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Gerhardt
Back With Lexington Click
here to listen to an interview with coach Taylor Gerhardt
Lexington has a new coach that was their old coach.
Taylor Gerhardt is back to lead the Minutemen after a brief two year
retirement.
He says the stars just sort of lined up.
“As they say it never really leaves your blood.
When I stepped away I did it for family reasons and things that
needed my attention. I didn’t
ever think I would be back, but you never know what life is going to give
you from year to year. The
opportunity came to me again. Of
course, I talked to the most important people my wife, my kids and my
family. We had things settled
enough that I felt comfortable that I could devote enough time to run a
program and had their support. The
next thing you know I’m back. You
just never know what plan the big guy has for you upstairs,” said Gerhardt.
This summer rules were relaxed when it came to coaches contact with
kids and Gerhardt says they were able to take advantage of that to install a
new offense and defense. “We
really took advantage of that with a new staff and we are running a
different defense and our offense is different.
It was really a blessing for us as a staff to get to know the kids to
actually practice in June instead of just focusing on conditioning was
really valuable to us. We
definitely took advantage of that this year.
I think it was more because of our situation as a new staff and
bringing different things to the kids. It
was a real blessing to have that time to use to install that stuff,” he
said.
Gerhardt says this summer the players have gotten themselves in good
condition, which is key, and they become good students of the game too.
“One thing that my football team will be is well conditioned.
I think that is an extremely important thing because I ask our kids
to play fast and I ask them to play to the echo of the whistle and I also
think it helps with safety and injury prevention.
The more conditioned you are the less possibility of something
happening injury wise out there. They
really answered that,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday, “I was
really impressed with how they were ready to grab ahold with both hands and
fully dedicate themselves to getting in shape, but also about how they just
delved in as students of the game and learning the different terminology
offensively and defensively and even special teams wise.
I was just very, very impressed with this group.” Published 7/27/21 © Swankonsports.com Your First Source For All Things Sports |
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Fredericktown
Headed in the Right Direction Click
here to listen to an interview with coach William Hartley
Football has been a tradition at Fredericktown and hopefully they are
going to return to their winning ways.
There are some positive signs pointing in that direction.
They host Clear Fork in a non-conference game on August 20th
to begin the season.
Coach William Hartley says their kids, and the fans, are ready for a
return to normalcy when it comes to high school football.
“I think that was been a big theme that we have had throughout the
off season, especially the last three weeks or so getting into camp days and
seven on seven. The kids are really excited.
We have a good turnout at seven on sevens as far as fans in the
stands. I think everybody is
just excited to get back to normal and be in the stands and just watch the
kids play,” he said.
There were opportunities due to a losing of rules from the OHSAA this
summer, but Hartley says things were pretty normal with the Freddies.
“We added a couple days here and there.
We stuck with our general program and our general philosophy and that
is in the bulk of June we have lifting, but as far as organized practices
that is reserved for basketball. In
July we continue with lifting and start focusing more on football,” he
told Swankonsports.com on Monday, “At a school our size we have a lot kids
that are multi sport athletes and we encourage that.
We really didn’t want to disrupt that routine that we have had for
many years. It has worked for us
and it has worked for kids as well.”
Fredericktown (3-7) in 2020 looks to improve this year.
Hartley says the dedication is there and that usually leads to good
things for the program as a whole.
“Going all of the way back to January we have had tremendous buy in
in the off season program. The
kids have really lifted hard and worked on their agility and speed.
We have made a lot of gains. Our
numbers are up. We have carried
that through into the summer. We
have just made a lot of gains in the right direction and now we just have to
put it all together as we start to get closer to actually playing ball,”
said Hartley. Published 7/27/21 © Swankonsports.com Your First Source For All Things Sports |
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Buckeye
Central Ready to Battle Click
here to listen to an interview with coach Chad Jensen
They are smallest school in the Northern 10 Athletic Conference, but
the Buckeye Central Bucks will come to play every week this football season.
Their season begins in less than a month on August 20th at
Crestline in a non-conference game.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association allowed coaches unlimited
contact this year, but Bucks coach Chad Jensen says they went about things
as normal. “It really wasn’t
any different. We share our kids
with basketball and baseball. Most
of our kids play two sports, a lot of them play three, so didn’t do where
June and July was just all football two of three days a week, we didn’t do
that. We expect a lot of our
kids in all of those sports. We
did baseball and basketball in June and then at the end of June and into
July we did football. So,
basically it was no different than any other year,” said Jensen.
Jensen, who is also the head baseball coach at Buckeye, says he was
impressed with the dedication that he saw this summer.
“Our kids are working hard. Our
kids show up three days a week in the weight room, they show up for our
coaching days and they do everything we ask them to do.
If they are not in the weight room, then they communicate with me and
tell me where they were. Very
few absences where we didn’t know where they were, actually not any.
So, we have been pretty fortunate our kids come hard every day and
work hard every day. They really
want to have a successful season,” he said.
Buckeye was (3-7) last year, winning two of its last four games and
they beat Bucyrus (54-10) in a conference game.
Their first “N10” game is September 10 at Seneca East.
Jensen says they just want to be competitive.
“Our league is very tough. Our
numbers are down a little this year, a little bit with a couple of smaller
classes that we have, but that is something we always battle at Buckeye
Central, it’s not anything new. We
just want to get the most out of our kids every week and we have always had
that. No matter how many numbers
we have had our kids play hard each week against whoever we play,” he told
Swankonsports.com on Monday, “For us we just want to build on what we
started last year. Our kids got
a little bit of taste of success. We
have seen this summer that they kids expect to be successful and just build
on that in the scrimmages, the non-league and we will see where everything
falls for us.” Published 7/27/21 © Swankonsports.com Your First Source For All Things Sports |
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Edison
Edges Colonel Crawford in Extra Innings
Edison scored twice in the top of the eighth inning then retired
Colonel Crawford with bases loaded in the bottom half to come away with a
(6-5) win in the division III district final played on Saturday afternoon in
Shelby.
The Chargers got a back to back hits from Blake Simon and Clint
Finnen off Crawford starter Cade Hamilton to start the eighth inning.
Brennen Hamilton then replaced his older brother on the mound and he
failed to make the play on a bunt attempt by Xander Danner and threw down
the rightfield line, allowing Blake Simon to score the go ahead run.
Thomas Simon followed with an RBI single to make it (6-4) Edison.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Eagles (25-3), got a leadoff walk
from Mason McKibben and single by Brock Ritzhaupt, but Edison reliver Joey
Pannell got Cyler Hoepf on a force out and struck out Miccah Thomas.
He then walked Nolan McKibben and Cade Hamilton to force in a run and
make it (6-5) with the bases still loaded.
However, for the second game in a row, Pannell got the biggest out of
the game when he induced a ground ball to shortstop from Carson Feichtner.
Edison coach Sean Hoover says his team kept battling.
“We got down early 3-0 and we just came in an we fought hard.
I don’t know if it was some of the other action in that inning that
made them refocus. They really
seemed to be focused and we got one back.
We just kind of chipped away and we had a lot of good at bats.
You want your team to come out and realize that this is a game
between really good teams and things are going to go back and forth all of
the time,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “If you keep
battling, I have been in enough of these, that strange things happen
sometimes. You don’t want to
get too high or too low. We did
a great job of coming out and getting the job done.”
Colonel Crawford scored three times in the third inning on a double
by Thomas, and RBI single by Nolan McKibben, who then scored on error.
Then Finnen tried to throw Cade Hamilton out at the plate on a slow
chop by Feichtner rather than making an easier throw to first to retire the
side and Hamilton was called safe.
Edison got one back in the top of the fourth on an RBI single by Luke
Bissell. They tied the game
(3-3) in the sixth when Danner and Thomas Simon reached on errors and Noah
Smith connected on a two run single.
Edison took a (4-3) lead in the sixth on a hit by Blake Simon, a
passed ball, a balk and a RBI single by Finnen.
Crawford would tie in the bottom of the sixth on a single by Brennan
Hamilton, a sacrifice by Mason McKibben and a RBI single by Hoepf.
The Eagles loaded them in the bottom of the seventh with nobody out
and failed to score when Drayton Burkhart and Brennan Hamilton strut out and
a runner was retired in a rundown between third and home on a failed suicide
squeeze.
Hoover says they were able to escape a couple of times.
“We got out of a couple of jams and I not really sure how we got
out of them. We managed to keep
them off the board a couple of times with guys on base and not many outs on
the board. Maybe with the bases
loaded and nobody out (in the seventh).
That was big and we kind of carried the momentum into the next
inning. We got a bloop and an
even shorter bloop and strung a couple of hits together and got some guys
in,” said Hoover.
Colonel Crawford coach Dan Gorbett identified the bases loaded and
not out situation in the seventh when they didn’t score as a key.
“That’s when we loaded the bases and couldn’t score.
It just seemed like couldn’t get that big hit, ground out or sac
fly. They were able to get a
couple of hits that just fell in. They
are all hits, I’m not berating them for that.
They seemed to get the bat on the ball and get the runs in and we
couldn’t do that. We had
opportunities,” said Gorbett.
Thomas also tagged out at home to end the fifth in what appeared to
be a steal attempt.
The Eagles also made four errors, three of them at key moments and
Gorbett says you can’t do that in district finals and expect to win.
“Our defense was horrible (Saturday).
We have talked about at tournament time you have to play good
defense. They were bad errors.
They are routine plays that we were making errors on.
If you want to win a championship, you just can’t do that,” he
said.
Thomas Simon has been Edison’s ace all season, but he was not
available after throwing 125 pitches in beating Margaretta (3-1) in
Thursday’s semifinal.
Hoover says Blake Simon and Pennell did an outstanding job.
“Blake (Simon) did a great job out there and Joe Pennell came in
and did an awesome job at the end in closing the game out.
Maybe not as quick as he closed the game out on Thursday.
He was a little more nervous this time.
We have all of those young guys that we have had to depend on.
Thomas (Simon) obviously doesn’t throw every single day.
They have been put in some big spots in other games already this
year. I think that helped them
keep their composure and throw pitches when they needed to,” said Hoover.
Crawford left nine runners in scoring position in the game.
Gorbett says the didn’t get the key hits and Edison did.
“It’s a good program and they battled and won.
We had the bases loaded and no outs and don’t score and they do the
same thing and get a couple in. They
made it happen and we didn’t,” he said. Published 5/29/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Colonel
Crawford Trims Genoa; Moves on
Drayton Burkhart was dominate again for the Colonel Crawford Eagles
on Thursday afternoon as he allowed no earned runs on five hits and Crawford
downed Genoa (4-2) in a division III district semifinal at Shelby High
School.
They return to Shelby Saturday afternoon to face Edison, a (3-1)
winner over Margaretta Thursday, for the district title.
Genoa loaded the bases in the first, but Burkhart got a strikeout to
end the threat. He also stranded
runners on second in the third, fourth, and fifth, before the Comets broke
through for a couple unearned runs in the sixth.
