Season Concludes With Loss To Heidelberg
After holding off a late Heidelberg charge on April 3 for a win in Springfield, the Tigers could not get the bats going Wednesday, falling 0-2 to the Student Princes. The Wittenberg baseball team finishes the 2008 season at 19-19 with a 7-9 mark in the West Division of the North Coast Athletic Conference.
TIFFIN, Ohio - After holding off a late Heidelberg charge on April 3 for a win in Springfield, the Tigers could not get the bats going Wednesday, falling 0-2 to the Student Princes. The Wittenberg baseball team finishes the 2008 season at 19-19 with a 7-9 mark in the West Division of the North Coast Athletic Conference.
Sophomore pitcher Bobby Ciucki (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman)started the game and gave the Tigers seven great innings, allowing two runs, both earned, on seven hits, one walk and three strikeouts. In relief, sophomore Kory Winter (Dublin, Ohio/Scioto) earned one out in the seventh inning before leaving for junior Tim Antil (Brookville, Ohio/Northmont), who finished things off, facing two batters and retiring each, one on strikes.
Despite the solid pitching performances, the Tigers had trouble giving any run support, scattering seven hits throughout the game but none doing any damage. Senior shortstop Joel Puthoff (Houston, Ohio/Russia) went 2-for-4 in the game, and freshman designated hitter Ray Noe (Dublin, Ohio/Jerome) was the only other multi-hit Tiger, going 2-for-5 in his leadoff spot.
The last game of the season was also the last in the careers of four outstanding Tiger seniors, including Puthoff, catcher Matt Steinke (Wapakoneta, Ohio/St. Mary's Memorial), left fielder Jeremey Fruhwirth (Beavercreek, Ohio/Beavercreek), and infielder Tyler Christello (Eaton, Ohio/Eaton). Puthoff finishes the season batting .287 with five doubles, five home runs and 26 RBIs, while stealing 13 bases in 15 attempts. Steinke led everyday players in slugging percentage at .549, while batting .372 with 14 doubles, two home runs and 28 RBI. He also maintained a stellar .994 fielding percentage. Christello drove in 10 runs on .229 batting with five doubles. Fruhwirth was the offensive wonder of the season, and finishes at .438 with nine doubles, a triple, and share of the team lead in RBI at 31. His slugging percentage finishes at .523, while his team-leading on-base percentage stands at .534.