LYNCHBURG, VA – Junior Michael Kenah launched a sacrifice
fly scoring junior Ashton Paige for the winning run in the eighth
inning on Sunday as the Lynchburg College baseball team defeated
Bridgewater College 2-1 for LC's first Old Dominion Athletic
Conference (ODAC) title since 1990. It is the eighth ODAC title for
Lynchburg, who now earns the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA
Division III Tournament.
Senior Robert Garrett pitched his second complete game of the
tournament, giving up five hits and only run. He walked just one
batter and struck out five, earning the ODAC Tournament Most
Outstanding Player award. Garrett moves to 8-0 on the season.
"It's wonderful to see these kids this excited," said head coach
Percy Abell. "To see their emotions, it's incredible to me".
The game proved to be very close, with a combined ten hits from
both teams.
Bridgewater picked up the first run in the game off a RBI-single
from Bryan Sanderson in the opening inning, driving in Devon Snow.
Garrett then picked off Sanderson, ending the frame.
With BC still leading 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth, junior
Ashton Paige led off with a single before advancing to second on a
sacrifice bunt from freshman Lincoln Evans. Senior Richard Palase
then singled moving Paige to third, which was followed by an RBI
knock from junior Michael Kenah to tie the game at one.
The bases were loaded with one out but Bridgewater got two quick
outs, ending the threat from the Hornets.
A similar script unfolded in the bottom of the eighth, as Paige
led the frame off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice
bunt from Evans. Palase then reached base off a Bridgewater error,
putting runners on the corners with only one out.
Kevin Chandler replaced starting pitcher Corey Armentrout on the
mound to face Kenah who sent a fly ball to right field, scoring
Paige on the sacrifice for the go-ahead run, putting LC up 2-1.
In the ninth inning, Garrett took the mound and got an immediate
fly out and strikeout. With one out remaining, Lynchburg got a slow
roller to first to end the game.
"It means so much," said Kenah. "To see all the returning players,
all the coaches and to win it for them and Lynchburg is
incredible".
Lynchburg (34-8) finds out where it's headed in the NCAA
Tournament regional round on May 13, when the entire field is
announced. The regional rounds will take place May 16-20, with the
winner advancing on to the championship round held May 25-29 in
Appleton, Wisconsin. A total of 56 teams make the NCAA Division III
postseason tournament.
2012 ODAC All-Tournament Team:
Most Outstanding Player - Robert Garrett, Lynchburg
P - Brandon Miller, Lynchburg
P - Robert Garrett, Lynchburg
P - Dillon Via, Bridgewater
C - Devon Snow, Bridgewater
1B - Dustin Arrowood, Lynchburg
2B - Zeb Cope, Hampden-Sidney
3B - Dan Savage, Lynchburg
SS - Michael Kenah, Lynchburg
OF - Allan Brownell, Hampden-Sidney
OF - Zach Broaddus, Randolph-Macon
OF - Nick Fulk, Bridgewater