Artman powers Kessler to another MSPSL title

Local Sports

Discussion

August 26, 2010

By Jim Hunter Meadville Tribune The Meadville Tribune Thu Aug 26, 2010, 07:00 AM EDT

Aug. 26, 2010 7:00 a.m. — The Kessler Construction mystique continued last week in the Meadville Slow-pitch Softball League.

Throwing its winless regular-season record against Vantage out the window, Kessler — buoyed by clean-up batter Ryan Artman’s dramatic game-winning home run in the seventh inning — captured its fourth consecutive league title with a 10-9 victory over Vantage in the if-necessary game at the Lincoln Avenue Softball Complex.

Kessler forced the if-necessary game with a 17-13 win in the first game.

During the regular season, Vantage swept Kessler in three league games and also prevailed in one tournament game and the winner’s bracket playoffs final.

Championship finals: a different story.

Artman brothers shine

This column is a week old (sorry Kessler players), but the players involved and attending fans are still talking about Artman’s game-winning bomb.

With two outs and the game tied 9-9, Artman — who just returned to the United States on July 3 after five years in the Air Force — unloaded with the biggest hit of his softball career as his electrifying round-tripper sailed over the center-field fence.

“I think that ball is still going,” said Kevin Keppel, who watched the game, a few days later.

Artman’s younger brother, Adam, also came up big.

With Corey Smock on second base as the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh, Artman — Kessler’s smooth-fielding shortstop — gloved Rob Walker’s hard smash up the middle and gunned him out at first base.

The Artman heroics reminded me of another Artman — their father, Howard “Doc” Artman. In the 1980s and 1990s, Artman was regarded as one of the league’s best outfielders — making spectacular catches and coming through with clutch hits.

The elder Artman died in 2007 in a snowmobile accident. He was back at the LAC last week — smiling with pride.

Masterful Morini

Once again, Kessler pitcher Vic Morini showcased his superior pitching skills.

After allowing five runs in the first inning, Morini — working the edges of home plate to near perfection — only allowed four runs the rest of the game.

“Vic pitched great ... both games,” said Kessler second baseman Chad Beige.

Morini’s glovework also was top-notch.

The left-hander gloved numerous hard shots up the middle in both games.

Artman won the league championship for Kessler with his tape-measured shot, but Morini was KC’s Most Valuable Player.

Kessler’s 11th guy

Legendary softball player Jim Beige — one of the slickest first basemen to ever play the game — still has game.

Verbally.

The retired Beige, who coached first base, was very instrumental in Kessler’s success against Vantage — continually pumping them up with fired-up gestures when they came off the field each inning.

Without Beige, maybe a different story.

Bummed Billy

Vantage was without the services of its star pitcher and slugger Billy Noel.

Approximately a month ago, Noel injured his foot and hasn’t played since. The prognosis isn’t good as Noel has a partially torn tendon and surgery is very possible.

On crutches, it was obvious Noel missed being on the diamond.

“Obviously, Vantage is a different team with Billy in their lineup,” said Morini. “It definitely hurt them not having him in there.”

Get well soon, Billy D.

Lights out!!!

How hard can Jeff “Hack” Hall hit the ball?

In the fifth inning of the second game, Hall drilled a shot off Morini’s leg. As soon as the ball hit Morini’s leg, the right-center field lights and two right-field lights went out.

Definitely, a thunderous effect.

Offensive sluggers

First-game, big-game performers:

Kessler — Jason McMillian (3-for-5, two home runs, five RBI), Adam Artman (4-for-4, two RBI), Bill Warner (2-for-4, home run, two RBI) and Paul Crider (2-for-4, three RBI).

Vantage — T.J. Pennino (3-for-4, two home runs, five RBI), Mark Smith (3-for-4, two RBI), Larry Boitnott (3-for-4) and Matt Schmitt (3-for-5).

Second-game, big-game performers:

Kessler — Warner (3-for-3), Adam Artman (2-for-3), Morini (2-for-3, home run, three RBI), Mike Kennedy (2-for-3) and McMillian (2-for-4, home run).

Vantage — Jeff Hall (2-for-3, home run) and Kevin Reichel (2-for-3, two RBI).

