids credit for coming out the way we did.”
After a rare earned run off of Tarter, the Cadets found themselves tied with Hampshire (15-15) through two innings. However, that all changed in the third inning during the lineup’s second look at Hampshire starting pitcher Luke Wians.
The first five batters reached base and Marmion batted around for nine runs to put the game away, going up 10-1.
Jordan Meyer (2-for-3, double, RBI, two runs) and Tarter (2-for-3, 2 RBI, run) each had RBI singles as the Cadets pushed the lead to 5-1.
After two walks, No. 8 hitter Andy Young (three RBI) cracked a two-run single to put his team up 7-1. Two batters later, leadoff hitter Mitch Sterne (2-for-4, two RBI, two runs) came through with a two-run single of his own off sophomore relief pitcher Tyler Crater, extending the lead to 9-1. Marmion had five hits in the inning, drew two walks, had two hit batters and also took advantage of a Hampshire error and miscue in the outfield.
“It’s been hard for us to score runs this year,” said Hampshire coach Steve Ream. “We’ve really relied on our pitching, so when we started struggling on the mound, it was going to be tough to come back.”
The Cadets (20-8) tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Travis Siwiec (1-for-2, RBI, two runs) pounded an RBI single to left, and Tyler Friel and Young each had a sacrifice RBI in the inning.
All that run production was more than enough for Tarter (9-0), who tossed a five-inning complete game, while allowing just one earned run and one hit with six strikeouts.
“That’s only the fifth earned run he’s given up all season,” Rakow said. “When Timmy’s out there and throwing strikes, it’s very difficult for guys to hit him, especially in these conditions when it’s a cloudy and a little darker like this.”
Added Tarter: “What really worked best today was pounding the inside corner. I started hitting it and knew it wouldn’t hurt if they swung at it. I stayed with it and it worked to my advantage.”
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