VERMILION, Ohio — Wednesday’s 8-0 win over the
Avon Eagles was an important one for the Vermilion Sailors on several fronts.
First, it gave them a season series sweep and three-game edge over the Eagles in the race for the West Shore Conference championship. Secondly, it was a response win for the Sailors (19-3, 10-1 WSC), who were coming off their first conference loss of the season to the
Midview (Grafton) Middies just two days prior to hosting the Eagles (12-10, 7-4 WSC).
"I figured they’d respond today with a big game," said Vermilion coach Jeff Keck. "We knew it was a big game. I told the kids at the beginning of the year, ‘No one’s going to go undefeated in this conference. Somebody’s going to get knocked off maybe twice, maybe three times and could continue to compete and win the league.’
"It’s just about who plays more consistent throughout the year," he added. "With the tournament coming up next week, you wanted to eliminate as much pressure as possible. You’ve got to focus on the conference; you’ve got to focus on the tournament."
The game was also an important one for Vermilion catcher Madison Montgomery. The junior backstop was playing in front of his grandfather, Joe Montgomery, for the first time this season. The elder Montgomery was battling serious health issues earlier in the year but was able to see his grandson go 2 for 3 at the plate with an RBI and one run scored.
"It’s been a tough time for our family dealing with that," Madison Montgomery said in the locker room following a rain storm bringing a halt to the game after five innings. "We’re close to him and it just felt good to come out there and hit a little bit for him. I know I had my family behind me and just did what I did."
As good as he was in the batter’s box, Montgomery was even better behind the plate. Montgomery called the game for senior pitcher Cameron Zima, who carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning until Avon right fielder Matt Eckhardt spoiled it with a single to left field.
Zima allowed that one hit and one walk over five innings of work and needed to throw just 76 pitches to record the 15 outs necessary for the game to be official.
"I knew it was going to be windy and I knew I hadn’t thrown in a while, so I was coming out with my best stuff," Zima said. "It feels good with the wind behind your back; you know your defense is going to be behind you. You really can’t complain at all."
Zima and Avon’s Cody Schroeder both threw scoreless first and second innings. However, four walks, timely hitting and a pair of Avon errors allowed the Sailors to score seven runs and put the game out of reach. The seven-run inning was a welcomed sight for Keck after the first meeting between the Sailors and Eagles this year.
Avon and Vermilion battled for 11 innings at All-Pro Freight Stadium, the home of the defending Frontier League champion Lake Erie Crushers. Vermilion pulled out a 4-1 victory in the physically and emotionally draining first meeting.
"We exploded in that one inning, got some key hits," said Keck. "I thought we ran the bases pretty well, made some things happen and executed. Cameron Zima pitched a great game. I think going in, he had a 1.50 ERA, so when you get a lead like that, you feel pretty good about things because he’s not going to give up a lot."
Matt Florjancic is a freelance reporter and sports announcer for WOBL and WDLW Radio.
