Chillicothe Gazette du lieu suivant : Chillicothe, Ohio • 7

I- Doug Kimsey, Sports Editor. 773-2111, extension 73; night numbers 773-2117 or 773-2114 Friday, September 11, 1998 Chillicothe Gazette 7A oeairroiroke a gam Mark Sonka Hanners deserved better The Chillicothe Paints did everything right this summer, except get the ending. The story of 1998 wasn't supposed to be a tear-jerker. It wasn't supposed to end with the Springfield Capitals celebrating a 7-4 victory in the championship at VA Memorial Stadium, rolling around on the pitcher's mound while the Paints looked on in disbelief. Say it ain't so.

Where's a rewrite editor when you need one? Chillicothe's irrepressible legion of fans came to VA Memorial Thursday night dressed in Paints' colors, full of vigor and expecting a victory party. They left in tears. This was supposed to be Roger Hanners' turn, his coronation. After coming oh-so-close in 1996, after a wonderful sum mer full of highlights and record attendance Hanners was due to claim the elusive Frontier League Cup he so richly deserves. '1- Hanners 7 7 "V' Si i I I i T- I- 1 i i-7s j.

Capitals take title with win atVA By DOUG KIMSEY Gazette Sports Editor final piece of the puzzle remains missing. The Chillicothe Paints, the most successful franchise in the six-year history of the Frontier League in terms of wins and most postseason appearances, were denied the ultimate prize again Thursday, losing Game 3 of the FL Cup Finals 7-4 to the Springfield Capitals. Springfield became the first team in league history to repeat as champs. The Caps also beat the Paints in the 96 Cup Finals. Both times, VA Memorial Stadium was the winning battlefield.

Likewise, Chillicothe became the first two-time loser in the finals. "We had plenty opportunities to win," said Gator McBride, who wrapped up a spectacular season of personal accomplishments with a 4-for-5 night that included a tape-measure solo homer in his final at bat "We had plenty of hits, but we didn't get them when we needed 'em. That was it We couldn't get the big hit" said McBride, who hit .385 in the playoffs with two homers after hitting .403 in the regular season and just missing a batting title. McBride was named Most Valuable Player of the "98 season in a vote by his teammates late last month. The Paints stranded 15 runners on base, leaving men in scoring position eight times.

Chillicothe outhit Springfield 13-8. Perhaps the most telling statistic is this: the Capitals scored sue of their runs on only three hits. Joe Ronca and Darren Bush, Springfield's all-star hitting tandem, did most of the damage. Ronca's two-run homer in the seventh and RBI double in the ninth proved to be the margin of victory for the Caps. Bush's three-run homer to center field in the third staked Springfield to an early 3-0 lead and was a blow the Paints never recovered from.

Losing pitcher Mike Roberts, who had won eight of nine decisions since joining the rotation at midseason, said he wishes he could have that one pitch back. "He scooted up on the plate because I had been working him outside. It was a fastball on the outer half. I tip my hat to him, he hit it. But it's tough to swallow," Roberts said.

In the fifth inning, Bush haunted Paints' pitcher Mike Roberts, left, (.11 A I I and catcher Brad Plackemeier show the emotions ot a Game 3 Frontier fell 7-4 Thursday at home as Springfield won thejeague crown for the -m i I i wiched around a Bush single, gave Caps' catcher Pat Evans a chance to hit a sacrifice fly that put Springfield on top 4-0. Bob Spears, the Paints' Game 1 starter and winner, relieved Roberts with the bases loaded and got the hot-hitting Tyson Lindekugel on a called third strike to keep Chillicothe within striking distance. Lindekugel, a rookie first baseman, entered the game hitting .450 with seven RBI and two homers in five playoff games. Spears got the Caps in order in the sixth and the Paints responded by scoring twice to trail 4-2 heading to the seventh. Two Springfield runs in the seventh proved disastrous.

Spears was pulled in favor of Sam McAninch, who served up Ronca's blast which put the Caps in front 6-2. "I still think we're the best team, but in clutch games, you've got to come up with clutch plays. We really didn't play well here either time," Spears said, referring to the back-to-back playoff losses at home. Prep volleyball 1998 SVC standings He was supposed to step up to the mike after the game, embrace his son Chris (the owner), wave to the crowd and hoist the trophy above his head to thunderous applause. He was supposed to gei uueu lor a nng.

ui; Instead, he got an ending that makes "Old Yeller" look like comedy. By comparison, Titanic" is a laugher. "We knew Roger wanted it worse than anybody," first baseman Scott Pinoni said. To not be able to get it for him is really, really disappointing." This isn't the way the series was supposed to be played," added pitcher Bob Spears. "We didn't come here to finish second.