Coach Dan Gorbett calls him a warrior.
“That kinds of describes him his entire career.
I just feel they way he pitches and he competes.
The look he gives me when I say, hey, can you make it all seven
tonight? It’s like get out of
my face coach, that’s a stupid comment, and I just kind of laugh, and say
okay, and I’ll go back to the dugout.
That’s what he did against Oak Harbor too.
I thought he had pretty good stuff (Thursday).
Against Oak Harbor he was always in trouble.
He just battled and got outs when he needed it,” said Gorbett.
Genoa stranded seven runners in scoring position and coach Gary
Nissen says they just couldn’t get the big hit.
“You never know when that is going to happen, especially in high
school ball. It could have been
just as easy that that one goes 10 feet farther and drops and it is 4-3.
I am proud of our guys, they came out and played hard. We just
didn’t get those hits to fall when we needed them, that’s all,” he
said.
The Eagles (25-2) got on the board in the third when Mica Thomas
walked and was sacrificed to second by Nolan McKibben.
The Comets then intentionally walked Cade Hamilton.
Carson Feichtner then responded with a two run hit.
Then in the fifth, Hamilton walked and Feichtner doubled down the
leftfield line to score him. Burkhart
then scored Feichtner with an single up the middle.
Gorbett says in the postseason you have to get clutch hits.
“I was hoping to get an extra one there in that safety squeeze and
that didn’t quite workout. When
you play good teams anytime you can squeeze runs here and there that is what
you want to do. They did the
right thing not pitching to Cade and then Fiechner came up huge.
He is a great hitter too. Those
were big plays there,” he said.
Gorbett says he isn’t surprised that Genoa walked Hamilton.
“That has happened throughout the year.
Cade is such a disciplined hitter, so he has 30 some walks.
If you don’t throw him a strike, he is going to be on first and
probably steal second, so it is kind of like a double.
He understands some games he is going to be able to hit and sometimes
he has to help the team in other ways,” he told Swankonsports.com after
the game, “Speaking of Cade, is that a great catch there by the fence.
I didn’t think anybody could get that.
That was an outstanding play on his part.
Getting that first out of the last inning is so important.”
Genoa again would get two runners on board in the seventh, so that
circus play by Hamilton was key.
Again, the Eagles stole a couple of bases Thursday, they were picked
off once too, but Gorbett says they want to stay aggressive.
“Mica, I saw him leaning in that first inning and that kid had a
nice pickoff move, so my hat is off to them.
You have to go to your strengths and that’s what we try to do,”
he said. Published 5/28/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Edison
Holds Off Margaretta
Edison shut down a possible Margaretta rally in the seventh inning
and beat the Polar Bears (3-1) in a division III district semifinal on
Thursday evening at Shelby High School.
They face Colonel Crawford, a (4-2) winner over Genoa in Thursday’s
first semi, on Saturday afternoon for a ticket to the regional tournament.
Lefty Thomas Simon had went the first six and two thirds innings,
striking out eight Bears in the process and allowing only an unearned run,
but he had reached the pitch limit.
Coach Sean Hoover says reliever Joy Pennell was up to the task of
striking out Margaretta’s Kellen Moore on three pitches.
“There really wasn’t much of a choice as we had Thomas (Simon) at
125 pitches. You have to pull
him at 125. They said they had
him at 122 and he maybe could have thrown to another batter.
I didn’t want to risk it, they were trusting us to keep the book.
We had him at 125 and I was going to go out there and let Joe come in
and he did his job. He has been
prepping all year coming in big spots and he came through,” said Hoover.
It wasn’t the first time this year Pennell was given the task and
Hoover says mentally he was ready to go.
“I went down and talked to him before the inning started to make
sure he had the right mind set because I figured unless it was a quick
inning we were going to have to go to him.
He said, I’m ready and he went out there and did a really good job.
That has kind of been his role this year is to come in and get those
last couple of outs. He takes it
really serious. He was focused
and threw three great pitches,” said Hoover.
Simon was his usual self on Thursday.
Hoover says he permits some baserunners, but then shuts them down.
“He is obviously our horse. He
always keeps us in games. They
get guys on base and he is good enough to keep them where they are and not
let little rallies turn into big rallies.
We have confidence in him, but we have a lot of good young pitchers
too. We hope some of them show
up on Saturday,” he said.
Simon is a strikeout pitcher and it likely to throw more pitches than
some. Hoover says Margaretta did
a good job taking him deep in counts. “I
think sometimes when you strikeout as many guys as he does your pitch count
goes up where if you have a guy that doesn’t strikeout as many, he is more
of a pitch to contact guy, he doesn’t have those high pitch count numbers.
He throws balls by guys and Margaretta did a good job of fouling them
off,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “They did a good job of
battling and fouling balls off. I
could tell that was their plan. That
been their approach all year with Thomas.
They did a good job of really fighting off pitches.”
Edison took a (2-0) in the bottom of the second on a two out, two
run, single by ninth place hitter Blake Simon.
Hoover says the pressure of a district game did not overwhelm the
freshman. “It was big for
Blake to step up there for a freshman to get that hit and score a couple of
runs. We have a lot of god young
players here that have played a lot of situation baseball, so when they get
up there they know how to handle themselves in those situations.
Did a great job of getting the barrel on it and we were able to score
a couple,” said Hoover.
Margaretta cut it to (2-1) in the fourth when Moore scored on an
error. Edison got it right back
in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by Luke Bissell.
Margaretta coach Ray Neil says his kids did everything he asked them
to do and more. “I don’t if
this makes sense, but I might be prouder of my team, the losing team, than
that coach is of the winning team. My
kids competed all day. That is a
kid that shoved it up our butt two times earlier in the year and we talked
about a challenge all week. It’s
a game of inches. The inning
they scored the two runs. The
first batter that inning, the ground ball to the shortstop, that took a bad
hop. I told my freshman
shortstop, that took a bad hop, that’s not on you.
They got a big, two out base hit in that inning.
We had a couple of chances to match that and it didn’t happen.
It wasn’t because my kids didn’t battle or give me good at bats.
Those first two batters in the seventh inning, how about them at
bats? Against one of the top
pitchers in the area,” said Neil. Published 5/28/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Fredericktown
With Walk off Win in District Final
Fredericktown scored three times in the bottom of the seventh inning
to rally and upend Amanda Clearcreek (4-3) in a division III district final
played on Thursday evening in Fredericktown.
Xavier Mullens two run hit brought home the winning runs for the
Freddies, who advance to play Barnesville in the regional semifinals next
week.
They trailed the entire game until the final play and coach Ryan
Hathaway says they were resilient. “The
way they stuck with it throughout the game.
We had a lot of plays where they made really good plays on us,” he
told Swankonsports.com after the win, “I guess we could have been done in
some points in our game when we got down, but just to see them continue to
keep fighting and to find a way in the seventh inning to get a win was just
awesome.”
Kaid Carpenter scored the winning run for the Freddies and Hathaway
says he got in just under the tag for that final tally.
“It was one of those things that just happens and all of the sudden
we have won. The umpire just
kind of paused and made the call and it was right.
We have a picture right now on our Facebook and it was pretty close
as far as the catcher was a step from probably getting him.
It was a great game. It
was a hard fought game by both teams,” he said.
Carpenter also pitched all seven innings of the Freddies (24-5) and
Hathaway says he really stepped up to the occasion.
“He ends up going seven innings.
We knew that Cadie that is the kind of ball player that he is.
He is a competitor and he has pitched a lot of big games as kid of
being the guy in that class that has always been the guy to pitch the big
games. It was his time to shine
and he stepped up and it was just awesome to see him compete,” said
Hathaway. Published 5/28/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Bellevue
Knocks off Huron
Bellevue scored five times in the fifth inning and downed Huron (7-3)
in a division II district semifinal played at Fremont Ross High School on
Thursday evening.
They play Vermilion, a (7-2) winner of Perkins on Thursday, on
Saturday afternoon again at Fremont Ross.
After falling behind (2-0) after two innings, Keegan Ray took over on
the mound and allowed just one hit and one unearned run the rest of way for
the Redmen.
In that fifth inning, the bunt was a big weapon for the Redmen.
Brad Miller and Ray had back to back bunts to plate runs.
Mason Bova had an RBI hit. Then
Jayden Mays bunted another one home. The
final run of the inning came home when Adam Hosang was hit by a pitch with
the bases loaded.
Coach Andy Dennings says after a slow start they found their grove a
little bit. “Huron is a very
good team. We saw them a couple
of weeks ago and we knew we would have our hands full (Thursday), but the
kids really battled. We got down
2-0. It was something we
haven’t done for a while, we had problems throwing strikes.
I think we had six walks in two innings, so to walk out of there 2-0
after two is probably a victory for us.
Once we settled in and started getting some good at bats we puts some
balls on the ground. We have
been trough a lot this year and we persevered through a bunch.
So, it was a really good win for us,” said Dennings.
Bellevue (15-14) has started to play their best baseball at the right
time of the season. Dennings
says they just aren’t making as many mistakes.
“We have won six in a row against some good teams.
We had some trials and tribulations the first half of the year.
We weren’t a great baseball team.
If we get to pick what part of the season we get to play well, I am
definitely going to pick the back. We
talked about keep believing things are going to get better,” he told
Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “We have cleaned up a lot of our
miscues here. We don’t kick it
nearly as much. We don’t walk
people as much. (Thursday) we
got off to a rough start, but Keegan kind of closed the door there.
We are just a better baseball team now.
We are excited to be in a district final.”
Vermilion (23-6) beat Bellevue twice during play in the Lake Division
of the Sandusky Bay Conference, (11-2) on March 31 and (10-3) on April 19.
It has been more than a month since they played the Sailors and
Dennings knows they are a better team. “They
are good. They have beaten us
twice. We know we have our hands
full, but we also know we are better than early in the year when they got
us. We are going to have to play
well. They are very deep
pitching wise. They do a nice
job over there and are always extremely competitive.
We are excited to have the challenge.
We will put our best foot forward.
Hopefully, after seven innings we are winning and we can move on to
regionals,” he said. Published 5/28/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Madison
on Fire
Madison is a very confident softball team right now and that showed
again on Wednesday afternoon.
They continued to rally when down and beat Lima Shawnee (9-8) when
Paige Mowery doubled in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Madison plays Lagrange Keystone, an (8-2) winner over Wauseon
Wednesday, Saturday afternoon in the division II regional final at Tiffin
University.
Madison trailed (3-0) in the first, (7-5) in the fifth and (8-6) in
the sixth, but they never gave up.
Coach Tim Niswander says they are hitting all through the lineup.
“All nine kids that got in the lineup got at least one hit.
Multiple kids had two hits or three hits.
Got a game winning hit out of Paige Mowery, who is our nine hitter
and our right fielder. Hope
Barrett has been absolutely on fire for the last week.
She is seven for her last eight and had three hits.
We are getting contributions all of the way through the lineup.
