Moeller proves it'~ a +J- ' 1~ legitimate contender 3
Crusaders pound Elder I
By Tom Gamble Post staff reporter
Despite winning eight of their first 11 games, the Moeller baseball team and coaching staff still had something to prove. . "We had to prove to ourselves that we were a good team," said Moeller coach Mike Cameron, · whose team is tied for 11th in the Associated Press state rank· ings. "We've been inconsistent and haven't really put together a complete game." . That is, until Wednesday. Facmg Elder, one of Greater Cincinnati's early-season surprises and the No. 2-ranked tearri in The Post's Division I coaches poll, Moeller parlayed an explosive of· fense, quality pitching and time~ ly defense into an 11-7 victory at Dunham Recreation Complex in Price Hill. The loss, Elder's second straight after opening the season with eight victories, dropped the Panthers to 8-2 overall, 3-2 in the Greater Catholic League South Division. Moeller is 9-3 4-2 in the GCL. ' The performance, said Cameron, was his team's most consistent to date. Moeller had a little of everything: • Hitting: Moeller collected 16 hits, 10 of them for extra bases. Six Crusaders starters had at least two hits, and junior left fielder Paul Blomer had four hits, including a pair of doubles and a home run. "You get a lot more confident after the first hit," said Blomer, whose tworun blast in the sixth helped put the game away. "You become more relaxed Shawn and just go up Brennan there (to the plate) and wait for your pitch."
• Pitching: Cameron got a quality start from senior right-hander Shawn Brennan, a transfer from St. Xavier. Brennan held Elder scoreless through three innings and recorded eight strikeouts before leaving after 5Va innings. After Brennan had allowed the first five hitters to reach base in the sixth, junior left-hander J.D. Heilmann came in to work out of a one-out jam. Heilmann retired all five batters he faced. • Defense: An early-season weakness of the Crusaders, said Cameron, Moeller came up with a number of big defensive plays against Elder. With two on and two out in the fourth, Blomer tracked down a deep line drive by left fielder Kirk Kirkendall to end the inning. First baseman Joe Cameron, known for his defensive skills, came up with three pivotal plays to ensure his team's victory. His biggest play was a diving stab of a line drive off the bat of Jason Poland in the fourth. After Elder catcher Dave Becker had singled to lead off the inning, Poland hit a shot that appeared headed for right field. But Cameron dove, picked off the ball and outraced Becker to the bag to turn a double play. The ne:::::t three Elder batters reached base, but Cameron's play prevented a big inning. "This is our biggest win so far," said Brennan, who improved, his record to 3-1. "We• have played some good teams, but none the caliber of Elder. This will g'tve us confidence. Now we know we can play with the city's best." MOELLER ELDER
022 214 1-11 16 2 000 124 o- 7 11 1 WP-Brennan. LP-Rosenberger. HITIING LEADERS: MHughes 2B: Raussen 2-5, 2B; Sell 2-3, 2B. 3B, 2 RBI: Brennan 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI; Blamer 4-4, 2B, HR. 2 RBI; Feichtner 2-3, HR, 2 RBI: Bianchini 2B; He'lmann 2-4, 2B. E-Hetzer 2-3,2 RBI; Hilvert 2-3. RECORDS: Moeller 9-3, 4-2 GCL; Elder 8-2, 3-2 GCL.