Sports

Man, oh Mann

• Deerfield advances to the state title series.

Derek Barichello

ALBANY – Deerfield-Windsor's Steven Mann can relax now.

After missing a suicide squeeze attempt with the bases loaded in the top of the sixth inning of a tie game, the senior right fielder felt he let an opportunity to lead the Knights to their first state championship since 2005 slip away.

"I just felt terrible," said Mann, who failed to bunt a pitch around his ankles resulting in the baserunner getting tagged out at third base for the second out to keep the game knotted at one.

"I thought I missed my chance."

But that would not be the case at all as Mann would get redemption.

He stepped back into the batter's box after a timeout and crushed a fastball off Stratford's Colby Collins over the right center field fence to give the Knights a three-run lead and eventual 5-2 win in Game 2 of GISA Class AAA Final Four action Saturday in Albany.

The Knights completed the sweep of Stratford, winning the opener 11-1 on Thursday, and now advance to the state championship series as they will host Tattnall Square starting Friday and concluding on Saturday.

"I thought for a minute it was too high with the wind blowing in," said Mann, who finished the day 1-for-3 with a walk. "When I saw it got out, it was a huge relief."

The three-run shot was just as much of a relief to Deerfield coach Rod Murray, who saw three of his runners thrown out from third attempting to break the 1-1 tie Saturday, including the missed suicide squeeze.

"I think we were all relieved," Murray said. "You know when you get this far you have to fight to get runs. We needed a big hit and a senior stepped up for us."

However, in the other dugout, Stratford coach and former Atlanta Braves player Jeff Treadway could not catch a break.

In Game 1 on Friday, Deerfield's Justin Lott burnt the Eagles for three home runs in a Knights win, causing Treadway to give Lott an intentional pass to load the bases and set the stage for Mann's heroics.

"It seemed like every time we (intentionally) walked someone, it came back to haunt us," said Treadway, referring back to Game 1 when he intentionally walked Culin Brown to load the bases for Lott who answered with a grand slam. "We just weren't going to pitch to (Lott) unless the bases were empty (or loaded)."

The intentional walk added another factor to Mann's roller coaster at-bat.

"I took offense," Mann said. "It was sort of like a personal shot. It hurt my feelings a little bit and it made me want to show everyone I could come through."

Mann's three-run homer would be all Knights starter Kevin McCrary and reliever Evan Boyd would need. McCrary allowed just two hits in six innings of work with seven strikeouts to earn the win, while Boyd picked up the save, retiring the Eagles' Brian Nicholson, who represented the tying run at the plate after the Eagles rallied with a run in the seventh.

"That home run gave me some comfort," said McCrary, who improved to 3-0 in the playoffs. "I just tried to hold on because I knew our offense would come through."

Fort Stratford, Collins took the loss. He pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed seven hits, including Mann's go-ahead three run blast, as he finished with three strikeouts. Fielding Combs came on in relief and allowed an earned run in the seventh to close out the game.

"I thought we played a better ball game," Treadway said. "We have a young team and we competed and gave ourselves a chance at the end. They just have a tremendous team here at Deerfield. I think the better team won (Saturday)."

Now the Knights' attention shifts to Tattnall Square, which swept North Cobb Christian 10-0 and 603 on the other side of the bracket. If Tattnall Square sounds familiar to Deerfield fans, its because the Trojans gave the Knights their lone loss of the season 11-1 on March 29 and defeated them in the state finals in 2005.

"Tattnall is a tough team," said Murray, who will try to bring home the Knights first state baseball title since 2003 in his first year as head coach. "We know what they are capable of but we just have to keep doing what we've been doing, playing good 'D' and throwing strikes. we'll work hard and be ready."

RIVALRY TURNS BITTER FOR A MOMENT

After Mann hit his three-run home run, the game got a little testy. As Knights runners crossed the plate, Statford pitcher Collins threw a bat at the Knights' dugout according to Deerfield coaches and players. Though it is not known if it as intentional, players from the Knights' dugout took offense and started to argue with the Eagles players on the field.

After the arguments were silenced, emotions reached a fever pitch when the next pitch to Knights hitter Patrick Golden was thrown behind him. Both coaches were brought onto the field immediately and the argument was quelled by the umpires.

"Oh, that, that was just a baseball thing," Murray said. "I don't hold anything against them. I don't really want to talk about it. Emotions ran a little high, it was just a baseball thing."

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