We had another error free game. I
told them a long time ago at this time year you have got to be error free,
you have to have quality at bats. If
you don’t do those two things you are not going to have a chance.
We did both of those things and gave ourselves a chance and came up
big at the end,” Niswander.
Madison is blazing right now and Niswander says it no secret formula,
no magic dust, it’s just execution. “We
are hot at the right time, that’s for sure.
It’s a matter of our kids getting older and understanding what we
are asking them to do and getting more experience and getting more
confidence. There are teams like
Keystone that have only lost one game all year, so you can say they have
been hot all year. It took us
some time. Now, that we have
established that we are okay I think the kids are playing with a lot of
confidence now. You can say we
are hot at the right time, but at the same time we are just doing what we do
and we are doing it at the best of our ability and it seems to be working
out for us right now an hopefully it continues,” he said.
Madison (17-14) is the underdog again against Keystone, who has
outscored its tournament opponents (50-3), but Niswander says their dugout
believes. “We have seen some
really good pitching. Amherst is
in the regionals. Mt. Vernon
made it to the regionals. Kennedy
Kay (of Norwayne) is going to be Ohio State’s number one next year.
We have seen really good pitching.
We want to see those kids. You
may not beat them, but at this time of year now when we get into the
tournament I can say, hey, this kid does the same things that this person
did that we have already played. It
gives the kids a sense of calmness because they know they have already seen
it and some of them have already had success against it,” he told
Swankosports.com, “Some of them that already have success against it are
now at the point where they think if they make some adjustments, they will
do better the next time through. That
is kind where they want to be. That
is why you play the tough teams. I
told them last week that nobody expects a team with 14 losses to win a
regional game, but here we are. Nobody
expects a team with 14 losses to make it to the final four, but at least we
have that opportunity now.” Published 5/27/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Snyder
Leads Mohawk Past South Central
Landen Snyder threw a complete game five hit shutout and Mohawk
trimmed South Central (1-0) in a division IV district semifinal played on
Wednesday evening in Galion.
They will play Arlington, who beat Plymouth (4-2) in the nightcap, in
the district title game at Galion on Friday evening.
Snyder had no walks and three strikeouts.
Coach Eric Hoover said he was a strike throwing machine.
“He had a great outing. He
was very efficient. I think he
ended with just over 50 pitches, 53 is where we had him.
49 would have been great because then he could have come back Friday.
There is no chance of messing around with it.
He kept the ball low. The
top of their order is really good. He
did a good job of not giving them anything to hit and really hurt us,”
said Hoover.
South Central advanced only two players as far as second base on the
day and Mohawk was able to double one of them off and Snyder got a strikeout
for the third out.
Trojans coach Mike Perry says they could not get into any kind or
rhythm. “I think the struggles
were he kept us off balance. He
didn’t throw a lot of curveballs, but he spotted his fastball well and
mixed it up a little bit and he kept us off stride.
That’s what good pitchers do,” he said.
The only run came in the bottom of the fifth when Troy Russell
reached on an error and pinch runner Reese Hannam scored on Snyder’s two
out double to deep left center.
Hoover says it was a great way for Snyder to get out of a slump.
“He hasn’t been hitting great.
A matter of fact in our last tournament game, he didn’t even bat.
I thought he has had a couple of good practices and we got him back
in there. He came up with the
hit and one that turned out to be a good situation.
It was a full count, so we could start the runner,” he said.
Karl Ferber was also terrific for the Trojans.
He gave up only the one unearned run on two hits.
He stuck out six and walked none.
Hoover says he kept them off balance.
“Ferber was outstanding also. I
know he was good coming in. He
is just an outstanding all around baseball player.
He did a great job of mixing up his pitches and keeping us off
balance. We struggled to get
baserunners. I don’t know how
many we had, but we didn’t have many.
Not even very many hard hit balls.
He pitched an outstanding game as well,” said Hoover.
A key play in the game came in the top of the fourth when the game
was still scoreless. South
Central had runners at second and third with nobody out, when Mohawk right
fielder Bryce Hannam caught a hard hit ball by Blaine Wheeler and doubled
Carson Music off second base.
Hoover says defense has been their strength all season and it paid
off again on Wednesday. “We
have had to field the ball to win all year because we haven’t scored a lot
of runs. We have a lot of guys
that are very versatile that can move around and play different positions
and are confident in what we are doing.
Xavier (Oesch) and Nathan (Geary) did a great job up the middle.
Bryce turned that one in the outfield just being aware,” he told
Swankonsports.com after the game, “He got a great jump on the ball and a
great read on it and made a good play on a hard hit ball to turn that double
play. We count on our defense to
get a lot done for us. We
don’t strike many guys out either. So,
they are having to make plays all of the time to get out of the inning and
they did a really great job.”
Perry accepted the blame on the play.
“That was a game changer right there.
The kid made a heck of a play and it happens.
I didn’t get a good look at it and neither did Carson (Music) at
second base. That is on me for
not getting my guy back to third to tag.
I’ll take that, I’ll own that because that was just me not really
doing what I was supposed to do,” he said. Published 5/27/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Arlington
Gets Past Plymouth
Zavier Thornton gave up only one earned run and led the Arlington Red
Devils to a (4-2) win over Plymouth in a division IV district semifinal
played Wednesday night in Galion.
They return Friday to play Mohawk for a district title.
The Warriors beat South Central (1-0) in Wednesday’s first game.
Thornton stranded seven Plymouth runners in scoring position.
The Big Red left them loaded in the sixth and men on second and third
in the bottom of the seventh as Thornton ended each threat with a strikeout.
“That’s our senior leader that gets it done.
He has come a long way since I had him as a freshman.
He had to grow up as a sophomore and be our number one.
I don’t think we get that performance as a sophomore, that’s a
senior that doesn’t want to go home,” said Arlington coach Aaron Cheney.
Plymouth pitchers Cole Wentz and Zeth Goth were big in the clutch
too. They made some big pitches
as Arlington on a couple of occasions threatened to break it open, but they
too left them loaded in the fifth and sixth.
Plymouth coach Jake Strayer says they were able to get out of
trouble. “They were bulldogs.
They got in some jams and they got out of them.
The two runs in the first inning are the difference.
They scrapped a couple more across.
That is how it went (Wednesday) night,” he told Swankonsports.com
after the game, “Hats off to the Thornton kid, he threw well.
I wish him well at Findlay. That’s
a good baseball team. They put
the bat on the ball. I think we
might have had three strikeouts all night, which in high school baseball is
really unheard of. There
weren’t too many walks. This
was a good baseball game and playing in late May, that’s that you want.”
Chaney says it never crossed his mind to take Thornton out of the
game. “It is going to be him
the whole way. He’s our number
one. Our number two tore his
labrum in the preseason, so that is one we are going to ride.
Our goal was to make it to Friday.
I told the kids, I’m going down swinging.
I’ll do whatever it takes. That’s
our number one and that is the guy we are going to ride to get us to
Friday,” he said.
Perhaps the biggest hit of the game came in the top of the first when
Austin Roush delivered a two out two run single.
Jason “Chuck” Launder turned in a hustle play in the fourth
scoring from second base on a infield ground ball to make it (3-0) Red
Devils.
Plymouth battled back and scored in the bottom of the fourth when
Luke Hamman scored on an error and in the fifth on a walk to Ethan Gillum,
who then scored on passed ball and two wild pitches to make it a (3-2) game.
Arlington added an insurance run in the seventh when Roush singled
and scored on an error.
Chaney says they try to make solid contact and be aggressive on the
bases. “We are not big
hitters. We don’t have a lot
of guys that hit doubles and triples. We are line drive hitters that hit
singles and run the bases. Those
are the hits we need so our guys can run, so our guys can go first to third
and second to home when it counts,” he said.
Strayer believes the future is bright for the Big Red.
“They came back and battled all night.
I am proud of way we battled all night long.
They could have laid down after those two runs and we didn’t get
anything going until the fourth inning and that has been this team all year
long. They battle, they battle,
they battle. We only have two
seniors, so we are bringing back a whole lot of guys. I don’t lose a
single inning of pitching. All
we ask is for a chance. They
just had one more base hit than we did, just one more timely hit,” said
Strayer. Published 5/27/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Highland
Rallies for District Win
Highland scored two in the fourth and two more in the fifth to rally
and beat Columbus Bishop Hartley (4-3) in a division II district semifinal
on Tuesday evening at Highland.
They will host Hebron Lakewood, a (3-2) winner over Licking Valley on
Tuesday, in the district championship game on Thursday.
Hartley put a three spot in the board in the second inning to take
the lead, but Highland coach Donnie Kline says they were resilient.
“It was an exciting one. We
tip our cap to a very good Hartley team.
They jumped out in the second inning and got three runs, but they
boys were resilient and kept fighting,” he said.
Wyatt Groves and Blake Jodrey did not allow the Hawks to cross the
plate again and that was key in the Scots comeback.
Kline says after they fell behind, he remined the players why the
play baseball at Highland. “When
you have a team that has had success you have to win these kinds of games,
but the reality is a lot of the baseball games we have played this year we
have played from in front,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win,
“You remind the guys this is fun, this is why we play, we are not going to
be uptight, we are not going to be nervous.
This is why you play baseball at Highland.
This is a lot of fun.”
Highland (27-2), #2 in the final Swankonsports.com baseball coaches
poll in the large school division, shared the title this season the Knox
Morrow Athletic Conference with Fredericktown, who advanced in the division
III tournament with a (10-4) win over Mt. Gilead on Tuesday.
K.J. Johnson and Brock Church had RBI singles in the bottom of the
fourth to cut the deficit to (3-2) and Kline says that put them in position
to get the win. “I think the
coaching point with the boys was let’s just get one.
Let’s pop the bubble. Let’s
get one on the board and then we can feel a little better about ourselves.
When you do think that way, one turns into two and 3-2 is a much more
manageable game and it put us in striking position if you will,” said
Kline.
In their half of the fifth Highland took the lead when Randy Cain
started the inning with a single and scored the tying run an error by the
Hawks. Zach Pinkerton hit
sacrifice fly that allowed pinch runner Layton Shaffer to score what proved
to be the winning run.
Kline says they were able to take advantage.
“It was a situation where the momentum kept switching our way and
the boys kept fighting. That’s
the way we look at our offense, just keep coming at them with waves and
waves and waves. It worked out
(Tuesday) we kept getting base runners.
We found a couple of barrels there and made it interesting in the
end,” he said. Published 5/26/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Fredericktown
Pounds Mt. Gilead
Fredericktown took down fellow Knox Morrow County Athletic Conference
rival Mt. Gilead (10-4) Tuesday evening in the division IV district
semifinals.
They host Amanda-Clearcreek on Thursday in the district title game.
The Aces beat top seeded Worthington Christian (1-0) on Tuesday.
Fredericktown scored three times in the first inning and three more
in the third to take a (6-0) lead after three innings.
Coach Ryan Hathaway says those early runs gave them some confidence.
“We got off to a pretty good start.
