Baseball Insider West: Vermilion baseball team rallies around injured teammate

Tim Rogers / Plain Dealer Reporter, May 15, 2009 2:06 a.m.

The Vermilion baseball team is on a mission. You might say it is in the name of Tim Clark.

The Sailors defeated Firelands, 6-0, on Wednesday. It was the 20th victory of the season, marking the third straight year the program has produced at least 20 victories, and it got the team to within one game of clinching at least a tie for the West Shore Conference championship.

Clark, a senior pitcher, had been a huge part of that success until recently. The 6-4, 200-pound Cleveland State recruit, who has won 20 games during his four varsity seasons, was struck in the forehead just above his right eye by a line drive during a game against Midview.

While there was no permanent damage, he suffered a fractured skull and underwent six hours of surgery last week but is making a rapid recovery.

"Right now my goal is to get ready for fall baseball at CSU," Clark said.

He had a fractured orbital bone just above his right eye.

"I don't remember much about it, it happened so fast," he said. "I remember waking up. My right eye was swollen shut and I had a big headache."

Clark went to the prom and has been able to watch his teammates play their way into Monday's Division II district semifinals at Southview, where Vermilion will face Norton (7-11).

"The kids have always rallied around Tim because he has been such a great leader on this ballclub," coach Jeff Keck said.

"He is the kind of leader the kids really look up to. If he says something it almost has more of an impact than if I say it."

The Sailors, in the district for the third straight year, have won with the time-tested ingredients - pitching, defense and base running.

Senior center fielder Don Greenleaf is batting .417 and has set school season and career base-stealing records, with 39 this season and 79 for his career.

Left-hander Anthony Labondano and right-hander Cameron Zima, who have won seven games apiece, are the anchors of a strong junior class. While senior Joel Turner is batting .385 and has knocked in 22 runs, junior shortstop Dan Oates (.339, 21 runs) and junior second baseman Sean Zahars (.364) have provided offense.

Players such as first baseman Wes White, catcher Madison Montgomery, designated hitter Jon Hawkins, catcher Chris Scott, outfielder Tyler Eskins and third baseman Steve Cooper have been solid defensively.

Small ball, big results:Independence clinched its first outright championship since 2004 last week in the Metro Division of the Chagrin Valley Conference and has advanced to Tuesday's Division III district semifinals at Tri-C West, where it will face Garrettsville Garfield at 4:30 p.m.

The Blue Devils (19-2, 10-1) are an anomaly in high school baseball - and some might say in baseball at any level - because they can bunt. Coach Mark Echstenkamper said his team has 20 sacrifice bunts and has had numerous bunts go for base hits.

"Our motto is, ‘Get 'em on, get 'em over and get 'em in,' " said Echstenkamper. "The bunt puts pressure on a defense. A lot of teams know it's coming and still can't defend it. I'd say we have about seven guys who can bunt and can bunt well."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:trogers@plaind.com, 216-470-5945