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MiddletownJournal.com

Middies muster 3-1 win

Both teams set to begin postseason play

Both Middletown and Fenwick got what they wanted Thursday before opening tournament play Monday.

The Middies got back on the winning track after losing eight of their last nine and got their seniors a victory in their final home game. Fenwick, meanwhile, got good competition and got a lot of players in the game.

In the end, the Middies won 3-1 in a pitching duel that had Middletown ace Robert Sabo going against Fenwick's entire staff.

"We played some guys who don't usually get a chance to play," said Fenwick coach Jake Long. "It was still a good ball game. We competed."

The Play

With two outs in the third and the game scoreless, Fenwick walked Buster Chandler and Sabo. Then, first baseman Matt Brandabur hit a double, scoring both runners to give the Middies a 2-0 lead. That ended up being the difference.

"I thought the key was getting those two runs with two outs," said Middies coach Mark Kerns.

The Player

Sabo (3-2) pitched all seven innings, giving up just three hits and one run. It had been the first time in more than a week that Sabo had pitched.

"It felt really good to get out there," he said. "We've got to generate offense. We've been doing some of the little things, but we need to do more of them."

Kerns said that Sabo will not throw in Middletown's playoff opener.

The Playoffs

Eighth-seeded Middletown will play Winton Woods (11) at Hamilton High School at 3 p.m. Monday. If the Middies can win, they'll play top-seeded Hamilton at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Third-seeded Fenwick, meanwhile, opens with a bye and will play Monday against Thursday's Dixie-Waynesville, a 5-1 winner over Dixie.

Contact this reporter at (513)

705-2837 or jtrotter

@coxohio.com.