Hein baffles Union City (04/01/05)

FORT RECOVERY — Matt Hein is happy to be back on the field. And his team is happy to have him back. Especially if he continues with the type of effort he had Thursday.

After missing the entire 2004 season because of injuries, Hein exploded back onto the scene with nine strikeouts in four hitless innings of relief in a 2-1 victory over the Union City Indians. He also drove in the winning run.

“It’s just great,” said Hein, adding that he was thrilled to be back on the field, sharing the experience with his teammates. “(I’m) going out there and playing the game I love.”

After three innings from freshman starter Bobby Rammel, who gave up just one unearned run on two hits, Hein was the perfect change of pace.

Hein entered the game in the fourth inning and struck out Zane Woodbury, the No. 6 hitter. He got Lance Mock to fly out to right fielder Steve Trobridge — the only ball hit out of the infield against him — and then struck out Josh Spence looking to end the inning.

He added two more strikeouts in the fifth inning and then struck out the side against No. 3, 4 and 5 hitters Kyle Foley, Greg Pearson and Kyle Hunt in the sixth.

After falling behind 2-1 in the sixth inning Union City finally got a glimmer of hope against Hein in the seventh when Woodbury reached base on a wide throw by shortstop Dusty Guggenbiller. But the hope was short-lived as Woodbury was waved to second base on the overthrow and was gunned down by catcher Greg Faller, who was backing up on the play.

With the threat gone, Hein struck out Mock and Spence to complete the victory. He said the play by Faller was huge in halting what could have been a momentum swing in Union City’s favor.

“I just went out there and pitched strikes and everything went for me,” he added. “I had defense back me up too.”

“Matt Hein came in and ... I think we found something,” said FRHS coach Aaron Vaughn. “He throws pretty hard. He threw strikes tonight.”

Hein, hitting fifth, drove in the winning run after Faller drew a walk to open the bottom of the sixth inning. With the score tied at 1-1 and no outs, Guggenbiller rolled a perfect bunt down the third-base line in an attempt to advance Faller.

Woodbury, the third baseman, charged, but his throw was off the mark and too late to get Guggenbiller. And, Faller advanced all the way to third as no one bothered to cover the bag in Woodbury’s absence.

Hein cashed in on the Union City mental error, lifting a sacrifice fly to right field to score Faller, who finished 1-for-1 with a pair of walks.

“He’s just a leader,” said Vaughn. “He’s really going to be missed next year. He gets on base, and Guggenbiller does what we need to do to get him over and (Faller) sees that nobody is covering third that’s just something you’ve just got to know. He takes that extra base and that pretty much decides the game right there.”

The Tribe’s first run came in the first inning after a lead-off single by Rammel, who then stole second base. After a ground out by Todd Post, Faller drew his first walk of the game and Guggenbiller followed with an RBI single to center field.

Union City tied the game in the second following a double by Woodbury. After Mock was hit by a pitch, Spence pushed Woodbury to third on a fielder’s choice. Woodbury was able to score when Spence stole second and the throw from Faller went in to right field.

But the visiting Indians never got another hit after Foley doubled against Rammel in the third inning and was stranded at second base.

Union City coach Randy Mayfield said the change from Rammel to Hein kept his team off balance.

“(Hein) was throwing a little harder than the first guy,” he said. “We’ve just got to do a better job of putting the bat on the ball.”

Foley took the defeat, allowing one run on one hit in one inning of relief. Hunt pitched the first five innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out three and walking two.[[In-content Ad]]