Very rarely do you get this close to winning a championship. Going back home knowing we had the best team is going to be very difficult" Especially for Hanners, the man who built this team from scratch, developed the young talent and watched it grow into a seamless unit It was Hanners who worked the phones all winter and spring, trying to sign quality baseball talent It was Hanners who coaxed former stars Mitch House and Scott Pinoni into returning for another year. It was Hanners who went out and landed Gator McBride, who turned out to be the team's most valuable player. No one in the organization worked harder in the offseason. No manager in the league did a better job this season.

No one in the ballpark Thursday night wanted to win more than he did. There are numerous reasons you want to win, but of course there's Roger," said outfielder Michael Fletcher. "I don't know how to express that He's up there agonizing after every pitch. You know how bad he wanted it" Roger Hanners is Charlie Brown trying to kick the football, only to have Lucy yank it away at the last minute. He is cursed in the big game, snakebit No, he would have to get luckier to be considered snakebit How much heartache can one man take, anyway? There's no consolation in being the runner-up, none whatsoever," Hanners said.

"No one will know who finished second tomorrow, and no one will care." One person will. Hanners won't forget anytime soon. How can he? His Paints won the series opener against Springfield. They were one win away. They lost in Game 2, but they still needed just one more win.

It never came. "It's a sickening feeling to do what we did, the same feeling I had On 1996)," Hanners said. "We beat that ball club several times. But they came through in the clutch and we didn't" Mark Sonka is a Gazette sportswriter. Warriors hold onto SVC volleyball lead Tim JohnsonGazette League Cup Finals loss.

Chillicothe Capitals 7, Paints 4 Frontier League Cup Game 3 Springfield (2-1) CMMcotht (1-2) ab ab bi Bamtiaml Foist 3b Bushdh Ronca if Evans Saalfrankcf 5 0 0 0 3 3 10 3 2 2 3 4 12 3 2 0 0 1 4 0 0 0 Cosfinod 5 DaJtontt McBndel 5 Pinoni lb 4 House 5 Seimetzdh2 Herns ph 3 Plaok 'mrc 4 Fletcher if tarring 2b3 Boggsph 1 LindekugeHb5 0 1 0 Risitgerss 4 0 10 Buhotz2b 4 110 Totals 34 7 I 7 Totals 42 4 1 Springfield Chillicothe 003 010 000 002 201-7 110 4 Risinger 3, House, Fletcher, Roberts. DP Springfield 1. LOB-Mcotrie 15, SpmgfieKI 9. 2B-Ronca. HR-Bu9h.

McBride, Ronca. SF- Evans. SB -Ftackemeier, Homing. CS -Evans. ER BS, SO Springfield Darmer Woodman, 1-0 Simontacci House, Sv.

1 Chllllcotht Roberts, 1-1 Spears Tiyon McAninch 4.1 1.1 2 1.1 42 1.1 0.1 0.2 Blanc 2 WP Danner 2. HBP Saalfrai (by Roberts), Plackemeier (by Woodman). Time: 3:30. Alt 1,018. See Paints, PAGE 8A seven points and Amy Howell, 19 passes on 31 assists.

In the freshman match, Thomas Worthington pulled out a win 150, 14-16 as Emily Wayland contributed 11 points for the Cavs. CHS (3-1, 1-0 OCC) travel to Cleveland this weekend to play in a showcase tournament Wheelersburg 15-15, Waverly 13-12 The Tigers could not overcome several late mistakes in both games as the hosting Pirates took sole possession of the SOC II volleyball standings and handed Waverly its first loss of the season. Leading the Tigers (6-1, 3-l on the scoreboard were Beth Brodt with eight points, two aces, 7-9 serve receptions and 15-16 ball handling, while Ashley Gullion contributed six points, one ace, three digs and 12-13 ball handling. In the JV match, the Tigers defeated the Pirates 156, 15-6. The Peebles 15-16, Western 6-14 The Indians (2-2, 2-2 SHL) played hard but were defeated by the SHL leading Indians in straight sets.

Western was paced by Jessy Tolle with eight points, while Becky Tbng added five points and turned in a good defensive match for Indians. The Indians host McClain and Huntington in a tri-match Monday. second time in three seasons, Tim JohnsonGazette Roger Hanners heads for the clubhouse moments after the final game of the season. sons. Fichman said his team came a long way after a 7-12 start to win 48 regular season games and the league crown.

"We've had five guys playing who Paint Valley is now 5-1 and 3-1 in the SVC. Zane Trace falls to 1-3, 2-2. Westfall 17-3-15, Piketon 15-15-5 The Mustangs received a strong game from Tara Wright en route to their second SVC win of the season. Wright scored eight points and turned in 13-17 hits, six kills, 6 blocks and 34-41 passing in the victory as well. Also turning in strong performances were Susan Nowak with 35-38 hitting, eight kills, 13 blocks with four of them solo blocks and Kristy Kiser, who turned in 65-73 setting and 14 assists as well.