I thought we ran ourselves out of a couple of innings early where we
could have added a few more. In
a tournament game to get off to a good start is key I think at the high
school level. Just having the
confidence. Just being ready
from the beginning is big,” said Hathaway.
Lincoln Cunningham got the win for the Freddies (23-5), #3 in the
final Swankonsports.com baseball coaches poll in the small school division,
going five innings allowing four hits, walking none and striking out five.
Hathaway says the early offense took some pressure off him.
“It definitely takes the pressure off your guy in that way.
They can throw more strikes and not being afraid of letting a
baserunner on or making a mistake, so it just eases everybody’s mind.
Even if you are in a tight game, it is just important to keep that
consistent mindset and not get too out of control,” he said.
Fredericktown, who shared the “KMAC” title with Highland, had run
ruled the Indians (11-15) twice during the regular season, but Hathaway says
they had not seen Carter Kennon. “I
knew that we hadn’t seen the guy that they started (Tuesday) night on the
mound. I was a little bit
worried about him because he does play with a couple of our guys, so they
knew he was a good pitcher. You
never know at tournament time,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win,
“It’s tough and pitching rules, so when you see their number one that
you haven’t seen all season. You
never know. I wasn’t really
nervous about it. I just thought
they would give us a tough game, which they did.
I thought the game was close the whole entire time until we hit a
home run there late in the game. It
was a tight game.”
Caleb Sheriff hit a three run homer in the top of the sixth for the
Freddies to put it away.
When it comes to Thursday and Amanda-Clearcreek, Hathaway knows they
will have to play well. “I
guess I don’t know every much yet. I
saw that they won 1-0 (Tuesday) night over Worthington Christian.
So, knocking off the one seed is big.
They had a lot of guys that were up for Central District honors.
So, they have some players and like anybody at this point in the
season you have to play your best baseball,” he said. Published 5/26/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Hillsdale
Meets Cuyahoga Heights in Districts
Hillsdale, of the Wayne County Athletic League, meets Cuyahoga
Heights in a division IV district semifinal on Tuesday afternoon at Medina
High School.
Dalton (19-7), also of the “WCAL”, faces Columbia in the other
semi at Medina. The final is
scheduled for Thursday.
Hillsdale (23-5), #4 in the final Swankonsports.com baseball coaches
poll in the small school division, has won its last 13 games, and coach
Jason Snow says they have not been blown out this season.
“We had a 5-4 loss, a 4-2, and three 3-2 losses.
That has been the thing, I guess, for our team is competing
throughout the game and keeping the game close.
Sure, we didn’t get couple we thought we should have and maybe won
a couple we shouldn’t have. We
were keeping ourselves in the game and when we are doing that if somebody
make the right play you have a good chance of winning,” he said.
Waynedale, who beat Wellington (2-0) on Monday in a division III
district semi, and Norwayne, who tied Hillsdale for third in the conference
standings, also had very good seasons.
Snow believes they have been tested.
“Our top four teams were very consistent for the most part and very
competitive. Yeah, we had some
teams that struggled, but Smithville is an up and coming team that had a
couple of nice freshmen on their team. They
gave us a battle. I think
everybody is still trying to figure out from the COVID year.
You are finally finding out where your kids are at,” he told
Swankonsports.com on Monday, “Nobody knew coming in how their sophomores
and juniors, who missed a year, would react.
I think everybody is figuring it out a different way and seeing what
your kids are made of. There are
still a couple of kids we are wondering about, but I think we have figured a
lot of our kids out now.”
Cuyahoga Heights (12-10) beat Independence (7-3) to reach this level.
Snow says they are similar to the Falcons, especially their pitching.
“They struggled early in the year.
They started off 5-9, so they have been 7-1 since.
I know they are very similar to us in terms of pitching.
I don’t know if they have any dominate pitching, but they have guys
that throw strikes and rely on their defense.
I think it will give us and opportunity to get some runs on the
board. The key for us is for our
pitchers to throw strikes and continue to do what we have done, which is
make the plays. Nick Kandel will
be pitching for us (Tuesday). If
he can stay in the strike zone, I think our guys will do a nice job fielding
for him. It should give us a
good opportunity to win the game if we hit the ball like we are capable
of,” said Snow. Published 5/25/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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South
Central Edges Buckeye Central
South Central won a division IV sectional title on Thursday evening
as they got past Buckeye Central (2-1) to earn a ticket to the district
tournament.
They will play Mohawk in next Wednesday’s district semifinal at
Galion. The Warriors beat Carey
(2-1) in nine innings on Thursday.
They only had six hits in the game, but coach Mike Perry says they
had one more run and that’s all that matters.
“Survive and advance and that is what I told them after the game.
I said we had one more run that they did and that’s all I care
about. Do that seven more times
and that would be just fine with me,” he said.
Buckeye Central threw their top two pitchers in Tuesday’s semifinal
win (5-4) over Hardin-Northern. So,
they thew their number three Thursday in Clay Green.
Perry says they had their problems getting in any kind of rhythm
against Green. “The funny
thing is, we are a team that has struggled more with the medium to slow
stuff. We can hit anything fast.
The faster the better for us. It
is when they throw the slower guys against us that we struggle and press.
(Thursday) we were out of sorts a little in the batter’s box,” he
told Swankonsports.com after the win, “We did what we had to do.
Karl Ferber hit a home run is his third straight game and he is
getting hot at the right time. He
is one of the best players in the state.
He is unbelievable.”
Ferber hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second to give the
Trojans a (1-0) lead and they added another in the third when Jackson
McCormack scored after the Bucks misplayed a single off the bat of Shane
Vanderpool.
Ferber started and went the distance of the Trojans allowing just the
one run on 10 hits. He struck
out six.
Perry says he got a big play from his catcher.
“Our junior catcher Caden Hauler made huge play.
They had first and second and they were trying to bunt the runners
over I believe it was in the sixth and he threw a strike to second to back
pick the kid that wondered too far. That
kind of turned all of the momentum there.
Caden Hauler really had a tremendous game and that kid is really
coming up big when we need him,” said Perry. Published 5/21/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Mohawk
Uses Suicide Squeeze to Win Sectional
Mohawk needed nine innings to past rival Carey (2-1) in a division IV
sectional final on Thursday. The
Winning run scored on a suicide squeeze.
The win advances the Warriors (17-10) to a district semifinal matchup
with South Central, a (2-1) winner over Buckeye Central, next Wednesday in
Galion.
Mohawk broke a scoreless tie when Tyler Hayman singled, moved to
second when Trey Combs walked, the Warriors executed a double steal, and
Hayman scored on an error.
Carey scored in the sixth when Conner Slavey walked and eventually
scored on an error.
Mohawk’s Landen Snyder and Carey’s Dominic Yeater were both
outstanding. Snyder got the win
in going all nine innings giving up six hits, walking one and striking out
11.
It came down to the bottom of the ninth when Xavier Oesch opened the
inning with a walk. Hayman got a
hit and Nate Geary reached on an error to load the bases with one out.
That brough Blake Harper to the plate and he laid down the suicide
squeeze to score Oesch.
Coach Eric Hoover says it’s all about execution in the clutch.
“It was really close from the beginning.
We knew it was going to be a tight game.
We had a tight one with Carey the first time we played them and they
had the same pitcher on the mound. He
is good and I knew it would be tough to score runs.
We ended up leaving a lot of runners in scoring position throughout
the game. He couldn’t get the
clutch hit. It came down to
executing a couple of bunts in the ninth inning to push one across and get
the win,” said Hoover.
Hoover says in high school baseball you have to able to bunt.
“We have been in that situation a lot and we have had some good
success being able to take leads and things like that on bunt plays.
The hitters are a lot less consistent at the high school level.
You get a dominate pitcher out there and our hitters were having a
struggling day,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “It is just a
play that maybe they don’t make as often.
I feel like they do make more errors on those kinds of plays.
You just find ways to get on base, just getting people in scoring
position with them. We talk
about it a lot how everybody needs to know how to bunt.
We were able to get a couple good ones down (Thursday) night.”
Hoover says he and Harper were confident they could make the play and
they did. “It is always nerve
raking for sure. I have been in
that situation quite a few times in 15 years.
We won a district championship on walk off suicide squeeze once upon
a time. It is nerve raking and
tough to make the call, there is a lot that can go wrong.
They called time out, I mean they knew it was coming I think too.
The kid was really confident and assured me he could get it down.
It worked out,” he said. Published 5/21/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Northmor
Downs Madison Plains
Northmor earned a ticket to the division III district semis with a
(5-1) win over Madison Plains on Thursday.
They will play Columbus Academy, a (4-1) winner over Centerburg on
Thursday, on Monday evening.
The Golden Knights took a (1-0) lead in the bottom of the first
inning on a sacrifice fly from Andrew Armose, but Madison Plains would tie
on an RBI single by Ryan Ernst in the third.
The key was the bottom of third when Northmor struck for three.
P.J. Lower reached on an error and that was followed by a walk to
Grant Bentley. Armose doubled to
drive in Lower. Garrett Corwin
got Bentley home on a sac fly and Preston Harbolt drove in the final run of
the inning with a single.
Coach Buck Workman says that allowed them to relax a little bit.
“We were in a nip and tuck game and then we get to that third
inning and we are able to plate a couple across.
It let the boys rest a little easier and play a little freer,” he
said.
Bentley, a freshman, started and went all seven for the Golden
Knights. He struck 11, including
the last five he faced, and walked none.
Workman says Bentley was efficient and their defense was sound making
no errors in the win. “They
outhit us 7-5, but when you don’t walk anybody like Bentley did (Thursday)
night. We were able to pick up
like five or six walks ourselves and they made a few errors and we played
error free ball,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “That is
a recipe for success when you don’t walk people and you make plays behind
them.”
Obviously, the defense was very good on Thursday.
Workman says a key play came in the with Madison Plains threatening
in the fifth. “We had a
situation (Thursday) night where we were up 4-1 in the fifth inning and they
had two on and got a base hit with two outs and our centerfielder P.J. Lower
and made a play on a base hit to his left and threw a perfect strike to home
and threw the guy out at home. I
think I get more excited on defensive plays than I do offensive plays.
That just got our team jacked,” said Workman. Published 5/21/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Wentz
Blanks Lucas; Sends Plymouth to Districts
Cole Wentz fired a shutout and Plymouth beat Lucas (3-0) in a
division IV sectional final on Thursday evening.
The Big Red now advances to meet Arlington, a (18-4) winner over
Crestline Thursday, at Galion next Wednesday in a district semifinal.
Coach Jake Strayer says Wentz was on the top of his game and was
efficient on Thursday. “We had
Cole Wentz, who has been our ace all year long.
He went out there and threw seven strong innings and had seven
strikeouts and no walks and hit one guy.
He threw 95 pitches and 67 of them were strikes, so he was around the
zone all night long. He went out
and battled and did what he needed to do and the defense got it done.
He was phenomenal (Thursday) night once again,” said Strayer.
