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Going into the bottom half of the seventh inning Tuesday, Titusville baseball coach Roy Schweitzer decided to risk the Rockets season with the his starting pitcher who was nearing 100 pitches in the game. Brett Schmidt had been brilliant only giving up one hit and only allowing one Oil City player to be in scoring position. But he had to be getting tired.
The score was 0-0 with a half inning left in regulation. One bad pitch, one error and the season could be over with an Oiler walk off run.
The score was 0-0 with a half inning left in regulation. One bad pitch, one error and the season could be over with an Oiler walk off run.
It was the right call, Schmidt efficiently set the Oilers down in throwing the scoreless game into extra innings. Schweitzer, who at the end of last season showed frustration that the Rocket’s hadn't been able to win a playoff game in five years, breathed a sigh of relief that they were still alive. When the Rockets also failed to score in the eighth the nerves again rose. “You’re on edge, it’s a playoff game, anxiety levels are shooting through the roof,” Schweitzer said. Schmidt, who still hadn't reached 100 pitches, took the mound again in the eighth inning. And like the seven previous innings had Oil City buffaloed. Oil City's head coach Dan Staub said Schmidt's pitching kept his team off-balance all game. The Rocket's knew that was it for Schmidt who finished with 105 pitches. In the top of the ninth it began like many other inning in the game. The lead off batter was put out bringing up Hunter Obert. The first baseman found a hole into right field and got on base. Obert, who isn't the speediest of Rocket's was given a pinch runner. Schweitzer knew he needed to get that baserunner across the plate that inning. The next batter didn't manage to reach base leaving one one now with two outs. Catcher Coleman Knapp took a pitch to the back and now the Rockets had two on base with two out but their freshman number nine batter was coming up to the plate. Up to this point the Rockets left seven on base failing to score and it was up to young Jackson Oviatt to prevent that number to rise to nine. “I give a lot of credit to that young man, just a freshman trying to do what he can to help out. He had a really great at-bat to get on base to extend the inning,” Schweitzer said. Oviatt’s walk came about after fouling off several strikes and staying tough at the plate. His effort brought the .450 leadoff hitter Jaxon Covell to the plate with the bases loaded. He told Schweitzer he was going to get a hit and he was determined jumping on the first pitch driving it deep to right-center for a triple and scoring three. The first runs of the very long game . “It was huge,” Schweitzer said. They weren't done yet, Nate Stearns followed with a single scoring Covell for a 4-0 lead which is where it would stay despite the Rockets loading the bases again looking like they were going to pile it on. Covell then took the mound in relie and other than a walk also baffled Oil City hitter to end their season. season. “This was a big win for us, we’re playing very well right now. There were several people who didn’t think we should have went into the playoffs because we had a losing season,” the coach explained stating their region is a 4A, 3A split region and his team plays up often and competes. “We did quite well against the 4A schools that we played and we finished .500 against the triple A schools so I think we deserve to be here and I’m glad we went. I just would hope that people will support their youth programs and their high school programs. Root on their hometown team.” He thinks the team is peaking at the right time and is looking forward to seeing what his kids have against the number one seed Mercyhurst Prep who won their game Tuesday against North East 7-0. They are set to play them at 2 p.m. Friday at Allegheny College. Brett Schmidt's performance is one for the ages. He only gave up one hit in eight innings and walked two. He was never in any real trouble with only one runner making it to second base. The Rocket defense was flawless behind him committing no errors. Schmidt also had three hits but was never able to make them count as the Rockets left 10 runners on base in the game. Kameron Mong had a pair of hits as did Covell, with the second one being his biggest hit in his playoff career. The Rockets had nine hits in all. Oil City’s Will McMahon pitched seven shutout innings giving up just five hits. "Will pitched excellent as well limiting the damage, especially in the first with the bases loaded and in the fifth with runners on the corners," said Staub. The win was big in other ways: coach Schweitzer recorded his 100th career win.; and the Rocket's showed they can win a playoff game and have a strong future. The Rockets only lose two starting seniors and four overall. They have a strong junior and sophomore class coming back next year. He hopes the game against Mercyhurst Prep is another rung climbed on the ladder and that they will be playing Monday for a district title. "This was big for the program." |
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For Staub and the Oilers, it was also a huge game for their program. The Oil played in their first playoff game in seven years and had a winning region record where they finished in fourth place just ahead of the Rockets.
"I was proud to see this team make it to the playoffs this year.," Staub said. "Both the players and coaches bought in to bringing back success to our program, and it made my job a whole lot easier. Reaching the playoffs is a good first step for us, but it's definitely not our end goal. We'll continue to work with the current and incoming players to build a successful program."
"I was proud to see this team make it to the playoffs this year.," Staub said. "Both the players and coaches bought in to bringing back success to our program, and it made my job a whole lot easier. Reaching the playoffs is a good first step for us, but it's definitely not our end goal. We'll continue to work with the current and incoming players to build a successful program."