Zach Franzen had been in this spot before.
Except he was the one taking the ball and not handing it off to a freshman.
Tyler Schumacher did his job, getting two outs in the bottom of the sixth with runners on second and third and then getting two more when Bishop Brossart had the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh.
The result? A Campbell County 3-2 victory, securing the No. 1 seed for the 37th District Tournament.
“It’s not often that you bring a freshman from right field into a district seed game with a man on second and third and one out,” Camels coach Scott Schweitzer said. “Coach Shep (David Shepard) and I were talking about that and he mentioned how we did that with Zach last year.”
Franzen helped the Camels get to that point, throwing five scoreless frames before running into trouble in the sixth.
Campbell County was able to put three runs up early to build just enough cushion. Aydan Hamilton’s RBI groundout got the first run across in the top of the third. Carson Clark followed with a two-run single in the fourth, Clark also scoring the game’s first run on Hamilton’s groundout.
It was a bit of a different situation for Clark, the No. 9 hitter normally relied upon to help start rallies, not finish them.
“I’m used to being a secondary leadoff hitter. I was in two strike swing coming into it because he’s applying the power. So I just waited back and threw my hands it went right up the middle,” Clark said.
Franzen was cruising through five, allowing just one hit and striking out four despite walking three batters and hitting another.
Brossart’s rally in the sixth started with a Ben Doyle lead-off single, Brandon Bezold drawing a walk followed by a Keegan Gulley single to load the bases with one out. Alex Amin then ripped a single to right center, plating Doyle and Bezold and suddenly a one-run game.
Enter Schumacher, making just his third relief appearance of the season.
“It means a lot to be put in that situation. I like that coach trusts me there and I like being put in that situation,” Schumacher said.
A strikeout and then a flyout followed to end the threat.
The Mustangs weren’t done yet.
They were able to load the bases up again in the bottom of the seventh, Logan Meyer reaching on an error, Evan Moore roping a double to left and an intentional walk to Colin Combs.
But a shallow flyout to center and then a groundout to third ended the contest, the Camels able to survive and finish 3-0 in district play.
“A lot of it goes back to keeping our guys confident,” Schweitzer said. “Tyler showed a lot of intestinal fortitude. Zach gave us a chance despite him telling me he never really got comfortable. Had to scratch a few in and hang on. I’m not a bunter, but today when the situation called for it we’re gonna bunt. He’s a pitcher that can shut us down and we got to have chances to score on him.”
Moore was solid on the bump for the Mustangs, lasting 5.2 innings, giving up seven hits and three earned runs with two walks and nine strikeouts. Entering the game with a 0.71 ERA, the three earned runs nearly matched his season total of four earned runs allowed in 39.2 innings pitched.
“With Evan on the mound, we feel like we can compete with anybody. He battled. Didn’t have his best stuff, had a little tightness in his back,” Mustangs coach Ron Verst said. “Had to pinch hit for him there in the sixth. His competitiveness and will and want to compete shows his competitiveness.”
The Mustangs scattered five hits, just needed to find one more.
“Left too many opportunities out there today. Just need to string a few more together and find that clutch hitting. Haven’t really been healthy all year either. Lot of times you just hold your breathe when they make a play. Just have to stay healthy,” Verst said.
They also drew five walks and dropped to 12-16 on the season. They’re now set to face Calvary Christian in the first round of the 37th District Tournament.
Clark and Braden Kramer led the Camels at the plate with two hits apiece. Franzen allowed four hits over 5.1 innings, striking out five.
“Couldn’t really find my fastball and just went for the slider and it seemed to go pretty well. Was able to throw it for a strike most of the time and they didn’t really seem to adjust to it very much so kept going with it,” Franzen said. “I trusted Tyler there at the end and knew he could do it.”
Schumacher allowed a hit and issued a walk in his 1.2 in relief for his second save of the season.
Both teams head to Lexington this weekend for the Fayette County Invitational Tournament. The Camels face Tates Creek on Friday, Henry Clay and Apollo on Saturday.
The Mustangs square up with Lexington Christian and Bryan Station on Monday after getting Friday off.
CAMPBELL COUNTY — 001-200-0 — 3-7-3
BISHOP BROSSART — 000-002-0 — 2-5-1
2B — (BB) Moore
WP — Franzen. LP — Moore. SV — Schumacher.
Records: Campbell County (20-8, 3-0), Bishop Brossart (12-16, 2-1)
