Fulton County Ohio Media

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The Swanton Bulldogs pulled off a perfectly executed suicide squeeze play in the top of the sixth inning to score what would prove to be the winning run in a thrilling come-from-behind 4-3 NWOAL victory over the Liberty Center Tigers.  With one out and pinch-runner Vinnie Fanelli streaking towards home from third base, Bulldog senior Brennon Mersing laid down a slow rolling bunt, leaving Tiger pitcher Landon Amstutz no other play but to throw to first as Fanelli dove across the plate, completing the three-run rally.

“A huge win,” said Swanton Head Coach Josh Seiwert.  “It was the kids.  We always preach to them timely hitting, good pitching and good defense.  We had all three today.  We got a big suicide squeeze to come back for the third run.”

A subplot to the game for Swanton was Bulldog ace, junior Adam Lemon, who entered the contest needing just three strikeouts to reach the 100 “K” milestone for his career.  For Lemon, however, getting the win was the only real priority.  “What was going through my mind was going out there and throwing strikes and let my defense play defense.  I wasn’t worried about the 100 strikeouts.  I was just worried about winning this game,” he said.  “They put it to us the last two years so, it was good to beat them.  It was really good to beat them.”

Lemon finished the game with seven strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.  With two outs and the bases empty, he was removed from the game because he had reached the OHSAA mandated 125 maximum pitch count.  Brady O’Shea took over on the mound and delivered a two-pitch save, including a running catch of a sinking line drive by Mersing in centerfield.

“He was phenomenal,” said Coach Seiwert of Lemon’s performance on the mound.  “The only reason he came out was because of the pitch limit.  It was a big win.”

Liberty Center, leading Swanton 3-1 entering the top of the sixth inning, replaced starting pitcher Amstutz with Alan Atkinson.  Atkinson surrendered three hits to Carson Lemons, Adam Lemon and an RBI single to Evan Smigelski to make the score 3-2.  Amstutz returned to the mound but was unable to stop the momentum as the Bulldogs rallied for the win.

With respect to Lemon’s career strikeout total, now standing at 104, he thanked his parents and his teammates for their support, with a special thanks to his battery mate, catcher Drake Harris, for his work behind the plate.

With the win, Swanton moves its record to 5-3 on the season and 1-1 in the league. The Bulldogs face the Archbold Blue Streaks on Thursday at 5:00 PM at home.

Click on the lin k above to access photos from the game. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

Photo: The Bulldogs celebrate Adam Lemon’s 100th strikeout.