Saturday, March 31st, 2007

Bonvillian hands Celina first win

Bulldogs win opener at Montgomery Field

By Ryan Hines
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard

New Bremen's Anthony Moeder, right, slides safely into third base as Celina's Nick Gray, left, awaits the throw from the outfield during their non-conference contest on Friday in the Montgomery Field debut for the Bulldogs. Celina won its first game of the spring, a 7-6 decision over the Cardinals.

It's safe to stay that Celina junior John Bonvillian feels right at home at Eastview's upgraded ballpark.
Bonvillian hit a pair of home runs, including the game-winner, in leading Celina to its first win of the season, 7-6, in the Bulldogs' home opener at Montgomery Field on Friday night.
"I sure didn't envision that it would take this long to get our first win with the team that I think we have, but it sure feels good to get that first one under our belts," said Celina head coach Drew Braun. "We've been in games to start the season, but we just couldn't get the clutch two-out hit when we needed it. Tonight we got the big hit and it proved to be the game-winner."
The second of Bonvillian's homers broke a 6-6 tie in the sixth inning and capped a huge day for the Bulldogs' second baseman as he went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and four RBI.
"I got a good pitch to hit and I just tried to hit it hard," said Bonvillian about his game-winning home run to left-centerfield. "I made good contact and got it up in the air and got it out. I felt pretty good today swinging the bat and hopefully we can keep the wins coming now because I think that we're starting to come together."
"John really got a hold of two pitches and we needed those runs that he produced for us," said Braun. "He has that ability to pop it out of the park."
New Bremen (0-4) head coach Justin Firks was impressed with the day by Bonvillian.
"I think that he just went up there with an approach at the plate where he was looking for a pitch in a certain area and he made good contact when he got it," said Firks. "You have to give the kid credit, he had a great day."
Bonvillian's big day made a winner out of Bulldogs hurler Jimmy Fishpaw, who also had a strong performance for Celina (1-3). Fishpaw, who caught the first 41/3 innings for Celina starter Jeremy Kerr, threw 22/3 innings in relief allowing two runs on four hits while striking out four.
"We've had some chances to win some of the games that we've lost so far (three of their four losses were by a combined five runs), but we just haven't done enough to get the job done," said Firks. "We're pitching okay and playing pretty good defense, but we just have to get more out of our offense on a consistent basis."
In addition to his catching and pitching duties, Fishpaw was 2-for-2 at the plate with a pair of doubles and two RBI to go along with two walks.
After both teams scored a pair of runs in the first frame, Celina came back with three more in the second frame, on Bonvillian's first homer, to take a 5-3 lead.
Eric Loughridge added an RBI double for Celina in the third inning as the Bulldogs were in control 6-3 before a New Bremen comeback.
New Bremen's Brad Wendel brought the Cardinals to within a run at 6-5 after the DH belted a two-run double in the fifth frame. A Celina error tied the game at 6-6 when the Bulldogs failed to make a routine play.
"I started to think, 'oh no, here we go again,' when we made the error in the top of the sixth that tied the score, but Bonny (Bonvillian) came right back and put us back on top," said Braun.
Celina will look to make it a three-game winning streak when the Bulldogs travel to Greenville for a doubleheader today while New Bremen will look for its first victory today at Indian Lake.
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard

Celina's Jimmy Fishpaw came on in relief and got the win on the mound for the Bulldogs on Friday against New Bremen. Fishpaw also added a pair of doubles and two RBI in the Bulldogs' 7-6 win over the Cardinals.

Additional online story on this date
Celina Police Chief Dave Slusser sat in the lobby of the city building surrounded by stacks of boxes containing handwritten logs, parking meter citations and other relics from the past. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
Celina city officials still are interested in possibly buying the former bank building at 126 W. Market St.
City Council members plan to discuss a
Mercer County Commissioners delayed a decision Thursday on a proposed master contract aimed at saving the county money on the telephone and communication services in county offices.
The sentencing of a Coldwater woman, who pleaded no contest to biting off a portion of a local man's tongue, has been rescheduled to May 2 in Mercer County Common Pleas Court.
Celina police have arrested a 16-year-old they believe is responsible for vandalizing several buildings in downtown during the last couple weeks.
The name of the youth was not released because he is a juvenile.
Former Marion Township Trustee John Bruns was appointed interim county commissioner Thursday by the vote of both current Mercer County Commissioners.
The interim appointment will be effective April 1.
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
Jimmy Steschulte allowed one hit and got plenty of offense as Minster improved to 3-0 with a 18-4 decision in five innings at Anna on Friday. The Rockets fall to 0-2 with one suspended game.
It took a little bit for the Celina bats to get rolling against Coldwater, but once they did, they didn't stop.
After getting just three hits over the first three innings, the Bulldogs erupted for six runs on seven hits in the fourth inning.