Wentz struck out seven, but more impressive was the no walks.
Strayer says he preaches getting ahead in the count.
“We have stressed that all year and even more this week that you
have to get ahead early, you have to throw first pitch strikes and get the
leadoff guy out. It helps when
you are not putting guys on base. You
are not putting yourself under pressure or putting your defense under
pressure,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “That is the
first game that we have had all year that we have had somebody go seven
innings and not walk a single person. If
you do that, you set yourself up for success.”
Plymouth put up single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to
get the win. Luke Hamman scored
in the fourth when Camden Welch grounded out.
In the fifth, Wentz helped his own cause with an RBI hit.
Clayton Miller, one of the leading hitters in the Firelands
Conference, added an RBI single in the sixth.
Strayer says they could have scored more, but they got enough to win.
“We scored enough to win the game.
We got one across in the fourth, fifth and sixth.
We had to scrape them across. There
is the sixth we had an opportunity for more and didn’t get it.
You scrape and find a way to win ballgames at this point in the year
no matter how you have to do it. At
the end of the day all you have to do is get it done,” he said. Published 5/21/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Lexington
Gets Past Wapakoneta
Lexington, just the eighth seed in an 11 team district, beat
Wapakoneta (6-5) on Wednesday in a division II sectional semifinal.
They play at St. Mary’s Memorial in a sectional final on Friday
evening.
It was not the best first month of the season for the Minutemen, but
coach Kevin Morrow says he was not surprised about their play on Wednesday.
“Going into the season we knew we had a couple of special pitchers
and if we could develop some relief pitching and some defense around it we
could compete. The first three,
four weeks of the season we were up and down and didn’t know who we were
and just found ways to lose. It
just wasn’t clicking, but here over the last couple of weeks we have
really put together some nice games and we either beat or competed with some
state ranked caliper teams and high seeded teams and you could see things
coming together,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “I stated to
tell the kids despite the record, I would not want to play you guys in the
tournament because you have two good pitchers and you are starting to play
better. We worked really hard
leading up to this tournament game preparing the hitters because offense
have been our biggest struggle. So,
we took tons of lefthanded batting practice at close distance to try and
mimic the velocity that we were going to see.”
Morrow says that work paid off right away Wednesday because they were
able to score runs early. “Right
off the bat we jumped on them really quick and started driving the ball all
over the place and jumped out 5-0 and were able to hold on for the win,”
he said.
Once you have some success with the bats Morrow says it allows you to
do some other things. “Then
you can get a little bit aggressive and run a little bit and mix in some
bunts here and there. We made
good contact, that was a quality pitcher with Wapakoneta.
He throws well and I think his ERA was below 2.00.
So, seeing the kids hit the ball well and drive it.
Chase Carter went 4-for-4 (Wednesday) with four RBI.
He made first team all district and he definitely showed it.
Cole Pauly and Gabe Hamilton had a couple of hits and the rest of the
crew was putting the ball in play and making good contact and making them
field the ball and it worked,” said Morrow.
Pitching has been the key for the Minutemen this year and Morrow says
they got good efforts from their best three guys on Wednesday.
“We had a good one (Wednesday) night.
Cole Pauly wasn’t probably completely on his game the whole time,
but he is good enough to survive the storm and still hold teams down.
Kevin Grimm kind of bridged the gap until we could get to Chase
Carter. He had a three up, three
down inning there in the seventh to close it out,” he said. Published 5/20/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Ontario
Advances With Win over Upper
Ontario, the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference co-champion, has advanced
to the division II sectional finals with a (7-2) win at home on Wednesday
over the Upper Sandusky Rams.
They will travel to Tiffin Columbian for a sectional final game
against the Tornadoes on Friday.
Ryan Chapman went the distance for the Warriors (15-8) allowing two
runs on four hits with three strikeouts.
Coach Jeff Fisher says Chapman was efficient.
“Ryan Chapman is a guy over his last three outings has been on.
A lot of first pitch strikes. He
has his walk totals down. He has
given us a really good chance to win,” he said.
Ontario got on the board in the second.
They loaded the bases on two hit batters and a walk and scored a pair
on another walk and a ground ball. They
added two more in the fourth when Chase Studer walked, stole two bases and
scored on wild pitch and a second run scored when the Rams made a throwing
error trying to throw a runner out at second base.
It was now (4-0) Warriors. In
the fifth, Kyle Walters scored Caden Armstrong on an RBI double.
Upper got back into the game by scoring twice in the sixth, but the
Warriors responded with two of their own in their half on RBI hits by
Armstrong and Gage Weaver.
Fisher says their speed and aggressive base running was a factor in
the win over Upper. “It has
been a while, but we scored first and that helps the pitcher out and reduces
the pressure, especially in tournament baseball.
On the whole, we were able to move up 90 feet,” he told
Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night, “We had nine stolen bases
(Wednesday) night and took advantage of some wild pitches and scored without
an RBI. When Armstrong gets his
three hits. We get some clutch
AB’s out of Weaver and Walters that certainly sets the stage for some of
the guys throughout the lineup once they get on base they can score.”
Fisher says their goal is to put pressure on their opponent and force
them to make plays. “Every
year we try to emphasize the importance of speed.
As far as high school baseball is concerned there are a couple of
times, number one you have to be able to advance and put pressure on the
defense and secondly you have to be able to bunt.
A lot of the action takes place within 90 feet.
If teams are typically ones that walk us and give us some freebees,
we will try an advance. (Wednesday)
was somewhat of a templet for that. Upper
gave us some opportunities,” said Fisher. Published 5/20/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Cardington
Wins District Title
Cardington has made three straight state softball tournament
appearances in division III and they are just two steps away from a fourth.
Cardington (25-2), #1 in the final Swankonsports.com softball coaches
poll in the small school division, beat West Jefferson (2-1) in a division
III district final played on their home field on Wednesday afternoon.
They will play either Huron or Edison, of the “SBC” Bay, in a
regional semifinal next week.
Coach Tod Brininger says they got a tremendous performance from a
freshman pitcher on Wednesday. “We
have a freshman pitcher that is just a stud in Genevieve Longsdorf and she
not only pitched a great game overall, but came up in a couple of big spots
against West Jeff’s best player, one time with the bases loaded and one
time with a runner on second. She
struck her out both times. She
did a huge job in the circle for us,” he said.
In games like this runs can be a premium as they were on Wednesday.
Brininger says they found a way to get one across that proved to be
the difference and it was baserunning. “We
scored our second run on a passed ball.
We had a single from Hailee Edgell and Genevieve Longsdorf kind of
blooped one down the leftfield line right over the third baseman’s
head,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night, “Hailee did what
she was supposed to do, she got all of the way to third on it and the next
pitch she scored on a passed ball. Just
a great job of baserunning on her part.
You have to take whatever you can get in a game like this.”
With the impressive run of success for the Lady Pirates, Brininger
says it is important to note that there is a lot that is new about this team
this spring. “You have to put
those expectations out there for them and then they have to work their rear
ends off to get it. We have
three girls that had played some minutes for us in 2019 on this team.
We graduated six seniors last year, five starters, we have a freshman
pitcher, a second basemen that hasn’t played in three years.
So, it is a whole new group. They
have bought into the expectations, they bought into the work, and they are
reaping the benefits right now,” said Brininger. Published 5/20/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Wynford
Explodes; Beats New London
Wynford scored 10 times in the third inning and went on to drill New
London (11-6) in a division III sectional semifinal on Wednesday evening.
They will play host to Genoa in sectional final on Friday.
Genoa hammered Crestview (10-0) in their semifinal game on Wednesday.
It did not start out very well for the Royals (14-12) in the semi.
They gave up six runs in the first two innings.
Coach Tom Smith says a lot of those runs were due to mistakes they
had made. “We played pretty
sloppy the first two innings. A
lot of errors and a couple of hit batters and the next thing you know we are
down 6-0,” he said.
Wynford has five players that sport an average of over .370 on the
season.
Smith says it was just a matter of time before they got going against
New London. “I think we still
lead the league in batting average. We
hit the ball good top to bottom. We
finally timed up the pitcher in the third inning,” he told
Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night, “Then they brought in a guy that
throws a little harder. We
actually hit the faster pitchers a little better.
So, it worked out in our favor.”
Smith says once they got going in that third inning, their kids
started to relax and just hit the ball.
“I think as soon as we loaded the bases and hadn’t even scored
you could tell the energy shifted. The
players were confident, they knew we were going to score some runs then it
just carried on for quite while,” he said. Published 5/20/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Clear
Fork Gets Bellevue and Advances
Clear Fork scored twice in the of the seventh and rallied to beat
Bellevue (4-2) in the division II district semifinals on Tuesday evening in
Willard.
Down (2-0) nothing after four innings Clear Fork showed the calm
focus that has been in its character all season.
They will advance to meet old rival Madison in the district final on
Friday evening.
Bellevue got on the board in the bottom of the first after a lead off
single by Kearston Lunsford. She
scored on a throwing error by the Lady Colts.
They made tit (2-0) on Kyra Henney’s solo homer in the second, but
that would be all of the scoring for the champions of the Sandusky Bay
Conference Lake Division.
Coach Jeff Gottfried says they didn’t lose their focus down early.
“It was a lot of fun to be part of.
Our kids were excited. We
even told them (Monday) at practice there are going to be some highs and
lows throughout the game. You
just can’t get too high with the highs and too low with the lows.
We gave them a first inning run.
They had a leadoff hit and tried to bunt the girl to second base and
we chucked it down the rightfield line and we didn’t do a very good job of
backing up the throw and the girl scored all of the way from first base.
They got a solo shot in the second.
That puts them up 2-0, but our kids didn’t panic.
They just kept battling away,” he said.
In the fifth, senior Hallie Gottfried tied the game with a two run
double to center and the Lady Colt faithful started to feel a little better.
Then in the seventh, with one out Reghan Barker collected a one out
single and promptly stole second base. Then
it was to the top of the order and Courtney Palmer tripled off the
rightcenter field fence to give Clear Fork a (3-2) lead.
Hallie Gottfried followed with a sacrifice fly and gave the Lady
Colts a two run lead (4-2) going to the bottom of the seventh.
Coach Gottfried says they had the right people up at the right time. “We
got some momentum on our side and got some good outs the next couple of
innings. We had the right kids
at the plate in the fifth inning. We
got a big two-run double from Hallie Gottfried top tie the game up.
We had the right kids up in the seventh.
We got a one out single from a senior in Reghan Barker.
She stole second base and then had another senior behind her in the
batting order in Courtney Palmer hit a triple to right center to give us a
one run lead,” he told SwankonSports.com after the win on Tuesday, “So,
she is on third base with one out and Hallie Gottfried is up again and gets
a sac fly to give us a two run cushion.
When you have two in the seventh inning it is really, really big
compared to a one run lead like sometimes you have.
I was just very proud of our kids, they just battled to the end.”
Ashtynn Roberts was huge in the circle for Clear Fork.
