One final strikeout: Emotional day as Crushers pitcher and Midview graduate Ryan Feierabend plays his last game

AVON — It had all the makings of a fairy tale finish for Ryan Feierabend. The Lake Erie Crushers pitcher and Midview High School graduate struck out the last batter he would ever face as a professional baseball player Sunday in the seventh inning against the Windy City ThunderBolts at Mercy Health Stadium. Only problem is no one let Windy City in on the happily ever after part and the ThunderBolts scored three runs in the ninth for a 6-5 win. Still, not even a loss could ruin an emotional day for Feierabend and the Crushers. When manager Dan Rohn came out to pull the veteran left-hander with two outs in the seventh inning, every Crushers player on the field came in to give Feierabend a huge hug. "I pulled them together before I went out and said this would be my last game," said the 36-year-old Feierabend, who pitched in the major leagues for Seattle, Texas and Toronto and also spent time in the Korean and Chinese pro leagues. "I didn't know how emotional it was actually going to be. The scary thing of all this isn't that my career is ending, it's what's next?" It was a nice touch by Rohn, enabling Feierabend's teammates the chance show the respect and love they have for him. "He went out on a great note," Rohn said. "He struck out the last guy he'd face in his career. It was an emotional thing for him. He had a tough time keeping it together as we all were. The whole infield teared up out there as did the outfielders. "We thought of different scenarios. Get him out, let him go out on a high note." Before he left, the fans treated Feierabend to a well-deserved standing ovation but the Crushers couldn't hold a two-run lead. "I don't know where this is going to take me," Feierbend said. "I'm hoping to get into coaching. That's my big goal, to stay in the game in some aspect. I think I have a lot that I've learned in my 19 years (pitching) that I could hand down to the next generation. We'll just have to see what happens." Feierabend's line in his final start was solid: 94 pitches, 60 for strikes, 6 2/3 innings, four hits, two runs, one walk and eight strikeouts. His season ERA ended up 2.79 and he struck out 108 with just 12 walks in 100 innings. Even though the Crushers lost, Feierabend was happy to be able to pitch his final season in front of family, friends and former coaches, including his first one at Midview, Graig Bansek, now the superintendent for Columbia Schools. "I loved every minute of it," Feierabend said. "There's so many people I could thank and send out shout-outs to loved ones. They know who they are but without them, I couldn't have done any of this, especially my wife (Sarah). She's been my rock ever since we started dating in high school. We've been together 20 years and she's been along for the ride ever since." The Crushers seemed to have things in control with leads of 4-2 after seven innings and 5-3 after eight. Catcher Karl Ellison was responsible for three hits and a pair of RBIs. He smacked his eighth homer to the opposite field in the fourth and answered Windy City's run in the top of the eighth with an RBI single the opposite way in the bottom of the inning. He nearly was 4-for-4 but a long drive to the warning track to left-center in the sixth inning that was tracked down but dropped by left fielder Donivan Williams was ruled an error, loading the bases. Lake Erie eventually scored a run on Javier Betancourt's sacrifice fly. "(Sunday) for me was all about Ryan," said Ellison, who in addition to his hitting, threw out one would-be base stealer. "That was about as emotional as I've been on a field and, honestly, it was the most nervous I've been. We all care so much about him. He's such a phenomenal human being. We just wanted to do our best for him. We are all just very fortunate to have played with him this year." All Lake Erie had to do was get the final three outs to hand Feierabend his ninth win as a Crusher. It wasn't to be. The Thunderbolts scoredr three runs on three hits off the usually reliable J.T. Perez, who was seeking his 15th save. "Some things didn't go our way," Ellison said. "It's too bad. (Feierabend) is such a humble, loving, caring guy. I wish there was more words I could put into it." Contact Tim Gebhardt at 329-7135 or at timothygeb@msn.com.