By HUNTER O. LYLE
ELDRED, PA – Putting on the blue and gold one final time, the Otto-Eldred baseball team earned one last reason to celebrate as they finished out their season with a 5-4, walk off win over Cameron County.
Losing their Friday game against Coudersport, the Terrors’ missed the 0.500 threshold for a playoff berth meaning that no matter what happened, their Saturday matinee against the Red Raiders would be the last time setting foot on their home field and for their seniors, the last time representing Otto-Eldred.
“I told the guys last night after Coudersport, ‘let’s just come approach this like a must win game. Let’s play the right way, let’s act the right way’,” said Otto-Eldred head coach Lance Baker. “There was no pressure on us, we had nothing to lose so we wanted to come out and play free and have fun and see what shook out.”
However, whatever sentimentalism hung in the air was quickly wiped from their minds as Cam Co came out to a red hot start. On the second pitch of the game, lead-off batter Ryan Shaffer crushed a shot over the left field fence as they quickly took control of the contest. The Red Raiders’ bats would stay hot as the next three to step up to the plate all tallied singles. Having one out, a fourth consecutive single from Isaac Grovanz would score a second run before Cam Co tallied two more off a steal of home and a bases-loaded walk.
Landon Francis would start things off for the Terrors, battling through a long full-count before coming away with a double into center field. Up next, Jared Obenrader put O-E on the board with an RBI single, however, the Red Raiders quickly put an end to their would-be surge, finding three outs in the next three batters.
Down 4-1, the Terrors refused to let the game get out of hand, snubbing CC in four appearances at the plate and only giving up a single. From there, the game became a battle of defenses as both teams struggled to put men on base. The closest each would come would be in the bottom of the fourth and top of the fifth, when the Terrors and Red Raiders moved men to third but ultimately were sent back to their dugouts without a trip around home plate.
“It’s somewhat funny because that’s the only home run Jared has ever given up in his career. Ideally not the best way to start but they put the bat on the ball in the first inning and found some holes, but I think we got out pretty cheap only giving up four with the circumstances,” said Baker. “Jared really pitched well after that and our defense played pretty flawless and clamped down.”
The Terrors’ defensive effort culminated in the top of the sixth, when their ace Obenrader fanned Shaffer for his 100th career K.
Entering the game just eight strikeouts away from triple digits, Jared Obenrader notched his 100th K in the top of the sixth. | Photo by Hunter O. Lyle
“Obviously Jared is not a physical beast by any means. He’s five-foot-nothing, a hundred-and-nothing but he’s always pitched very smart,” said Baker. “He’s got that lefty advantage and has always had two or three pitches that he’s thrown for strikes. The style and way he pitches keeps guys off balance. He doesn’t need to throw 70 or mid-70s to beat guys and he proved that today.”
Seemingly re-energized by their teammates accolade, O-E began to find life. Facing a new man on the mound, Macaibe Splain found his first hit for a single before moving to second on a Cam Co baulk. Up against a wall after finding their second out, the Terrors ramped up the aggressiveness with a gamble that paid off. Splain stole his way to third before a Red Raiders’ overthrow would leave an open lane to home. Putting two more men on base with a walk and single, another baulk would chip the deficit down to two. Needing to close in even further and having a man on first and third, Francis would initiate a pickle in between first and second, giving Hunter App enough time to score and tie the game up.
“A cool milestone like that obviously provides some momentum for us. The guys rallied behind him,” said Baker. “You could tell his teammates and his friends were proud of him and I really think that’s what got us going there.”
With just one frame left, O-E put the pressure on themselves as they quickly dispatched the Red Raiders in three. Now all they had to do was find one more way to score.
Following a lead-off out, Manning Splain would rocket a double into center field before stealing his way into scoring position. Needing just one base hit to complete the comeback, Jaden Prince delivered, sending a single right down the left line and bringing Manning Splain across the plate. Despite being down early, the Terrors persistence persevered, producing a swan song win over their school’s rivals.
Manning Splain ended with a team-high three runs that included a pair of doubles and one score while Obenrader finished 2-for-4 with one RBI. Francis (1-for-3), Prince (1-for-4), Macaibe Splain (1-for-1), Sean Magee (1-for-3) and App (1-for-3) all tallied hits during the win, also combining for four runs scored.
“I have a lot of respect for (Cameron County,) especially (Jake) Narby and Shaffer. They’re really great kids and we’ve battled them in multiple sports for four years, so it’s always nice playing those familiar, common, friendly opponents,” said Baker. “I’m just proud of our seniors. It’s a historic group regardless if it’s football, basketball, baseball. It’s not even a once in a generation, it’s a once in a lifetime class.”
Without a playoff berth, the Terrors came together one last time after defeating Cameron County in their final game of the season. | Photo by Hunter O. Lyle
AT ELDRED
R H E
Cameron County 400 000 0 4 8 1
Otto-Eldred 100 003 1 5 10 1
O-E: Obenrader (9 SO, 3 BB) and Mac. Splain
CC: Pearsall (6 SO, 2 BB), Trumpie (6) (1 SO, 1 BB) and Trumpie, Shaffer
