Fenwick rolls into sectional finals
Benhase leads Falcons to 16-0 win over Waynesville.
Friday, May 16, 2008
MIDDLETOWN — Fenwick senior Jeff Benhase made his final game on the Falcons home field a memorable one.
He went 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, a two-run home run and four RBIs in leading Fenwick to a 16-0 win over Waynesville in a Division III sectional semifinal Thursday, May 15.
Extras
Benhase, who hits in the No. 4 spot in the batting order, drove in the first two runs of the game when he tripled in the first inning to plate Tyler Zaidel and Derek Graham.
The Falcons tacked on two more runs for a 4-0 lead after one inning, but Benhase came up big again in the second inning when he launched a two-run home run over the left-center field fence as part of eight runs the Falcons would score in the frame.
Benhase doubled in the third inning and then came to bat in the fourth needing just a single to hit for the cycle. He grounded the first pitch to the shortstop, but did not beat the throw.
"I was trying to hit one up the middle," Benhase said. "I kind of reached down for the last one, but I still hit the ball hard today. I'm happy with the way we played."
So was Fenwick coach Sam McConnell.
"I'm glad we got this in," McConnell said. "This feels really good especially for the seniors. Their memories of the last game they played here will be good ones.
"You never know what you're going to get in the tournament," he continued. "We had to come focused and ready to play, and as you can see by the score, they were today."
Besides Benhase, four other Falcons had multiple hits, and Fenwick batters banged out five extra-base hits in all, three by Benhase. Greg Johnson had a bases-loaded triple as part of his two-hit game, and Graham had an RBI double.
"Fenwick is a great ball club," Waynesville coach Brandon Philpot said. "They put the ball in places where we weren't and that's what good teams do. I think they have the potential to make it pretty far in the tournament."
After the win, the Fenwick players ran to center field, like they do after every home win, and gathered in front of a banner that hangs in honor of Teddy Parrella, the school's long-time athletic manager who died last year.
"After every win, we go out there and say a prayer and ask for his help in our next game," Benhase said.
Fenwick's next game is at 4:30 p.m. today against second-seeded Carlisle in the Division III sectional finals at Centerville High School.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2852 or sweaver@coxohio.com.
