Tallmadge salvages win before return trip home
Ohio state champs finish 1-2 at LLWS; Washington 0-3

By Mark Rogoff
Special Correspondent

Tallmadge’s Matt Keen entered Monday afternoon’s game against Richland, WA hitless in 6 World Series at-bats.

He left the game with 3 solid base knocks.

The Tallmadge second baseman from the leadoff spot went 3-for-3 with 2 runs and an RBI, scoring the game’s first run, and knocking in the 3rd with a smash-hit double down the left field line.

“I was in a slump,” Keen said. “I was hoping to break out and help get a win for our team.”

And that he did.

With Keen’s efforts, the Great Lakes champs go home with a victory in their back pocket, defeating Richland, WA, 5-4 in front of 4,950 at Volunteer Stadium.

“It’s a nice feeling to finish it off with a win,” said Tallmadge skipper Randy Keen. “We didn’t expect any easy games.”

Monday’s affair was no different than Tallmadge’s first 2 tough contests. Washington pulled within a run on 2 occasions, once in the 4th and once in the suspense-filled 6th. With 2 on and 2 out in the final frame, Tallmadge reliever Jake Patrick induced Daniel Jacobs to hit a grounder right back to him, throwing out the Washington speedster at first.

Patrick picked up the win in relief, tossing 3.0 innings of one-run baseball. Tallmadge starter Jake Mays exited having not retired a batter in the 4th. He surrendered a 3-run homer to Cody Shepherd, and then walked Jamison Rowe before Coach Keen thought that was enough from his hurler.

“I didn’t feel that much (pressure),” Patrick said. “I just wanted to do my job and throw strikes.”

The eventual game-winning run turned out to be a merry-go-‘round run around the bases for Ohio shortstop Nick Thompson in the bottom half of the 5th. The No. 2 hitter grounded into a fielder’s choice, and the throw to get him at first went by the bag. Thompson sprinted for 2nd, and on first baseman Kyle Stumetz’ attempt to throw him out at the base, the ball sailed into left field. Thompson came all the way around to score.

“I just tried to run fast,” Thompson said. “All I saw was the ball going by me, and I looked at my coach and he said, ‘Come on.’ So I just kept running to 3rd and home.”

Richland head coach Bob Jacobs wasn’t happy with the way it ended, but said he will savor every moment of the tournament.

“I’m very disappointed (with the way it ended),” he said. “We’ve had a tournament filled with miscues. We didn’t get here playing that type of baseball.

“This place is absolutely bigger, better, and more wonderful than anything you’d ever imagine. It’s just been fabulous. We will never, ever forget it.”

Great Lakes scored a pair of runs in the first and 2nd innings. Jake Jamieson’s RBI single brought home the game’s first run. Thompson, who walked following Keen’s leadoff single, scored one batter later on a double steal.

Keen’s RBI double in the 2nd chased Washington starter Daniel Jacobs. A one-out walk and single up the middle produced that 3rd run.

Keen scored 2 batters later on a passed ball.

“I think you enjoy it more as a father,” said Coach and Father Keen. “It’s been a great group of kids. Hopefully I’ve taught them a lot more important life skills besides baseball.”

If the kids taking wins and losses the same way is any indication, mission accomplished.