AVON LAKE – The Middies` momentum was gone before they had a chance to enjoy it.
After scoring three runs in the top half of the fourth inning Thursday in a sectional opener, Midview allowed Avon Lake to answer with five and was never able to reclaim the lead. Avon Lake (12-9) put its home-field advantage to good use with a 9-6 come-from-behind victory.
“We played a clean game,” Avon Lake coach Jeff Stratton said. “We were sharp and intense. We hit when we needed to hit and played situational baseball. It was a really well-played game.”
Midview exited the tournament trail 11-11.
“We made a couple errors and watched too many pitches go by for strikes,” said Midview coach Terry Hawke. “We hit a little bit better tonight than we normally do. We just ran into a buzz-saw. We just didn`t make the pitches.”
With his team trailing 1-0, Norman Getzlaff started the fourth-inning rally for Midview with a single to left-center field. Kyle Koubek singled, and Midview`s big hit came off the bat of No. 8 hitter Brett Whitesel.
He jumped on the first pitch from Peter Hart and sent a line drive over the wall in left field. The three-run shot was one of two homers by the Middies. John Pulito hit a solo blast in the fifth.
Avon Lake responded with two singles to start its half of the fourth. Jamie Kauffman laid down his first of two sacrifice bunts to move Tyler Jeske and T.J. Thompson up 90 feet.
Tyler Beck took an 0-1 pitch to right field to drive in a pair.
“We started to get the hang of the pitcher,” Beck said. “Once we knew what he had, we started hitting him.”
The rally continued when Ryan Kirkpatrick singled to left field and Kevin Morissette hit the gap in left field, scoring Beck and Kirkpatrick.
“It`s important for Pete on the mound to know that he doesn`t have to be perfect, that he doesn`t have to go out there and throw a no-hitter or a shutout,” Stratton said. “We hit the ball all year and it`s just a matter of time. Our assistant coach Matt Perry said we go in bunches and that`s true. Once we figure a guy out, we get him.”
“I knew we needed some runs,” Morissette said. “I was just more focused on getting the ball in play than anything else. It gets everybody up and into the game. That`s when we play our best.”
Prior to the fourth inning, Avon Lake`s two, three and four hitters went 1-for-6. The same batters went 3-for-6 with a double and four RBIs the rest of the game.
“We were a little bit more patient,” said Stratton. “We weren`t fooled anymore with his off-speed stuff. We knew that we should jump on a fastball instead of waiting and getting tied up with his change-up or curveball. We calmed down a little bit.”
The Shoremen scored three insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Jeske started the inning with a home run to right field. Kirkpatrick followed by driving in Thompson with a squeeze bunt, while Beck came around on a Morissette single.
Avon Lake advances to play Elyria at 4:30 this afternoon. The teams played a doubleheader early last month with Avon Lake sweeping at George Day Field in Elyria.
“We saw them on a Saturday,” Stratton said. “That second game was a crazy game. Early in the season, teams are different. We`ve just got to come to play. If we play our game, we can play with anybody. I`ve been telling the kids that all year.”
Contact Matt Florjancic at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.

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