After the second inning homer, she settled down and kept Bellevue off
the scoreboard. That included
getting out of a based loaded jam with the score tied in the bottom of the
sixth.
Gottfried says she has a tremendous presence on the mound.
“We tied the thing up in the fifth inning and she gets them out in
the bottom of the fifth and it still 2-2.
We don’t score in the top of the sixth and she actually loads the
bases in the bottom of the sixth, loads the bases with no outs with a walk
and I can’t remember after that, it doesn’t really matter.
There are no outs and the bases are loaded, but we get out of that
jam without giving up a run. Just
kept the momentum in our dugout. I
can’t say more about here than what I have.
She has been tremendous, especially when it’s crunch time.
She just kept a nice, calm, cool presence out on the mound.
I’m sure she would tell you differently.
She battled hard and she knew she had her team behind her and they
were excited as a group,” said Gottfried.
Clear Fork (19-8), the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference champion, has won
10 of their last 12 and have been playing their best softball in May.
Gottfried says they are playing with confidence.
“There is just a calm presence in our dugout.
We were down 2-0, but it was early and our kids just keep fighting.
They are real positive with each other.
We just had to wait until our opportunity presented itself and when
it did, we pounced on it. We
didn’t let it pass us by. We
beat a great team. Bellevue is
solid, they are well coached by coach (Walt) Snyder, I have a lot of respect
for him. At this stage, it’s
survive and advance and we get a chance to play again on Friday,” said
Gottfried.
Clear Fork plays Madison on Friday and this renews a longstanding
rivalry with the Lady Rams, who outscored Ontario (10-6) in the lid lifter
on Tuesday.
Gottfried says they know they will be in for a big challenge.
“They are solid top to bottom.
I will just be pretty simple about them, it is going to be a fun
ballgame. I have a lot of
respect for coach (Tim) Niswander. We
played a doubleheader about two weeks ago and we said we would see each
other in two weeks and here we are ready to go,” he said. Published 5/19/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Fast
Start Keys Madison’s Win Over Ontario
Madison scored eight times in the first two innings and went on to
beat Ontario (10-6) in a division II district semifinal on Tuesday afternoon
in Willard.
They return Friday to play longtime rival Clear Fork for a district
championship.
Olivia Schultz, Bailey Lyons, and Kyleigh Reiter all had RBI hits and
Madison lead (4-0) after a half inning.
In the second, Bri Bowles delivered a grand slam and Madison had an
(8-0) lead.
Coach Tim Niswander says they came out ready to play and it showed.
“We came out of the gate and were aggressive.
The kids were excited to play. Really
looking forward to the game and they came out and got it going early.
The pressure was off a little bit at that point in the game.
It was nice to get that lead and play from in front all night,” he
said.
However, Ontario, who had upset the top seed in the district in
Lexington (5-4) in the sectional finals last Friday, was not about to go
away. They chipped away and then
got a big three run homer from Halli Ciroli in the bottom of the fourth to
cut the Madison lead to (10-5) after four.
Her sacrifice fly in the sixth made it (10-6).
With one out in the seventh, Niswander had to go to a reliever in
Layla Azmoun, who then stuck out the side for Madison and preserved the win.
“We knew that they would. Even
at 8-0 we knew Ontario wasn’t going to go away.
Their kids are going to battle. Coach
(Sean) Snow is going to keep them ready and keep them in the game.
That is exactly what they did. They
had some good at bats and they put some pressure back on us,” he told
SwankonSports.com after the win Tuesday, “They made our pitcher throw a
lot of pitches and she had thrown the night before.
It looked like Bailey Lyons was going to run out of gas there at the
end. We brought Layla Azmoun in
in the last inning. She went
one, two, three, struck out the side after Bailey had given up a base hit to
lead off the inning. It was a
pretty exciting finish even though it was a four run lead, you never felt
safe. Our kids had good at bats.
They had a good approach at the plate.
When we do that, we know we are pretty talented and we don’t get
ourselves out you have the opportunity to score some runs.”
Madison will see old rival Clear Fork, the Mid-Ohio Athletic
Conference champion, in the district final at Willard on Friday. The
edged Bellevue (4-2) in the nightcap. The
Lady Colts beat Madison in a couple of close games (10-4) and (9-8) in nine
innings on May 8.
Niswander says it should be fun.
“You know, “Gotti” and I love to compete against each other.
I like playing against him and he likes playing against me.
We are friends and it will be fun.
It will be nice no matter what happens that the district championship
will be coming back to Richland County,” he said. Published 5/19/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Buckeye
Central Rallies to Tournament Win
Down four midway through the game, Buckeye Central rallied to beat
Hardin-Northern (5-4) a division IV sectional semifinal on Tuesday, scoring
the winning run in dramatic fashion.
They advance to play at South Central for a sectional title on
Thursday afternoon.
In the bottom of the seventh, Kaiden Vaughn scored on a passed ball
and the Bucks earned an exciting win.
Coach Chad Jensen says the plan was a suicide squeeze with the bases
and loaded and nobody out. “We
were lucky enough to get the bases loaded.
We had a couple of walks in there and I think a hit by pitch.
So, the based are loaded and I’m thinking, okay, we have to put the
ball in pay here. I decide we
are going to run a suicide. I
know the bases are loaded, but we are going to do it anyway.
We had our best bunter at the plate.
They throw a pitch that’s a little high and outside and he can’t
get a bat on it. The catcher
drops the ball and picks it back up. Our
runner at third was going, he got a good jump, slides hard into home, like
you are supposed to and the kid dropped the ball and it squirted away and we
win in walk off fashion,” said Jensen.
Jensen says they are certainly used to playing in close games.
“That kind of fits our season.
We have lost nine games by one run or extra innings.
For us to get a gut check win in the bottom of the seventh that sound
about right,” he said. Hardin-Northern
led (4-0) after three and half innings and Jensen had to go get Vaughn, who
had started the game, and replace him with Alex Kanney.
Jensen says it is win and survive at this point.
“We feel like we have two number one pitchers.
Kaiden had an ERA under one coming in and Alex was under two.
The last time Kaiden pitcher he threw a two hitter against Bucyrus.
A nine inning two hitter, we lost 1-0, but it was a heck of a game.
We felt like it was Kaiden’s turn to pitch.
We felt like we are going to stay in our rotation.
He wasn’t quite himself (Tuesday).
He was pressing, trying to make perfect pitches and that’s okay.
He battled threw three and two thirds,” he told Swankonsports.com
after the win, “I kept saying we are not going to leave any bullets in the
holster. We have Alex and we are
going to throw him in there and Alex did a great job.
It was a tough spot for him to come into, but he is a gamer. We
are a team and everybody picks each other up.
Being down 4-0 our kids are super resilient and I am really proud of
them.” Kanney have up
just one hit, walked none and struck out five. Jensen says due
to pitch counts, Vaughn threw 71 and Kanney 57, neither will be available
for Thursday. “Neither one of
those two are going to throw. South
Central was there, so I can’t lie. I
wouldn’t do that anyway. They
both can’t pitch. They will
see somebody else, they won’t see those two,” he said. Published 5/19/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Ashland
Outscores Madison
Ashland banged out 18 hits and beat Madison (11-6) in a first round
tournament game in division I on Monday evening.
The Arrows led (5-0) after three innings, but Madison scored five in
the top of the fourth to tie up.
Ashland coach Rick Gough says they kind opened the gates a little for
Madison in the fourth. “We got
off to a good start and things were going well.
They had a couple of hits and we made a couple of mistakes and before
we knew it was tied up,” he said.
It didn’t take long or Ashland to respond.
They put up four in their half of the fourth to take the lead (9-5)
and they never trailed again.
Gough says hopefully they are breaking out of their slump.
“We have been focusing of hitting the ball backside.
We have had trouble scoring runs all year.
We told them to keep swinging the bats and we did,” he told
Swankonsports.com after the win, “(Monday) night we had 18 hits, or 17
depending on who scored it, and we hit the ball pretty well and we knew we
had to keep adding on.”
Ashland had at least three hots from four different players in the
game.
Gough says they hit throughout the lineup.
“It has been exciting to see. We
have been waiting to see that all year.
Ethan Truax had four hits, did an exceptional job.
Kam Mowery had three hits and did a great job moving the ball,” he
said.
Jon Metzger and Chase Hunt also had three hits for the Arrows.
Metzger, Hunt, Mowery and Parker Grissinger all had two RBI.
Logan Faulk started the game for Ashland and gave up one earned run
over 3 and two thirds innings. Quentin
Anderson got the win in relief, going three and a third, giving up no earned
runs on two hits. “I have to
put a shout out to Quentin Anderson, who came in in the fourth inning and
basically closed the door. He
did an outstanding job,” said Gough.
Jameson Myers had three hits for Madison.
Ashland will plat at top seeded Anthony Wayne on Wednesday in a
sectional final.
Gough says, heck, the pressure in on them.
“Obviously, that is going to be a tough game.
Anthony Wayne is one of the top teams in the state.
Anything we can do there we will be proud of.
I told the kids it is a no lose situation.
Just go in and swing the bat and see what happens and go from there.
The pressure is on them. The
pressure is not on us,” said Gough. Published 5/18/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Colonel
Crawford Ready for Tournament
Colonel Crawford got back on the winning path on Monday evening in
beating Upper Sandusky (9-6) in their final game before tournament play.
Coach Dan Gorbett says they hit the ball very well, especially senior
Cade Hamilton. “That included
two double plays where we hit line drives and they doubled us off the bases.
One of those situations when there wasn’t a whole lot you could do
about it. There were two rallies
that ended that way,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday night, “Cade
Hamilton hit a two run bomb. We
were up 7-1 and they closed it to 7-6 and with two out he hit a two-run
homer that went deep into the farmer’s field.
It was a shot. He also
had a double and a base hit. He
had a great night for us.”
Colonel Crawford (23-2), #1 in the Swankonsports.com baseball coaches
poll in the small school division, lost a pair of (5-1) games to Shelby, #1
in our large school poll, and talented Norwalk last week.
The Eagles are the top seed in their district in division III and
will play either Oak Harbor or Bucyrus in a sectional final on Thursday.
Gorbett says he believes they are prepared as best they can be for
the second season. “That is a
tough one to answer because sometimes you just look sloppy.
There is no answer to it. Then
come tournament time the kids turn it on and play their best game.
I am going to answer yes, we are ready because we have been working
hard all year to be ready. Two
years ago, we made a nice tournament run and those kids remember that an
want to do it again,” said Gorbett.
Colonel Crawford made to the regionals in 2019, the last year we had
tournament baseball, and Gorbett says they have six guys that played on that
team. “I am hoping that
tournament experience is a big factor come Thursday.
A lot of times you have a bunch of young kids and don’t know what
to expect. I think six of the
guys out there played in those tournament games two years ago.
