MAC Tournament semi-finals.

The Skinny: In a game played over 2 consecutive days because of rain, Sidwell stayed strong defensively and won a low-scoring contest, 4-1.

Synopsis: On Day 1, Sidwell started the day off right, as Sam Stevens blasted a 2-run homerun in the top of the first to give the Quakers a 2-0 lead. Starting pitcher Chase Plebani got into a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the 1st, but worked himself out of it without any damage. The score remained 2-0 going into the top of the 3rd when the game was postponed due to thunder, which soon turned to a torrential downpour, too much for even Maret's turf field to handle.

On Day 2, Sidwell sent Plebani back to the mound, despite him having thrown 45 pitches the day before. Yet Plebani pitched fabulously, only allowing a single hit in innings 3-6, allowing just 1 unearned run in the 5th on a bases-loaded Maret swinging bunt that Plebani mishandled. But in the 4th, Nick Fernandez extended the Quaker lead by 2 with a 2-run homerun of his own. This would prove all the offense Sidwell needed, as Mark Ossolinski came on for the save in the 7th, not allowing a run for the 4-1 victory.

Analysis: This was certainly a defensive contest, as the two teams put up only 10 hits combined. Plebani's final line was 6 IP, 2 hits allowed, and 1 unearned run with 7 Ks. The outing is even more remarkable when one considers it was broken up over 2 days. Maret's starter also started the 2nd day, but was quickly removed after the Fernandez homer.

Save for the homeruns, Sidwell's offense was mediocre. The other 5 hits were scattered and produced no offense. Maret gave Sidwell only 2 free baserunners, both walks, and struck out 8.

Overall the game was reminiscent of the previous game Sidwell played at Jellef, in which Plebani was also dominant, and in which Sidwell also won, 4-1. This gave was much bigger, however, as Sidwell now moves on to the MAC finals later this week against Flint Hill.

Looking Ahead: Sidwell earned a spot in the MAC tournament finals with today's win, a game that will be played Thursday at Flint Hill, pending rain. Sidwell has struggled in recent years at Flint Hill, losing 3 times in the past 2 years, including in the semifinals of the MAC tournament last year. They will look to end that streak Thursday, as Captain Mark Ossolinski will take the hill as Sidwell's starting pitcher in his last MAC game of his career.