The ball approaches Marysville third baseman Mason Springs as an Upper Arlington runner slides safely into the bag. The Monarchs fell to the Golden Bears, 6-5, during the Division I tournament contest.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
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There may not be a more heart-breaking way to lose a baseball game than how the Marysville Monarchs did Thursday evening.
MHS went into the Division I tournament contest as the No. 8 seed and hosted No. 23 Upper Arlington.
Marysville found itself down 6-3 after four innings, but came back for two runs in the home half of the fifth.
The Golden Bears were kept off the scoreboard in the top of the sixth and seventh.
The Monarchs (19-7) threatened when they got two runners on board in separate situations with one down in the bottom of the seventh.
UA relief pitcher Cameron Baker yielded consecutive walks to Griffin Scheiderer and Mason Springs.
It’s what happened after both free passes that led to Marysville’s loss.
Baker fired the ball over to first on a pickoff attempt against Scheiderer.
Scheiderer took off for second, but was gunned down on a throw to the bag.
With two out, Springs found himself in the same situation.
After the walk, Baker rifled the ball to first on a pickoff attempt.
Springs sprinted for second.
Once again, the Golden Bears made a tag at the bag to end not only the game, but the Monarchs’ season.
There wasn’t a great deal that MHS coach Nick Blake could say after the 6-5 setback.
“We were down 6-3 and came back with two runs,” he said. “However, nothing really makes you feel better when you lose a game like this.
“We were a swing away from things going the other way,” said the coach. “That’s baseball this time of year.”
Marysville took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first off UA starting pitcher Casey Reitz.
Tate Martino drew a one-out walk and stayed on the bag through a strikeout.
Scheiderer blasted a triple to give MHS a 1-0 lead.
Springs then singled in Scheiderer for a 2-0 edge.
A walk, base hit, error and wild pitch gave the Golden Bears their first run of the game off Springs in the top of the second.
Martino went to the mound in the top of the third nursing a 2-1 margin.
He lasted just two-thirds of an inning as Upper Arlington pulled ahead 3-2.
Springs went back to the bump and got the final out of the frame.
Marysville knotted the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the third.
Martino stroked a lead-off single and swiped second. With one down, he went to third on a ground ball out by Scheiderer and scored on Springs’ double.
Springs later tried to steal third, but was thrown out to end the frame.
The Golden Bears tallied three runs off Springs in the top of the fourth for a 6-3 advantage.
A couple of Monarch fielding miscues helped play into the Golden Bears’ scores.
Marysville narrowed its deficit to 6-5 with a couple of runs in the bottom of the fifth.
With one down, Scheiderer singled and took second on an error.
A wild pitch put him on third, right before Springs drew a free pass from Baker.
The Golden Bears committed two more fielding miscues that allowed the Monarchs to pull within 6-5.
Jackson Dempsey, who was Marysville’s third pitcher, had held the visitors off the scoreboard in the top of the fifth.
He did so again during the visitors’ portions of the sixth and seventh.
Baker went to the bump in the bottom of the seventh, knowing he’d have to keep MHS from crossing the plate in order for Upper Arlington to notch the upset victory.
James Hackworth flied out to begin the inning for Marysville.
Scheiderer and Springs followed with their free passes.
UA’s alert defense notched the outs at second base to end the Monarchs’ season.
UA 012 300 0-6 6 5
MHS 201 020 0-5 5 3
WP: Reitz
LP: Springs
SV: Baker