TIFFIN EAGLES SEND TIFFIN MOOSE HOME 10-1

TIFFIN ----- It's been said that championships are won when nobody is looking and on Tuesday July 25 the Tiffin Eagles showed they had put in the work, defeating the Tiffin Moose 10-1 to earn a shot at the 2023 TYSA Junior Division Championship a night after Firefighters had punched their ticket to the championship game as well.

Jacob Kinn drove in 3 runs, Quinton Tucker and Blaize McCrory had 2 hits apiece and Blake Rhodes pitched 6 incredible innings of 1 run baseball (0 ER) and struck out 7, leading Eagles to their 10-1 victory over Moose.

The Eagles survived a 2-hit performance from Riley Solomon as well as hits from Jacob Mildner and Jett Pachlhofer to earn a spot in the championship against Firefighters.

The Eagles would strike quickly with a run in the first inning after Tucker reached on an error and come around quickly to score on another error. Brody Nichols would add to the scoring with a double to score Coleton Stover in the second inning. Elijah Haman (reached on error) and Tucker (single) would reach base and score as well, boosting the score to 5-0. 

After several scoreless innings both ways, the Eagles would strike again in the top of the fifth inning. Once again it was Tucker who ignited the scoring, ripping a triple to left center field and then stealing home for a 6-0 lead.

The sixth inning would see the Eagles continue to soar, Zach Kinn (double) and Robert Kimmet (walk) would reach base quickly. Kinn would score on an error. Haman (single), Tucker (fielder's choice) would continue the onslaught and would come around to score on Jacob Kinn's 3-run double, hitting double digits at 10-0.

Moose would not give in, finally plating a run in the sixth against Rhodes when Jayce Arias led off the inning by getting on base via an error and coming around to score on a Jett Pachlhofer single. 

Pachlhofer did everything he could to keep the Eagles at bay, going 5 innings and striking out 10. He combined with Arias to strikeout 12 Eagle hitters but couldn't quite keep the offense at bay.

TIFFIN EAGLES CLAIM CHAMPIONSHIP WITH 8-6 VICTORY

TIFFIN -- Momentum can be a fickle thing, especially when it comes to a baseball game. It can change on a dime, being a team's best friend one minute and it's bitterest of rivals the next. 

The Tiffin Eagles came into the TYSA Junior Division championship game on Wednesday night with all the momentum on their side after putting away the Tiffin Moose 10-1 the night before. The biggest question was could they keep it going or would momentum shift sides faster than the next Fast and the Furious movie can send a car into orbit? 

Momentum was there on Wednesday but the Eagles told it to have a seat and enjoy the view. Elijah Haman led off the game by reaching on hit by pitch, Quinton Tucker and Jacob Kinn would follow by working walks from Firefighters starting pitcher Cash Lee. Haman and Tucker would work their way around the bases to score before Blaize McCrory drove a single to center to score Kinn and stake the Eagles to a 3-0 lead that they would never relinquish before Firefighters would even have someone step into the batter's box. Firefighters would get one back as Kason Daily raked a single and would score on a Bradley Willman single to center. 

Tucker would lead off the third inning by reaching on an error, followed by another Jacob Kinn walk. Tucker would soon score and Kinn would follow him across on a Blake Rhodes RBI groundout. 5-1 Eagles.

While the Eagles were scratching out runs, starting pitcher Tucker was dealing and keeping Firefighters off balance all game. Tucker would give up 5 runs (4 ER) on 6 hits, while striking out 10 batters. Zach Kinn would provide an inning of relief as well. Firefighters would knock out 6 hits but just could not string enough together at one time to make a serious run at the Eagles.

That is, until the bottom of the seventh rolled around.

The Eagles would finish off their scoring in the top of the sixth, Rhodes and Brody Nichols would walk and both score on a Zach Kinn 2 RBI double. Firefighters would go quietly in the bottom of the sixth, but they weren't done just yet.

After a quick top of the seventh where Willman got two quick outs from the top of the Eagle's order, Jacob Kinn would follow with a 2-out walk but Willman would come back with a strikeout to end any threat.

The stage was set at this point for the epic conclusion. Momentum had stayed in the Eagle's dugout for most of the night but Firefighters wasn't down for the count. Firefighters brought up the top of the order down 8-3. John Bremyer took one for the team (his third HBP of the game) before stealing second. Daily then blasted his second hit of the game, an RBI double to drive in Bremyer. Cash Lee continued the charge, moving Daily to third on a double of his own. Daily would score on a wild pitch and Lee would follow on an error. 8-6 Eagles and still nobody out. Momentum has poked it's head out of the Eagle's dugout and started strolling across the field. Willman would work a walk from Tucker, bringing the tying run to the plate. Momentum had almost made it's way to the Firefighters dugout when Willman was caught stealing second for the first out. From there Tucker got a strikeout and now, down to their last out, Firefighters' Skylar Cover blooped what looked to be a perfectly placed ball just behind second base  but Blake Rhodes made a twisting spectacular catch out in short right field to put an end to the game and bring the championship to the Eagles. 

The Eagles victory would set off a celebration all over the field and also would ensure a third different TYSA Junior Division Champion in the last three years as they joined the 2022 Championship Firefighters and the 2021 Championship Bair Brothers teams. 

Once all the hugs, handshakes, photos and celebrations wound down, the 2023 TYSA Junior Division season provided incredible moments, amazing defensive plays, huge pitching performances and multiple fence clearing rocket shots to the delight of everyone involved and it ended the same way it started, with a Tiffin Eagles victory.

Only one game remains now, the spectacle above all spectacles. The TYSA Junior Division All-Star Extravaganza on Saturday, August 5th. Starting at 1 PM it will include our first ever ALUMNI Softball game, awards ceremonies, catered lunch and finally our version of the All-Star game. Everyone is welcome, please come out and support our players and coaches for one final night of entertainment.

 

Photo: Eagle's C Jacob Kinn scores a run in the TYSA Junior Division Championship Game 7/26.

Photo courtesy of Linda Keefe Photography