Making a statement
Tony Cillo didn't want to disappoint his most vocal fan.
Every game his 2-year-old nephew attends, Cillo always hears him shouting encouragement.
“I love it when he comes to the games,” Cillo said. “He pumps me up more than anyone else, really.”
The Meridian third baseman came through with a big double during an 11-1 Butler County American Legion playoff win over Saxonburg Wednesday at Laura Doerr Park.
Meridian (16-9) advanced to play East Butler Thursday at Speed-O Field. East Butler is in the king's seat, meaning Meridian has to win twice to win the championship.
Cillo went 2 for 4 and drove in three runs. In the sixth inning, his double drove in Ryan Denny and Adam Schaffner to put Meridian ahead 7-1.
Cillo sat on a curveball and lifted it into centerfield.
“On that count, I knew it was coming,” Cillo said. “ I saw it coming from a mile away and laid into it.”
Meridian drew six walks and plated eight runs in the sixth. Saxonburg starter Gavin Miller issued seven walks and struck out seven in 5 1/3 innings of work.
“They are a good ball club. We left a few guys on today,” Saxonburg manager Mike Hickey said. “We came in second place in the league and third in playoffs with 10 guys. ... We just ran out of gas.”
Meridian pitcher T.J. Rice didn't bend when Saxonburg applied heavy pressure in the second.
Caleb Thorn and Sean Daugherty opened with singles. Miller then drew a walk to load the bases.
“I was hoping to strike out the next guy,” Rice said. “Luckily, they were attacking the ball and they weren't up to their usual par with hitting.”Rice forced Spencer Voltz to pop out and struck out Zach Junk.After Jordan Hickey cut the lead to 2-1 by drawing a walk, Hyte Eurich grounded out to end the inning.“He threw 30 pitches in that second inning and really made me nervous about his longevity for the game,” Meridian coach Butch Master said. “He ended up at 104. He did a good job getting out of it.”Saxonburg didn't solve Rice after the second. He threw a complete game, striking out three and issuing four walks.It was Rice's first start since he injured his back against Kiski two games ago.“I was trying to keep it settled and I was just pushing for my team and hoping we could pull it out,” Rice said. “And we did.”Meridian took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Denny and Nick Malis led off with singles.Denny scored on two wild pitches. Schaffner drew a walk and got caught in a rundown that allowed Malis to score.Meridian broke things open in the sixth. Rice and Justin Rickert opened the inning with walks.Jake Campbell and Denny followed with RBI singles. Malis drew a walk to load the bases and chase Miller from the game.Denny scored on an error before Cillo connected with his two-run double.“I think he got a little bit tired and we jumped on it,” Master said.
Meridian 200 008 1 — 11 9 1Saxonburg 010 000 0 — 1 6 3W: T.J. Rice 7IP (3K, 4BB). L: Gavin Miller 5 1/3IP (7K, 7BB).Meridian (16-9): Ryan Denny 2-1B, Nick Malis 2-1B, Brandon Spinneweber 1B, Adam Schaffner 1B, Tony Cillo 1B, Jake Campbell 1B, Tony Cillo 2B.Saxonburg (16-6): Hyte Eurich 1B, Caleb Thorn 2-1B, Sean Daugherty 2-1B, Taylor Sharer 2B.Thursday: Meridian at East Butler, time to be determined.