I’m hoping that is a big benefit for us,” he said. Published 5/18/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Ontario
Gives Itself a Chance
A must win game is an overused cliché in sports, but it truly was
the case for the Ontario Warriors on Thursday and they came through with
(15-9) win at home over Marion Pleasant and gave themselves the opportunity
to share the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference title with Shelby.
They must complete the task with a win at Clear Fork on Saturday
morning. That game is tied
(10-10) and will be picked up in the top of the 12th inning.
Ontario (13-9,9-2) had 16 hits on Thursday and coach Jeff Fisher says
it was good to get the bats going again after (2-0) and (5-1) wins over
Marion Harding the last two days. “The
last couple of games we have been we did not exactly strike the ball with
authority. (Thursday) night up
and down the lineup it felt like a varsity team offensively,” he said.
Colten Ramion, Owen Hatfield, and Gage Weaver all had three hits on
the day for the Warriors. Weaver
and ninth place hitter Ryan Brophy both had three RBI.
Hatfield has three stolen bases.
The put six runs in the third inning to take a (9-3) lead, Brophy and
Weaver both had two run hits that inning.
The Warriors threw a runner out at third in the first inning and at
home to end the second and fourth innings stranding five runners.
Fisher says those were key defensive plays.
“I thought we were in the right spot.
The rotations where there on the base hits.
If you put yourself in the right position on the field and you know
where to go and you can anticipate some of those things.
Sometimes you don’t follow through and catch and throw and get the
outs. The outs were there and we
took advantage of those to really shorten innings,” said Fisher.
Down as many as eight runs at one point, Pleasant (11-10,3-8) never
quit. Coach Brad Potts says they
battled. “Our kids are great.
They have been all in all season.
They just come and battle every night.
We played Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, so we were down three arms
(Thursday) night, which gave us some troubles.
The kids came and hit the ball and battled and did a good job,” he
said.
Nick Osborne had three hits and scored two runs for the Spartans.
They scored five times in the sixth inning to reduce their deficit to
three (12-9), but Ontario’s Ryan Walters slammed the door in the seventh,
retiring the side in order.
It was the Warriors third league in as many days and Fisher
complements junior starting pitcher Jacob Barabani, who went five and third
innings to get the win, allowing seven runs, five earned.
“The story is Jacob Barabani, who at the beginning of the year was
getting JV innings work because we weren’t sure exactly what we had.
It’s been the COVID year and he was just kind of platooning in
right and the AB’s were inconsistent.
The last three starts for him have been exceptional,” he told
Swankonsports.com after the win, “This was the first game that he
struggled with command, but to me he never showed any kind of body language
saying coach I don’t want to compete.
So, he was a solider (Thursday) night and got to 100 pitches.
Even though it wasn’t exactly a straight line, we needed that kind
of start considering where we are at in our schedule.”
A goal for every school in the state is to win their conference title
and the Warriors have that chance on Saturday.
Fisher says that’s all you can ask for.
“I told the kids it’s the body of work and the process that we
feel puts kids in good position to be successful as a program.
We have talked earlier in an interview about having meaningful games
in May and we have meaningful games throughout this week and here we are.
We have senior night (Friday) night against rival Lexington.
We have to grind through that and then address heading to the “Colt
Corral” and see what comes of that,” said Fisher. Published 5/14/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Suicide
Squeeze Gives Seneca East Win Over Wynford
Seneca East edged Wynford (1-0) Thursday afternoon in a Northern 10
Athletic Conference game and the difference was a suicide squeeze executed
by the Tigers in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Shayne Walker legged out a dropped third strike into a one out base
runner. He advanced to third on
a single to right center by Caden Fritz.
Andrew Kalb was intentionally walked to load the bases and create a
force at every base. Up came
Cody Helbertshausen and he was called on the bunt and he did the job.
Coach Rick Bowerman says he believed Helbertshausen was a solid
bunter and that was confident in his call.
“That was very exciting. We
had a runner on first with one out on a dropped third strike.
Our catcher hustled down the line to make it to first.
Then we get a big hit by our freshman to give us runners on first and
third. They intentionally walk
the next guy. So, with one out
and our number eight hitter up, I said, hey, he is a pretty good bunter, so
we are going to go for it. We
took a pitch and then the next pitch couldn’t have been a better pitch to
bunt on, a strike right down the middle, and we execute perfectly and win
the game,” said Bowerman.
Bowerman says that bunting is something they work on in every
practice. “Every time we take
batting practice one of the things we do is work on a suicide squeeze.
That is one of the last things we do.
When the kids are hitting, we always bunt for a sacrifice to begin
with and we end with a suicide squeeze, so yeah, that is something we work
on,” he said.
There is no question that small ball is a big part high school
baseball and good teams are the ones that can execute it with the bat in
their hands and defend it.
Turner Bridgford was outstanding on the mound for the Tigers
(14-8,12-4) on Thursday night. He
threw a six hitter in going the distance, walking one and striking out four.
Leyton Appleby and Dylon Robinson both had two hits for Wynford
(13-12,10-6) in the game.
Bowerman says he was in control all night.
“I can’t say enough about our pitcher Turner Bridgford.
He threw and outstanding game. He
shut out the league’s best hitting team in Wynford, which I don’t think
they have been shutout yet this year,” he told Swankonsports.com after the
win, “He was in control the whole night.
He had three 1-2-3 innings, really was never in trouble and was just
commanding the strike zone and making his pitches when he had too.” Published 5/14/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Northmor
Edges Marion Harding
Northmor banged out 12 hits on Thursday as they went on the road to
beat division I Marion Harding (13-11) in a non-conference baseball game.
There were a combined 14 runs scored by both teams in the first
inning alone.
Coach Buck Workman says they got off to a very good start with the
bats. “We had the bats working
early (Thursday) night. We were
able to put up eight in the top of the first to put ourselves in a good
situation, but it went away real fast,” he said.
However, Golden Knights starter Jack Sears didn’t get anybody out
in the bottom the first inning, but Workman credits his kids for not losing
their focus and continuing to get hits.
“We score eight and they come back and score six and had the bases
loaded with nobody out and our pitcher was able to get us out of that jam
and keep us up by two. It was
good to see us respond and put up a run or two in the third to keep making
them chase us,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night.
Northmor would score one in the third, one in the fourth and three in
the fifth.
Drew Hammond came in got out of the first and went the rest of the
way giving up four runs on nine hits.
Pierce Lower and Garrett Corwin led the hit parade for the Golden
Knights (15-9) with three hits apiece. Matt
Kearns drove in three.
Workman thinks it’s important for them to face good pitching with
the division three tournament starting next week.
“You don’t want to go into that tournament having not seen good
pitching. They thew some guys at
us that brought it pretty good (Thursday).
I thought we got our bats back in gear.
We have kind of been in a little mini slump there the past few games,
but we hit it well (Thursday),” said Workman. Published 5/14/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Buckeye
Central Downs Riverdale
Clay Green tossed a two hitter and Buckeye Central beat Riverdale
(6-2) in a non-conference baseball game on Thursday evening in Mt.
Blanchard.
Buckeye Central has won 10 of its last 17 games and is in a share of
fourth place in the competitive Northern 10 Athletic Conference after an
(0-9) start to year.
Coach Chad Jensen says they just continue to do the things that have
made them successful. “We have
just talked about what we have need to do.
Just continue to do what we have been doing recently.
We got a great pitching performance from Clay Green (Thursday) night.
He threw a two hitter and pitched great.
We put the ball in play and we played great defense.
That has really been what we have done all year,” he told
Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “We have been on the short end
several times in close ballgames, but it hasn’t changed what we have done.
We put the ball in play. We
don’t strikeout very much, we typically throw strikes and we play pretty
good defense. We just want to
continue to do that heading into the tournament.”
Third baseman Elliot Geissman had three of the Bucks seven hits on
Thursday.
Kaiden Vaughn and Alex Kanney both have ERA’s of two or less and
Kanney has won five games this year.
Jensen says their pitchers are consistently giving them a chance to
win games. “We feel really
good about our starting pitching. We
feel like with any of our guys that are going to keep us in games and that
has been the case all year. Our
pitching has kept us in games all year.
We have lost a lot of close ones, but we have also won a lot of close
ones. We just need to hopefully
get a chance to compete and be in ballgames and hopefully our hitting
continues to improve gives a chance to win those games,” he said.
The Bucks (10-16) had 19 chances on Thursday night and made only two
errors and that’s not bad.
Jensen says to win tournament games, which starts next week against
Hardin-Northern, they have to be able to make the plays in the field.
“(Thursday) night we talked about Clay threw a two hitter, but he
only struck out two and we only had one flyball.
Alex Kanney, our shortstop, had eight assists and we had several all
around the infield. None of our
pitchers and going to strikeout 15 a night.
Typically, they do what they have to do and throw strikes and teams
will put the ball in play lots of times against them and our defense has
really been good all year,” said Jensen. Published 5/14/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Shelby
Guarantees Share
Again, it came down to the seventh inning between rivals Shelby and
Clear Fork, just like it had the night before, and again the Whippets came
out on top in beating the Colts (8-7) and claiming no less than a share of
the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference title.
Shelby staked itself to a (6-2) lead after a four run fifth
highlighted by three run double by Jeremy Holloway and an RBI single by Alex
Brushkotter.
Clear Fork, however, would battle back and score five times in the
top of seventh scoring on a hit by pitch, a force, and a balk, followed by
an infield hit by Drew Lind to tie the game.
Ben Blubaugh would give the Colts a (7-6) lead with an RBI single.
Shelby would have the last at bat.
Luke Shepherd walked and Tanner Hartz pinch ran for him and took
second on a wild pitch, third on a sacrifice fly and scored to tie the game
on a passed ball. Brushkotter
drove in the winning run with a single.
Shelby coach Jon Amicone says the Whippets in that last inning not
only proved they had a determination to win, but also to be good teammates.
“It was not the way we drew it up.
We knew Clear Fork wasn’t going to go down without a fight.
You have to tip you cap to them down four runs, a lesser team would
have packed it up. Clear Fork
strung some hits together and took some walks and took the lead on us.
Our guys did a really nice job responding.
When we came in from the inning it was more about picking up our
pitcher than anything else. I
love to see our guys, one pick up our pitcher, they knew he was hurting.
It was more about picking him up than winning the game.
That was good to see as a coach,” said Amicone.
Amicone says two freshmen stepped up big for the Whippets Wednesday
night when the pressure was on. “Luke
Shepherd was a hero (Tuesday) night and (Wednesday) night drew the walk to
start the inning. We pitch ran
with Tanner Hartz, a freshman, that is why he was on the varsity roster
(Wednesday) night was to pinch run. He
did a really nice job and was able to go to second base on a wild pitch and
scored on a passed ball,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “He
did a really nice job in not blinking in the biggest game of the year to
give us an opportunity. Scoring
that tying run for us, he showed some fearlessness.
The bottom of the order did a really nice job.
It ultimately came down to Alex Brushotter, the freshman, he got a
good pitch to hit, put a good swing on it and was able to serve up a single
and score the winning run.”
