A classic pitchers duel took place between Wellington and Amherst on May 5 in a nonconference matchup, as the two teams were scoreless through 5 1/2 innings in Amherst.

The pace was crisp and both starters, Cam Gendics for the Comets and Johnnie Kinter for the Dukes, pitched marvelously. Though one team had to fall, as Gendics and the Comets came out with a 1-0 victory, with Anthony Heikkinen earning a two-out save.

The game was played out in a playoff atmosphere, as the postseason is less than two weeks away and Amherst neck-and-neck with North Ridgeville for the SWC crown.

I thought both pitchers were fantastic, Amherst coach Matt Rositano said. (Johnnie) Kinter is really good, thats one of the better pitchers weve faced this year. Cam was on his game the entire time he was out there. We had him on a pitch count so he could be available next week. I know he wanted to stay out there. But weve got more important games on Monday and Wednesday.

Everything went smoothly until Amherst put Chase Mayer, fresh off a 15-strikeout no-hitter of Elyria May 4, in to pinch hit for Devin Pritt to lead off the bottom of the sixth. Mayer laid down a bunt, and the throw sailed wide of the mark at first base and he raced around to third. One out and three batters later, Cam Gendics helped his own cause with an opposite-field blooper to right that scored Mayer.

Definitely not one of our best games, but Coach Roz always says put the ball in play and good things will happen, Mayer said. I got a bunt down and an overthrow to first, and I ended up getting to third. Cam Gendics came up with a hit and I ended up scoring. That was the difference in the game.

Being on a pitch count and getting Mayer over to third to swing momentum in their favor, Gendics capitalized when it came time for him to hit with two on and one down in that playoff atmosphere with runs at a premium.

That was a big moment, Gendics said. He came in and did his job, and we capitalized on the error. Especially with our pitching staff, that one run is going to be really big.

Wellington coach Dan Davison was pleased with the overall effort, as it was a great game outside of the one miscue.

It was a really good game, Davison said. Obviously, they have a lot more weapons than we do, but we come in here with the belief that we can win the game and we belong on the field with these guys. Johnnie pitched a great game and the defense was solid up until that one bunt. Just didnt have the grip on the baseball when he made the throw, I could see it when he threw it.

Wellington had a chance to knot the game up, with two runners on base before Heikkinen struck out the last batter to lock down the save.

While that moment obviously stings, Davison still had an optimistic outlook on the game itself, as both teams got a good test ahead of tournament time.

All in all, Im not too displeased. We hit the ball OK and gave ourselves a chance again at the end of the game to tie it up and go somewhere with it, and it just didnt happen tonight.

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Wellington vs. Amherst baseball: Comets come out ahead in 1-0 pitchers duel - The Morning Journal