Monday, May 10, 1999
Hamilton sweeps baseball championships
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
Enquirer contributor
Baseball teams from Hamilton dominated The Cincinnati Enquirer's final 1999 polls.
BASEBALL POLLS
|
DIVISION I
1. Hamilton (9) ....... 133
2. St. Xavier (4) ....... 112
3. Fairfield ....... 104
4. Moeller (1) ....... 92
5. Elder ....... 85
6. Colerain ....... 83
7. Anderson ....... 37
8. Mason ....... 34
9. Lakota East ....... 28
10. Glen Este ....... 27
Others: Harrison 16, Amelia 7, La Salle 5. DIVISION II-IV
1. Badin (5) ....... 83
2. Kings (4) ....... 81
3. Norwood ....... 77
4. McNicholas (1) ....... 69
5. Ross (1) ....... 64
6. Madeira ....... 56
7. New Richmond ....... 41
8. Loveland ....... 30
9. Roger Bacon ....... 27
10. St. Bernard ....... 17
Others: Cin. Country Day 10, Springboro 7, Purcell Marian 7, North College Hill 7, Lynchburg-Clay 6. |
Despite losses to Badin and Moeller in the final week, Hamilton was voted The Enquirer's Division I baseball champion with St. Xavier (20-4) a distant second.
In the Division II-III-IV baseball poll, Hamilton Badin's victory over Hamilton Saturday lifted the Rams from second to first, two points ahead of Kings.
After winning the first 15 games, Hamilton's streak was broken by Lancaster. However, coach Dan Bowling's baseball team remained steady and went on to capture the tough Greater Miami Conference, finishing 22-4 overall.
This is the third consecutive season the Big Blue was The Enquirer's champion and the 16th season in the last 17 Hamilton has won 20 or more games.
Throughout the year, Badin coach Mark Maus wouldn't vote for the Rams in the top 10.
If Maus had changed his mind this week, the final poll wouldn't have been as close, though Kings finished strong and the Knights are in position to win the Fort Ancient Valley Conference.
“Voting for Badin is something I've never done,” Maus said. “It's my opinion that others should decide how good we are and not me.”
En route to a 21-6 record and the co-championship of the Greater Catholic League North Division, the Rams were an explosive team with Brian Wood, Dominic Frankey, Tim Nieman and Justin Haire all batting over .400.
“I voted for McNicholas all year long,” Maus said. “When Jason Helmes is pitching, they're as good as any team we played. Kings also was strong and won 12 consecutive games at the end of the year.”
Sports Stories
REDS 8, CUBS 5
Lefty Villone likely to join Reds soon
REDS NOTEBOOK
Box, runs
