Cavs open ACME season with sweep

COLDWATER - A doubleheader sweep at home on a day with beautiful weather can be about as good as it gets.

Coldwater parlayed excellent pitching from Derek Thobe and Greg Gilliland and a fourth-inning, eight-run explosion in the second game to sweep a Father's Day twin bill from Marion Local 6-0 and 13-2 at Veterans Field in Coldwater.

"That's not a bad Father's Day present," Coldwater coach Tom Brunswick said. "We haven't had a lot of time to get ready because of the long spring season, so we went with our two best arms today. Derek had a great season, particularly in the tournament and Greg got a major boost of confidence with his outing today."

Thobe was dominant in the opener, shutting out the Flyers on just three hits, with the first one coming in the fifth inning. Coldwater capitalized on its ability to execute, getting a run-scoring single from Thobe and a sacrifice fly from Jack Hemmelgarn to plate two runs in the second inning. Kraig Schoenherr moved two runners into scoring position in the fourth and each scored on an error. Brandon Kunk's suicide squeeze and Hemmelgarn's at-bat accounted for a pair of runs in the sixth frame.

Coldwater jumped on top quickly in the second game following a leadoff single by Brody Hoying and a walk to Aaron Harlamert. Designated hitter Malave Bettinger blasted a shot over the fence in right centerfield for a three-run homer. Thobe reached on an error, took third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Petey Post.

Marion Local got its first run of the day in the second inning after walks to Nick Thwaits and Nate Moeller. The pair hooked up on a double steal and Thwaits came across on a passed ball. The Cavs added a single run in the bottom of the second on Hemmelgarn's double and Harlamert's RBI single.

Hoying, Coldwater's leadoff hitter, got things rolling in the fourth with a single. Hoying took third on an errant pickoff attempt and held at third when Harlamert reached on an error. Bettinger walked to load the bases and Kyle McKibben walked to force home a run. Thobe's grounder to first scored another run and Post delivered two runs with a single.

Kunk singled home a run, and pinch runner Kraig Schoenherr stole second and following Hemmelgarn's walk, scored on Hoying's third hit of the game. Hemmelgarn and Hoying scored on a two-run triple by Harlamert to finish the scoring in the right-run inning.

Marion Local responded with a single run in the fifth when Blake Benton doubled, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on an error. After Gilliland walked Nick Heitkamp, Brunswick brought on Hemmelgarn to get the final out.

"Greg was at 99 pitches," Brunswick said of his game two starter. "I felt that was enough, so I brought in Jack and he threw strikes and finished it off."

Marion Local coach Ed Woods knows there are growing pains associated with such a young club.

"We have one senior-to-be," Woods said. "We had two seniors on the spring team, but we don't have any excuses. We're learning. I was really proud when we were down by twelve runs that we didn't just pack it in. We kept battling to get back in it and try to keep the game going. They weren't ready to quit and we have to like that."

Coldwater travels to St. Henry tonight for a 6 p.m. doubleheader with the Redskins.