Ottawa faces tough loss

SALINA — The Ottawa High School baseball team nearly came up with the biggest win in the program’s history Friday in the first round of the 4A state tournament in Salina.

Ottawa gave the five-time defending state champion Bishop Ward a run for its money before falling 4-3 at Dean Evans Stadium.

The culprit was four errors.

“We gave it to them,” Ottawa coach Shawn Herrmann said. “The best Cyclone team did not win today.”

It was a disappointing outcome for Ottawa, which battled Ward from the opening pitch.

“I knew it would be back and forth,” Herrmann said.

Ward coach Dennis Hurla, who remembers the battles between the two Cyclone teams during the 1990s and early 2000s when the schools were in the Huron League, said this may have been the toughest win of the state tournament.

“We knew it would be a tough game,” Hurla said. “They have good personnel. Coach Herrmann does a great job.”

Ottawa started the game well. Blake Firestone ripped a double to center. Ward threw the ball away for an error and Firestone was awarded home to give Ottawa a 1-0 lead.

Ward came back with a run in the bottom of the first inning.

The play of the game was in the third inning. Ward had runners at first and second. Ottawa’s first baseman fielded a ground ball and tossed the ball to pitcher Jake Moore at first for the out. Moore turned to throw home, but the ball skipped past catcher Chase Dengel. One run scored on the error and the other scored when nobody covered home as Dengel chased down the errarnt throw.

That play broke the 1-1 tie and gave Ward a 3-1 lead.

“The errors made the difference,” Hurla said. “Especially the two on the ball to the right side.”

Herrmann said during the week leading up to the game that the difference would be which team made the most mistakes.

“We don’t have to hang our heads,” Herrmann said. “We battled from the get-go. We were fired up.”

Ottawa closed within 4-2 with a run in the sixth inning. Firestone hit his second double and later scored on the back end of a double steal.

Ottawa made the Ward faithful nervous in the seventh inning. Blake Hiatt and Jake Moore singled to open the inning. A pop up, a force out and a strikeout ended Ottawa one run shy.

“We came to play,” Herrmann said. “We hung with them. I am very proud of them.”

Moore kept Ward off-balance all game long. He finished with nine strikeouts.

“Jake had good stuff,” Herrmann said. “He pitched.”

Ottawa finished at 11-12.