A Pearce-ing blow (08/03/04)

PORTLAND — Crawfordsville didn’t learn the lesson the first time. Tommy Pearce was more than happy to teach it again.

Pearce launched a game-tying, three-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning Monday, and the Portland Rockets went on to defeat the Crawfordsville Eagles 5-4 in 11 innings in the American Amateur Baseball Congress state tournament championship game.

“Championship teams have to have championship character and resolve,” said Portland manager Randy Miller, whose team advances to regional action to play Lone Wolf Freight in Warren, Ohio Thursday at 11 a.m. Ohio time. “These guys answered that call.

“I told Kyle Heyne at third base all (Brandon) Dillon had to do was get on base and give Pearce a chance. He hit a bomb.”

Heyne had reached base on a fielder’s choice, but he was stuck at third with two outs when Dillon came to the plate. Dillon hit a hard, but playable, grounder to shortstop Brandon Froedge, who bobbled the ball just long enough for Dillon to reach first safely.

Then the Eagles made their biggest error.

Pearce, who had arguably the best season in Rockets history two years ago and played a portion of last season with the Richmond Roosters, took a couple of inside sliders for an 0-2 count. Pitcher Brandon Moore’s mistake was that he threw the third one over the plate.

Pearce crushed the pitch over the fence in left field to tie the game and give the Rockets new life.

Crawfordsville should have known better, as a Pearce home run Sunday had accounted for the lone earned run it gave up in three weekend games. The Portland slugger finished Monday’s title game 1-for-2 with two walks, a sacrifice fly, a run and four RBIs.

“It was one of those you just feel,” said Pearce. “When you hit it and hear that dugout erupt, you just know.”

Even after the homer, however, the result of the game was still up in the air. Both teams had at least one runner on base in each of the final four innings.

Crawfordsville looked sure to take the lead in the top of the 11th when Jake Martin ripped a double over the head of right fielder Kris Steffen to lead off the frame. He advanced to third when Heyne bounced a pitch past catcher Brandon Cooley, but that’s where he would stay.

Heyne stayed in to pitch against Matt Kennedy, who hit a sharp grounder to Mitch Waters at third base. The Jay County graduate handled the tough play and tossed to Pearce for the first out.

Then Miller called on Kurt Woeste, who gave up a line shot to Chris Sides. But, Pearce got his glove up just in time, the ball going in and bouncing out of his mitt before he grabbed it with his bare hand.

Woeste struck out Brandon Tormoehler to end the threat and set up Adam Childs and Dillon. Childs matched Martin’s effort with a leadoff double to center field, and Dillon got his lone hit of the game to bring home the winning run.

Childs was the only Rocket player with more than one hit, finishing 3-for-6 with two doubles and a run. Heyne singled and scored twice.

“I think destiny was on our side,” said Miller. “They hit a shot to Waters, he smothered it. They hit a shot to Pearce, he grabbed it. These were the never-say-die Rockets.”

Woeste’s final two outs capped an outstanding relief effort from the Portland bullpen. Three Rocket relievers combined to throw 92/3 innings of scoreless baseball, allowing just two hits in the final five frames.

After starter Neil Schmitz gave up three runs in the third inning to drop Portland to a 4-0 deficit, Josh Jellison entered to get the final two outs. He tossed three more scoreless innings before turning the ball over to Heyne.

Heyne allowed just two hits in 51/3 outstanding innings, and Woeste finished the game to earn the win.

Matt Walker took the loss, allowing one run on three hits in three-plus innings.

Brandon Moore started for the Eagles and gave up four runs — one earned — on six hits in seven innings.

Kennedy went 3-for-6 with three doubles, two RBIs and one run for Crawfordsville. Jake Martin was 3-for-5 with a double and two runs, and Chris Sides had a double and two RBIs.[[In-content Ad]]