Westview wins NECC classic

By GREG KEIM
greg.keim@goshennews.com

May 19, 2009 10:03 am

— Three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning gave the Westview Warriors a third straight Northeast Corner Conference high school baseball championship Monday.
On Westview “Senior Night,” it was only fitting that 12th graders Nic Mishler and Austin Haney were among standouts for the Warriors in a 5-2 win over the Fairfield Falcons.
Mishler drove in three runs with a homer, double and sacrifice fly while Haney pitched two perfect innings to earn his fourth win of the season.
“It was a tight game to the end,” Westview coach Joel Mishler said. “Early on, we didn’t make some plays which we should have and later on Fairfield didn’t make some plays they probably felt they should have.”
The game was played under bright sunny skies, probably one of the better nights of the season for baseball.
“It was a neat night,” Mishler added. “The weather was great and so were the fans. Both teams had a good amount of fans. The quality of play was good. It was just a neat thing to see. There were probably some little kids out here who are now thinking about playing high school baseball after seeing this one.”
Westview won the NECC title outright two years ago, shared the crown last season and won it outright again this season with a 10-0 record.
“I told Brodie Garber (Fairfield coach) before the game that no matter which team won, we felt fortunate to be in this situation,” Mishler said.
Westview (18-3) visits Lakewood Park of Auburn on Friday and Fairfield (15-5, 8-1 NECC) hosts Culver Military on Thursday.
“Errors cost us dearly and Westview’s clutch hitting broke it open,” Garber said. “Westview is a very mature club and you have to think their kids have paid their dues to win one like this.
“We are a young team. Among 10 kids in the starting lineup (including the designated hitter), we have three juniors, two sophomores and two freshmen.”
Fairfield took the lead in the top of the second when freshman Zach Newcomer’s single scored senior Caleb Yoder.
The Warriors tied it in the bottom of the third when Mishler belted a fastball over the fence in left center for his seventh homer of the season.
“He got all of it,” said Coach Mishler about his son.
The Falcons took a 2-1 lead in the fourth when a sacrifice fly by senior Colin Holmes scored Yoder.
Mishler tied it 2-2 with a sacrifice fly which scored senior Tyler Mowery in the fifth.
In the sixth inning, Westview got run-scoring doubles from sophomore Steve Blinco and Mishler.
Haney struck out two batters in both the sixth and seventh innings for the Warriors.
“Nic (Mishler) was at 79 pitches and we felt it was time to change,” coach Mishler said. “He wanted to stay in and I wouldn’t want a pitcher who didn’t want to stay in.”
Garber said, “We told our kids that Haney would come right at us and he did.”
Other seniors on the Westview roster are Adam Christner, Jesse Schrock and Chris Miller.
“We have a unique family atmosphere here like they do at Fairfield,” Mishler said.
“This year’s senior class is a special group. They are good teammates and good leaders who I think are well-respected in the community.”