Hot start, Cisper push Moeller to title

Zac Jackson, OhioHSsports.com, June 06, 2009 10:14 p.m.

COLUMBUS -- It looked as if the big-school boys brought the big bats Saturday night.

And though a torrid offensive start eventually slowed, Moeller kept the momentum and made plays on both offense and defense when they counted the most. The result? A 5-2 win over Pickerington North in the Div. I state title game.

The Crusaders got three runs in the bottom of the first after giving one up in the top of the inning, and Robby Sunderman settled into a groove on the hill. He got help from his defense, late pitching help from do-it-all guy Brett Cisper, and four different Moeller players knocked in runs.

The state title is Moeller's fifth, the first since 2004. The Crusaders lost to St. Ignatius in last year's state semifinals and avenged that loss Friday by following the lead of Cisper, who threw a gem and also homered.

Cisper -- the GCL Player of the Year -- was a big part of the state title game win, too. He came in to pitch the last two innings and earn the save, and he pitched his way out of two-on, no-out jam in the sixth with the help of a pickoff and a strikeout.

Moeller's big first inning started when leadoff man Ian Hundley singled, stole second, then moved to third on Robby Sunderman's sac bunt. He scored on Tyler Hutchinson's single, then Cisper doubled off the third base bag, moving Hutchinson to third.

Hutchinson scored on Eric Smith's groundout, and Cisper scored on a wild pitch, just sliding under the tag. 

On the flip side, the Panthers left the bases loaded in the top of the first after Brindle was knocked in by Alex Bayer. Through five inning Pickerington North got just one hit from hitters four through seven, and many of those missed chances came with runners on base.

The Panthers avoided further trouble when center fielder Kenny Yurasek threw out Cisper at home in the bottom of the fifth and then catcher Kyle Jeffries gunned out Smith trying to take third for an inning-ending double play.

Trying to build on that momentum, Kenny Yurasek doubled to start the sixth. Cisper came into pitch, and Xander Uxley hit for Mike Knorr and reached on error. But Uxley was picked off, and pinch hitter Drew Williams struck out.

Cisper gave up a leadoff walk to start the seventh but then retired three straight.