Moeller downs Beavercreek in regional semifinal

With two pitchers that owned undefeated records in Moeller's Zach Logue (7-0) and Beavercreek's Jackson Tedder (8-0) going at it in the second Region 4 semifinals match-up Friday night at Marge Schott Stadium, both teams knew runs would be at a premium.

Moeller struck first and took advantage of an early opportunity, scoring twice in the bottom of the second inning, which proved to be the difference in the 3-0 win.

Designated hitter Joe Vrasenic came up with the decisive two-RBI double in the second, and starting pitcher Zach Logue did the rest of the heavy lifting for the Crusaders. Logue tossed a complete game shutout, striking out eight and scattering three hits to move his record to 8-0 on the season.

After Bryan Soth reached on a leadoff walk and Kyle Butz bunted for a base hit in the bottom of the second, Vranesic brought both of them home with a double into the gap in left center field to give the Crusaders the early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.

"Runs have been at a premium in all of our tournament games," Moeller coach Tim Held said. "So for Joe Vranesic to lace that double was absolutely huge to get a lead. We could see the whole dugout relax once we got that lead."

For Logue, who admittedly didn't have his best stuff, those runs were a big boost.

"It's big for our confidence," Logue said. "We've been struggling a little bit at the plate, but getting a couple of runs early gave us a lot of confidence heading back out to the field."

Perhaps a bit more relaxed with a lead to work with, Logue seemed to settle in around the third or fourth inning. His defense also backed him up with a double play in the fourth, and catcher Bailey Montoya made the defensive play of the game on a fouled off bunt attempt in the fifth where he pounced out of his stance and took three quick strides towards the first base dugout before laying out to make a diving catch.

"I don't think he could get a curveball or a changeup over for a strike through the first three innings," Held said of Logue. "I think he was at about 45 pitches through three. I was worried about him because he was just throwing fastball, fastball, fastball, but he was spotting that well enough to get by. That's what it's about, being able to grind it out when you don't have your best stuff."

The Crusaders had other opportunities to score. They had runners on third and first with one out in the bottom of the third inning and a runner on second with one out in the fifth, but each time Beavercreek starter Jackson Tedder made the pitches necessary to escape unscathed. He also went the distance, giving up three earned runs on six hits over six innings of work.

Moeller finally did plate an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Kyle Butz walked and then stole second and third before Kyle Dockus singled him home with a looping line drive into right center.

The Crusaders will face Mason, which beat Troy 5-0 in the first game of the night, in the Region 4 finals Saturday at 5 p.m.

"Chris Martin that is going to start against us is phenomenal," Held said. "He's going up to pitch at Kent State. We've got our work cut out for us to figure him out. We've been gearing up for a lefty all week knowing we'd face Setter tonight, and now Martin throws from the right side and he knows how to pitch."

WP: Logue (8-0). LP: Tedder (8-1). Hitting Leaders: Vranesic 1-3, 2B, 2RBI; Dockus 1-2, 1RBI. Records: M 23-4, B 23-8.