By Chris Check
Regional Scout

AVON LAKE, OH - The Shoremen of Avon Lake defeated defending regional champions Westlake in a first-round game yesterday. 

The game included swings in momentum and ultimately one huge offensive inning for Avon Lake which spelled the quick end to Westlake’s season. 

Big plays helped Avon Lake jump to a 3-0 first inning lead. 

Westlake looked to score early, but Avon Lake’s defense delivered when senior shortstop Matt Leonard was thrown out at home after a sharp line drive single by senior Wooster commit Jamie Lackner. Senior third baseman’s relay throw from junior left fielder Jace Russell nailed Leonard at home ending the Westlake threat despite three hard hit balls in the inning. 

The Shoremen responded in the bottom of the inning when junior catcher Bradley Hamilton delivered a two-run homerun to left center off a hanging curveball to score senior centerfielder Daid Winkel, who led off the inning with an infield single.  Senior second baseman Matt Morrisette later doubled and scored on senior pitcher Brett Kiser’s opposite field single. 

Avon Lake added another run in the second after Winkel single and later scored on junior first baseman Kyle Kuhar’s sacrifice fly to centerfield. 

Westlake kept hitting the ball hard and finally pushed a run across in the top of the third inning. Senior Heidelberg commit Danny Strodtbeck doubled off the top of the fence in left-center field and was plated by Kent Axcell’s opposite field double.

Westlake held on to the momentum after recording three consecutive outs in the third inning and scored three in the top of the fourth inning to tie the game. 

Senior third baseman Andrew Kettle led of with a double which was followed by two singles, a hit batsman and an infield error which got the Demon’s right back in the game.

The Shoremen then erupted for 11 runs on seven hits, two walks, and hit batter and a Westlake error. 

The big hits came off the bats of sophomore second baseman Jeremiah Campo, Kuhar and Morissette, who all doubled.  Campo and Morissette each got two hits in the inning as Avon Lake sent fifteen men to the plate. 

Brett Kiser pitched a 1-2-3 fifth, the first inning in which Westlake did not get a hit, to end the game on a mercy rule.

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