PORT CHARLOTTE, Florida -- In one sense, the story of the Heidelberg University baseball team's 6-2 win over Ohio Wesleyan University on Friday was about the game-changing three-run homer by
Cayden Rollins.
In another way, however, the game was about so much more.
With the Ohio Athletic Conference's decision to cancel the rest of the athletic calendar in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Friday's game was the final varsity game of the year for the baseball team. A season in which many associated with the program believed could end in Iowa at the World Series instead culminated at the North County Regional Park in Port Charlotte, Florida -- roughly three months earlier than anyone wanted.
Following the game, seniors from both Ohio Wesleyan and Heidelberg were tearfully saluted. Joined by family and friends, both teams gathered on the field for hugs and pictures -- seemingly trying to come to terms with the premature end to a season still in its infancy.
The 2020 Student Princes finished the season at 7-5.
Senior
Trevor Adkins (3-1) gutted out five innings -- allowing one run on four hits. He struck out four.
Mac Spears threw an inning of work, allowing a run on three hits.
Ross Thompson and
Cameron Deemer combined to shut out the Battling Bishops over the final three innings. Thompson fanned three while Deemer struck out two.
Seniors
Kyle Jenkins and A.J. Stevenson each had two hits on the day.
A balk in the second inning gave HU a 1-0 lead, but a solo homer from OWU in the top of the third evened the game.
In the bottom half of the third,
Marc Ochoa and
Elliot Kurtz walked and advanced on a beautiful sacrifice bunt by
Tyler Smith. With two outs, Rollins -- in just his second career start in the batting lineup -- rocked his first collegiate home run to left center. To see the three Student Princes run the bases, the bright colors of their jerseys flashing against the green grass, was to see a work of art in motion.
Up 4-2 in the seventh, Ochoa lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Zach (not Zatch) Doran.
Jenkins drove in the final run of the season with a bases-loaded fielder's choice that plated Stevenson.
After Deemer finished out the ninth, the postgame hugs and handshakes were a bit more subdued than usual.
Following the contest, news broke of the NCAA's decision to restore eligibility and not count this semester toward the limit of 10 semesters.
Regardless of whether or not the seniors decide to return to Heidelberg, the future remains bright in Tiffin.