Text Only

Local Sports

DISTRICT 10 BASEBALL: Big Reds shut down Lions
SLIPPERY ROCK — The Linesville baseball team, with its mix of experienced and lesser-experienced players, has been capable of two different kinds of games this season.
The first is the sharp, skillful kind of effort the Lions put together Monday in their 10-7 win over Cochranton in the District 10 Class A quarterfinals.

May 26, 2012
DISTRICT 10 BASEBALL: Mercyhurst outslugs Lake in D-10 semis
ERIE — After a District 10 Class A championship game appearance last year, the Conneaut Lake baseball team lost four seniors who were important to the team’s success.
Even though the talented quartet graduated and Lake featured just three seniors this year, the team came together and reached the district semifinals. The team’s end result, and the school’s last game as a baseball team due to Conneaut Lake, Conneaut Valley, and Linesville consolidating into Conneaut Area Senior High, was a 15-4 loss in six innings to Mercyhurst Prep on Friday at Ainsworth Field in Erie.

May 26, 2012
DISTRICT 10 BASEBALL: Panthers edge Tigers, reach D-10 title game
ERIE — The Saegertown baseball team made an art form of compiling mercy rule wins this season. Nearly all of the Panthers’ 20 regular season victories were by 10 runs or more, as double-digit hits and runs scored were the norm.
The playoffs have been a different beast for the defending District 10 Class AA champion Cats, but they continue to find ways to win.

May 26, 2012
BOYS VOLLEYBALL: Cardinals come back from losers’ bracket to win D-10 title
The very first word spoken by Cochranton boys volleyball coach Brad Custead in his post-match interview will sum up Friday night’s District 10 championship finale better than all the words that follow it.
“Incredible,” he said.

May 26, 2012
Bulldogs' trio ready for state track and field meet
Meadville’s best now look to be among Pennsylvania’s best as Paige Kassab, Chaykala Lindsey and Heather Sternby compete in the PIAA Class AAA Track and Field Championships, which run Friday and Saturday at Shippensburg University’s Seth Grove Stadium.

May 24, 2012
D-10 SOFTBALL: Tigers no-hit in loss to Braves
HARBORCREEK TOWNSHIP — The Maplewood softball team had no answer for Iroquois starting pitcher Megan Martin on Tuesday during the District 10 Class AA quarterfinals on the campus of Penn State Behrend in Erie.
Martin worked around two errors during a no-hitter that included zero walks. And the Braves’ offense was sure to back her up during Iroquois’ 10-0 victory in five innings.

May 23, 2012
D-10 BASEBALL: Prep rolls past ’Dogs in four innings
ERIE — Hitting, they say, is contagious. And the Cathedral Prep baseball team had a full-blown outbreak against Meadville on Tuesday at Ainsworth Field, notching 13 base hits in a 16-1, four-inning rout of the Bulldogs during opening round action of the District 10 Class AAA playoffs.

May 23, 2012
DISTRICT 10 BASEBALL: Lake storms past Eisenhower
ERIE — The Conneaut Lake baseball team started off its postseason with a bang. Numerous bangs, actually.
The Indians (12-7) slugged 19 base hits while bumping off Eisenhower 15-5 in six innings during opening round action in the District 10 Class A playoff tournament Monday at Ainsworth Field.

May 22, 2012
DISTRICT 10 BASEBALL: Lions top Cards
ERIE — If this story had to describe every clutch hit, gutsy pitch, run-saving defensive play, or momentum-shifting moment during Monday’s playoff classic between Region 3 foes Cochranton and Linesville; there wouldn’t be room for much else in today’s newspaper.
The bottom line is: You should have been there.

May 22, 2012
BOYS VOLLEYBALL: Bulldogs stop Trojans to cap perfect region slate
Meadville junior Matt Izbinski laced a hard spike down the line, and so ended the regular season for the Bulldogs boys volleyball team — with a 3-1 win over McDowell, and a 9-0 run through Region 1. It all summed up on Friday night at the House of Thrills.

May 19, 2012
More Local Sports Headlines

Local Sports

Search Results

Discussion

Artman powers Kessler to another MSPSL title

If the presidential election were today, my vote would go to:

Site Map

Contact Us