The Mustangs 3-2, 2-2 SVC, host Circleville and Washington Court House in a tri-match Saturday. Chillicothe 15-15, T. Worthington 12-5 The Cavaliers opened OCC Cardinal Division play with a convincing straight set win over the visiting Cardinals. Leading the CHS cause were Kim Congrove with 17 points on nine spikes and two kills, while Karis Day had a strong game defensively with 15 passes. Alissa Putnam contributed 22 sets and 10 assists in the victory as well.

In the JV game, Chillicothe (4-0) handled the Cardinals 15-6, 15-7 as Christina Davey scored 17 spikes, while Loren Henthorne added si. 'secutive games at home was July 11-12, nearly two months ago, when Canton got them. "We can't let this distract from the fact we had such a great year. A lot of guys learned a lot things, myself included. I know 111 look back and this will kill me.

We are the best team in this league, but you've got to prove it" Spears said. Pinoni "apologizes" "All I know is if I do my job tonight we win the game," said all-star Scott Pinoni, who established new franchise records with 25 homers and 98 RBI this season. "I apologize. Unfortunately, that's the game they've got to remember," Pinoni said, fighting his emotions in a somber clubhouse. Springfield manager Mai Fichman tipped his hat to the Paints, calling the team "a class bunch" who is led by a fine man in manager Roger Hanners.

"A three-game series means nothing. But that's the way the schedule is," said Caps' manager Mai Fichman, who walked away with his fourth FL championship in five sea- In the JV match, the Huntsmen (3-1) rallied to a 15-11, 1S6 win. Pacing the winners were Lisa Jett with 10 points, 15-16 setting and two kills, while Jenny Hall added five points, Leslie Fultz and Brittany Barr with four points and Keri Goff dishing four assists. Paint Valley 18-15, Zane Trace 16-13 The Bearcats got a strong game from senior Hanna Countryman en route to the win over the Pioneers. Countryman scored 18 points, while dishing 11 assists and swatting seven kills in the victory.

Lib Haas also turned in a good game with nine assists and six kills. "We were down 134 and came back and won," said Paint Valley coach Lisa McFadden. "We had an injured player, but they pulled through." Leading the Pioneers were Tara Seymour with eight points, 32-32 sets and 13 assists, while Katie Holbrook added four points, 15-18 hitting and eight kills. Also helping the ZT cause were Kristal Tharp with four points, 10-10 hitting and four kills. Tiffany Kelley turned in four points, 19-22 sets and three assists.

Haley Hansen added eight points as well. In the junior varsity match, Paint Valley won 15-13, 15-9. Leading the Pioneers were Candace Petty with six points, while Natasha Alexander with five points. Team Overall SVC Adena 4-1 4-0 Unioto 3-1 3-1 Paint Valley 5-1 3-1 Huntington 2-2 2-2 Westfall 3-2 2-2 Zane Trace 2-3 1-3 Piketon 1-3 1-3 Southeastern 0-4 0-4 The Gazette Staff In a battle of SVC unbeatens the Adena volleyball team held off a feisty Unioto Shermans team to the tune of a 10-15, 15-3, 1S6 victory Thursday at Unioto. The win by the Warriors (4-1, 4-0 SVC) allows them to take sole possession of first place in the SVC race and remain unbeaten in the loop.

Leading the Warriors on the stat sheet were Tiffany Ragland, who contributed 14 digs, 11 points, 6 kills and 16-16 serves. Also having a big game was Angie Miller with nine digs, 12-13 serves and two aces. Jessica Mayer collected 11 digs, five kills and a match-high 34 assists, while Lindsey Metzger added seven points and Angel Hardiesty 18 kills. Top backup April Putnam scored eight kills in only three shifts and Sarah Wayland added 13 digs. The Shermans (3-1, 3-1 SVC), were led by Ashley McCorder with 11 points, while Miranda Garress added six kills, nine digs and nine solo blocks.

Unioto plays in the Logan Elm Invitational on Saturday. Adena plays in the Athens Invitational Saturday. Huntington 1615, Southeastern 14-4 The Huntsmen survived six match points from the Panthers in the first game to come back and take the match in impressive fashion. Huntington (2-2, 2-2 SVC), was led by Melissa Arnold with 11 service points, while Chelsey Eldridge added eight points on 7-12 hitting and four kills. Also turning in good games for the Huntsmen were Amber Ceiling with 13-14 hitting and six kills; Amy Hill with 11-15 hitting and two kills, while Amy Shoemaker contributed 13-14 hitting with a match-high seven kills.

"We were behind 14-9 in the first game and we finally came back and won," said Huntington coach Rick Bethel. Leading the Panthers were Stacy Sommers with 10 hits, two kills, six blocks, while Kara Estep added four blocks and five hits. Jacinda Grubb contributed six hits and three kills as Stephanie Duckworth turned in six points..