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Members of the Harlamert family gather after a ceremonial first pitch before Saturday's Troy-Coldwater baseball game that honored late head coach Brian Harlamert. From left, Coldwater assistant coach Aaron Harlamert (Brian's son), Coldwater players Braylen and AJ Harlamert (Bruce's sons), Bruce Harlamert and Ben Harlamert (Brian's brothers), Troy catcher Owen Harlamert (Ben's son) and Coldwater player Evan Harlamert (Brian's son).
COLDWATER - Saturday brought bright sunny skies and just slightly chilly temperatures.
It was a good day for baseball and to pay tribute to Brian Harlamert, who died last September.
Coldwater and Troy paid tribute to the late Cavalier Hall of Fame coach, and Brian's son Evan Harlamert pitched a gem of a game as the Cavaliers beat the Trojans 4-2 at Veterans Field.
"You could say it was a perfect day," said Cavaliers coach Cory Klenke, whose squad improved to 4-1 with the win.
The game paid homage to Brian Harlamert with four Harlamerts in the starting lineup, Brian's eldest son coaching for the Cavaliers and a pre-game first pitch by Brian's brothers Bruce and Ben. Bruce threw to his son, Coldwater catcher AJ, with Ben throwing to his son, Troy catcher Owen. Braylen Harlamert - AJ's twin brother - and Evan Harlamert served as the "umpires" for the first pitch.
The Trojans wore special jerseys that had "Harlamert" on the back nameplate. Owen Harlamert changed his usual jersey number of 24 to 19, the number his uncle Brian wore during his coaching career. Coaches and Troy parents also wore shirts with 19 and Harlamert and presented the Coldwater Harlamerts with their own shirts.
"We had our parent meeting right before the season and they asked if they could do something (to honor Brian Harlamert)," said Troy coach Ty Welker. "They just put that together. I think the players knew, but not Owen. We kind of surprised him today when we passed those out. It was a simple nice touch, for sure."
"Ty runs a good program over there," said Klenke. "I know coach Harlamert had a lot of respect for that program and spoke highly of him. For them to be able to wear jerseys with 'Harlamert' on the back is something special. Bigger than baseball."
Troy catcher Owen Harlamert gets ready to apply the tag to Coldwater baserunner - and Owen's cousin -Braylen Harlamert during Saturday's baseball game.
The Trojans (4-4) got the first score of the game in the third as Eli Smith led off with a double and went to third on a wild pitch. Evan Kaiser brought home his teammate with a ground out.
Hayden Frey started on the mound for Troy and allowed just one hit through three innings before hitting his pitch count. Jacob Lucas came on to start the fourth and quickly gave up a single to Luke Sudhoff. Back-to-back errors allowed Braxton Howell and Evan Harlamert to reach base and score Sudhoff to tie the game. A walk to Mason Welsch loaded the bases, but Lucas quickly got the first out before walking Keegan Bruggeman to score Howell for the go-ahead run. After another strikeout, Braylen Harlamert brought home two more runs with a single to make it 4-2 before AJ Harlamert popped out to end the inning.
"Hayden was on a pitch count because we pitched him mid-week, so he couldn't stay in the game," said Welker. "Had to get some other guys some work."
Coldwater's Evan Harlamert pitches during Saturday's game with Troy.
Evan Harlamert got through the fifth unscathed. In the sixth Owen Harlamert lofted a deep enough fly to center to score Ryder Kirtley to make it 4-2, but Evan Harlamert quickly got the third out, then enticed three straight flyouts to right fiedler Curtis Duerr in the seventh to close out the game.
"It was a special day," Klenke said of Evan Harlamert, who scattered six hits, did not issue a walk and struck out a batter in a 91-pitch, 63-strike performance. "He had a little special gift today. I didn't know how he would do with all the extra (events) before the game for his dad. Evan's a gamer. He's on a mission this year. It was a special day for the Cavaliers and all the Harlamerts."
"It was a well-played game," said Welker. "Got a little sloppy that one inning. When you give free bases, that's what happens."
Coldwater returns to action today with a road trip to Jay County.
