Rundle lifts Tigers to win 9th Region All 'A'

Beechwood senior Robby Rundle is not your typically tall first baseman. He's listed at 5 feet 9, but that doesn't stop him from making plays at first that require good glove work and stretching for a late throw, nor the occasional outstanding play that shows off his athletic ability.

Rundle did all that and more Wednesday while helping the Tigers win their first All "A" Classic Ninth Region baseball championship in five years with a 6-2 win over Newport Central Catholic at University of Cincinnati Medical Center Stadium in Florence.

Beechwood built an early 3-0 lead with three runs in the second inning, two scoring on Jason Suchanek's single. It was 5-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth when the defending regional and state champion Thoroughbreds put together a late rally.

NewCath had two runs in and the bases loaded in the inning with one out and the go-ahead run at the plate while trailing 5-2. Spencer Pangallo lined a smash to the right side that was stabbed by Rundle in a fully extended dive to his right. He got to his feet and tagged the NewCath runner heading back to first for an inning-ending double play.

"He's not a very tall kid, but that's why he's at first, because he gives 100 percent on every play," Beechwood coach Bobby Mullins said. "He can do it. That's why he's going to play baseball at Pikeville."

Mullins conceded that if Rundle was an inch shorter, he might not have made the diving catch on Pangallo's smash, which, if swatted into right field, would have pulled NewCath to within 5-4 and left runners on first and third with one out.

Beechwood (7-2) got out of the inning and scored an insurance run in the seventh against NewCath (5-6) to advance to the All "A" Classic state tournament. Beechwood will play the 10th Region small-school champion in a May 3 first-round game at 2:30 p.m. at Whitaker Bank Park in Lexington.

Rundle's leather work helped make a winner out of starting pitcher Kyle Fieger, who pitched six innings, allowed five of NewCath's six hits and struck out five. Ethan Stringer came on in the seventh for an inning of one-hit relief to earn the save.

Suchanek, a Xavier University recruit, was one of three Tigers with a pair of hits. He was 2-for-4, adding a double. Stringer also went 2-for-4. Brayden Combs was 2-for-3. Jake Schmidt was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles.

Beechwood's big win helped make up for a 12-2 mercy-rule loss to Conner earlier in the day, and stopped a three-game winning streak by the 'Breds.

VIEW FROM THE SIDELINE: "We played two today, and we didn't do too well against Conner because we were focused on playing this game," Mullins said. "Once we got to this game, we were focused."

PLAY OF THE GAME: Rundle's stab brought the Tigers out of the dugout to congratulate him as he was making his way off the field. "I was in the bullpen, and I saw (Rundle) go down," Stringer said. "Then I came in to close it, and I'm used to that. It feels good."

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Rundle delivered the big play in the field when the alternative could have led to a heartbreaking loss.

Beechwood 030 011 1 -- 6 - 9 - 0

NewCath 000 002 0 -- 2 - 6 - 2

WP: Fieger (1-0). LP: G. Moeves (0-1). Leaders: B-Suchanek 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI; Stringer 2-4; Combs 2-3; Schmidt 2-4, 2 2B. N-S. Pangallo 2B. Records: B 7-1, N 5-6.