[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...ArticleID=13079

CITY UPSETS NO. 1 BULLDOGS
Wolves upend state's top-ranked team in a thriller

Nick Dettmann
The News-Dispatch

Michigan City baseball coach David Ortiz doesn't really care to use the word "revenge."

But looking back, it sure is nice.

The Wolves pulled off a big upset Monday afternoon, beating Class 4A No. 1 Crown Point, 7-5, at Crown Point.

"Huge win," Ortiz said.

In the first meeting earlier this year, the Bulldogs embarrassed the Wolves, winning 12-2, at the U.S. SteelYard in Gary, Ind. But a large part of that was City committing five errors in the game. Ortiz said his team never looked in sync even before that game ever started.

That was not the case Monday.

"We had one of our best rounds of pregame we've had," Ortiz said.

And there just seems to be something about playing in big games for City, who improved to 9-9 and 5-5 in the DAC.

Monday's game came off the heels off another embarrassing game in a 14-6 loss to South Bend Washington - a team City probably should have beaten.

Earlier this year, the Wolves beat rival La Porte, and then Monday's victory over Crown Point - two teams City probably should have lost to.

"I think it's a little mental approach to the game," Ortiz said. "They don't approach every game the same. They knew (Monday) was a big game. It was against a team they weren't supposed to beat.

"If it's a team they're supposed to beat, they take plays off."

Playing the top-ranked team in the state will probably get any team motivated, especially if that team won by 10 runs the first time around.

"We answered the call," Ortiz said. "It was a lot of excitement. Our players were up for the challenge before the game.

"They were hungry. You could see it in their eyes. They wanted it."

Ethan Davis picked up the victory on the mound for the Wolves, relieving a solid pitching performance by Brandon Steinhiser.

Steinhiser pitched the first five innings, allowing four runs on five hits and walking two, while striking out four Bulldogs (16-2). Davis pitched the final two innings, allowing six hits and one run.

Offensively, the Wolves got two hits each from Alex Shebel and Jordan Nieman. Shebel also drove in a pair of runs.

City jumped out to a 3-0 after the top of the fifth inning before a four-run fifth gave Crown Point the lead at 4-3.

In the top half of the sixth, the Wolves re-took the lead.

Ryan Sosinski hit an RBI triple to tie the game. Then Nieman followed in the next at-bat with an RBI single to give City a 5-4 lead - a lead the Wolves wouldn't relinquish. The Wolves got big insurance runs in the top of the seventh when Davis lined a two-run double into the right-center field gap to extend the Wolves' lead to 7-4.

In the bottom of the seventh, Crown Point nearly mounted a comeback.

The Bulldogs led off the inning with a basehit, but the next batter lined a shot to short for an out and fired the ball back to first to get a double play. The Bulldogs followed with three consecutive base hits, but the rally fell short when the David induced a groundout to end the game.

"They were focused this time," Ortiz said. "They knew what it took."

Before Monday's game, Crown Point's only loss was to La Porte just a few weeks ago.

[CaddyRich]

Sorry - sometimes we miss a good thing in all of the BS. Good job boys - you've won 4 straight and are over .500 in the DAC (at least for now). This was a big win...keep up the good work!

[Roger Kaputnik]

Amen, amen, Cad!