So, Shelby (20-2,10-2), #1 in the Swankonsports.com baseball coaches
poll in the large school division, is tied with Ontario, who beat Marion
Harding (5-1) on Wednesday, for the lead in the “MOAC”.
However, Ontario (12-9,8-2) must still play Pleasant on Thursday and
finish a game with Clear Fork that is tied in the 12th inning.
Amicone says he would be happy to win the title outright or to share
it. “Quite frankly, like I
have said all year, we made our bed and we have to sleep in it.
We took care of our responsibility and we are proud of our guys for
that no matter what happens or how it shakes out.
Our guys should be very proud of being able to win 10 straight league
games after starting out 0-2 in the league.
A lesser team would have given up and kind of coasted through the
season. Our guys refused to do
that. Our guys took the
challenge every league game since then to put a good product on the field.
It is a testament to them to be willing fight through some adversity
early on in the year,” said Amicone. Published 5/13/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Hillsdale
Belts Smithville
Hillsdale extended its winning streak to 10 in a row as they beat
Smithville (12-6) in a Wayne County Athletic League game on Wednesday
evening.
They scored eight times in the third inning to take an (11-1) lead
and coasted home to the win. They
play Chippewa on Thursday and win will move them into a share of third place
in the tough “WCAL” with Norwayne.
Coach Jason Snow says they were able to utilize their bench.
“We had a nice, big eight run inning that got us going.
Had a lot of line drives. We
found a way to get a big league and got some extra guys some at bats and
extra opportunities in the field. It
was a good game for us (Wednesday) after (Tuesday),” he said.
They banged out 16 hits in the process and Snow says they were more
relaxed Wednesday. “It’s a
challenge. A lot of our players
are first year varsity players. Obviously,
a lot of people are in that boat. We
had a variety of situations where are younger players started out great out
of the gate. Then we hit a
couple of pitchers that were pretty darn good and then we got into a funk.
It’s about finding a way,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday
after the win, “We encourage our players if you are struggling, drop a
bunt down, try to get a base hit, try to get a walk, be patient at the
plate, just find anyway possible to get on base. Right
now, we have a lot of anxious kids that want to hit the ball.
(Wednesday) night a few guys relaxed and hit some nice line drives
and got a positive feeling and hopefully that will carry over for us for the
rest of the year.”
Ty Williams and Nick Kandel both had three hits on Wednesday.
Williams had three RBI.
Hillsdale (20-5,10-4), #4 in the Swankonsports.com baseball coaches
poll in the small school division, has picked up a non-conference game
against Firelands Conference champion Norwalk St. Paul on Monday.
Caden Fickes and Mark Able pitched on Wednesday for the Falcons and
they walked only one batter.
Snow says their staff has done a good job of limiting free passes and
that has been a key in their success. “We
have been so impressed with our pitchers and not because they go out and
necessarily dominate a lineup, but just throwing strikes and making the
other team put the ball in play. (Wednesday)
was one of those days that the wind was blowing in.
Both teams had some nice shots that were held up by the wind.
We were like make them hit it over somebody’s head, make them get a
line drive base hit, don’t put guys in base.
We have had a couple of games where we have gotten burned by walking
a couple of guys and it turns into a three run inning.
We would rather get beat because they beat us with their bats instead
of us putting guys on base. That
is our number one thing we have been proud of throwing strikes and
consistently being in the zone and ahead of hitters.
Our young guys have really done a nice job, as a whole staff we have
done that,” said Snow. Published 5/13/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Edison
Downs Margaretta
Edison, who has one of the best pitching staffs in the area, got
another solid performance on Wednesday evening and beat Margaretta (4-1) in
a Bay Division game in the Sandusky Bay Conference.
They are going to finish in second place in the division, a game
behind Huron.
With the tournament starting next week, coach Sean Hoover says they
are playing some pretty good baseball. “We
had a good win (Tuesday) night against Bellevue over at Bellevue and a tough
game (Wednesday) night with Margaretta, a team that always plays us
tough,” he said.
Edison (14-8,8-2) has a staff ERA of 3.35 and Hoover they had a
couple of kids throw well again Wednesday night.
“Thomas Simon gave us five good innings again in starting.
He gave up one earned run and then Joe Pennel came in and threw a
couple of solid innings of relief for us,” said Hoover.
Simon is (7-1) with a 1.52 ERA this season, which is the second best
in the Bay Division this year.
Pennell, Hayden Fox, Keegan Smith all have more than 10 innings
pitched this year and ERA’s under 4.00.
Hoover says his pitchers have improved a bunch this year.
“We would have been a really young pitching staff last year, so for
us to kind of watch these pitchers grow especially.
Thomas (Simon) had thrown a lot of innings his freshmen year for us
and a couple of other guys had thrown a game or two, but for the most part
our staff has been pretty inexperienced,” he told Swankonsports.com on
Wednesday night, “We have been really happy, especially with the growth
with some of our juniors on our pitching staff.
We have had a couple of sophomores and even a couple of freshmen come
up and throw well for us. Guys
are learning how to make adjustments at the plate and getting a little
better against the better pitchers. Our
defense has started to play a little better at the end of the season here
too. Our guys have definitely
shown some good improvements throughout the year.” Published 5/13/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Crestview
Outscores New London
Crestview beat New London (11-7) on Wednesday night in Firelands
Conference action as the Cougars continue their improved play.
It’s a good time to being doing that with tournament beginning next
week.
Crestview (8-12,4-8) has won six of its last 10 games.
Coach Don Keener says they have definitely gotten better as this
season has unfolded. “We were
playing pretty well there. We
had won five of our last seven and then we didn’t get any games in last
week at all. We started off the
week with Mapleton and lost a couple of close ones, but I thought we played
good baseball still. (Wednesday)
night we had one tough inning there, but my kids didn’t let it bother
them. We finished it off, so
that was good to see,” said Keener.
At the beginning of the season, Crestview, like many other teams, was
very inexperienced, but Keener says they are starting to figure the varsity
game out a little bit. “I
think the biggest thing is, and we talked about this before the season,
everyone is in a lot of the same situation, but we had no experience at all,
but these guys are adjusting,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday
night, “I think we have some pretty good talented players, but it’s a
different level playing varsity baseball.
I think they are adjusting a little bit and getting used to each
other a little more and starting to come together.”
Kenner says the Cougars have been putting some hits together and
(Wednesday) night against New London was another example.
“We have been hitting the ball well.
We have been pitching pretty well too.
Our biggest letdown throughout the season is our defense sometimes.
When you put the ball in play good things happen,” he said. Published 5/13/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Shelby
Get Huge Win over Clear Fork
Shelby needed a win Tuesday to stay in first place and they got it
edging Clear Fork (4-3) in a Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference game at American
Legion Field in Bellville.
They are tied with Ontario for first place in the conference.
Clear Fork drops two back. Ontario
beat Marion Harding (2-0) on Tuesday.
Shelby scored twice in the top of the seventh to break a (2-2) tie
and then stranded two Colt runners in scoring position to end the game.
Whippets coach Jon Amicone says it was a well played high school
baseball game and they were able to come up with some clutch plays.
“I thought it was really clean and crisp on both ends.
I think that was two really good teams there that were scratching and
clawing for every out and every run. I
think that is about as good as high school baseball gets,” he told
Swankonsports.com after the win, “Obviously, we were very fortunate at the
end that Luke came up with a big hit for us and his brother Marshall in the
seventh kind of bowed his neck and got two really big outs with the tying
run on third. Those two kids are
big time and you need your big time players to play and they a nice job of
closing the game out for us.”
Mareck Albert pounded a solo homer over the centerfield fence in the
first inning to give Shelby a (1-0) lead and it stayed that way until the
fifth when Alex Bruskotter singled and scored on a squeeze by Blane Bowman
making (2-0) Whippets.
Clear Fork scored in their half of the fifth when Kaden Riddle
doubled and scored when two out fly ball off the bat of Ben Blubaugh was
dopped and the tied it in the sixth when Kaleb Hollar walked, advanced on
two wild pitches and scored on a ground ball by David Ballinger.
In the top of the seventh, Doran Steele had one out single, Bowman
walked, and Marshall Shepherd was intentionally walked to load the bases.
Luke Shepherd came up with a two run single up the middle to give the
Whippets a (4-2) lead.
However, Clear Fork wasn’t done.
Blubaugh walked with one out in the bottom of the seventh and Luke
Schlosser was hit by a pitch. Jared
Scott then ripped a double down the leftfield line to score Blubaugh and put
runners at second and third still with only one out.
Marshall Shepherd then stuck out Hollar on a 3-2 pitch and got
Ballinger to fly to right to end the game.
Clear Fork coach Joe Staab was proud of his team’s effort.
“Our boys came out and battled (Tuesday).
Jared Scott was an absolute bulldog on the mound.
We found ways to put the ball in play and compete offensively when we
needed to we just didn’t get that big hit and that is where we fell short.
We rallied as a group and competed really, really well.
We just came up a little short against a good team,” said Staab.
Colts pitcher Jared Scott went six and two thirds and struck out 10.
Luke Shepherd had struck out twice in three trips before delivering
in the seventh. “I liked his
approach. He jumped on the first
pitch, I think he was looking for something specific and he got it and
didn’t miss. It was really
good job by him being ready to go when he got to the box, not taking any
pitches, and really stepping up for his team,” said Amicone.
Marshall Shepherd allowed juts five hits, walked one, and fanned nine
for Shelby in going the distance.
Amicone says he got the two biggest outs of the season in the
seventh. “He is our number one
for a reason. Once those two
guys got on, his pitch count was getting up and we decided as a coaching
staff that we were going to stay with our guy.
He got us to this point so far. You
could sleep the night win or lose with that kid on the mound and we went
with it. Marshall had our back
and his teammates back and he got the biggest two outs of the whole
season,” said Amicone.
Clear Fork (9-12,5-4) plays at Shelby (19-2,9-2), #1 in the
Swankonsports.com baseball coaches poll in the large school division, on
Wednesday.
Staab says they want to play spoiler.
“They are a good ballclub. We
have a good team when we can show up and play at our best potential, which
is what you have to do. We are
out of the league race, but we still play with pride and the biggest pride
right now is trying to knock somebody else out of the league race.
That’s what out goal is. Out
goal is to show up and compete and finish out the rest of the season getting
ready for next week,” said Staab.
The Whippets have won their last 19 baseball games going into
Wednesday, but Amicone says they are not taking anything for granted.
“We have always told our kids you have to take care of yourself and
that’s what we have been doing since the first two early losses.
Not looking at the scores and just taking care of yourself and things
will work out well for you. I
told our guys get ready for a dogfight (Wednesday).
Joe is going to have his guys ready to go, so we know we will have
our work cut out for us,” he said. Published 5/12/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Ontario
Stays Even
Ontario remains in a share of first place with Shelby in the Mid-Ohio
Athletic Conference after a crucial (2-0) win over Marion Harding at home on
Tuesday evening.
Shelby beat Clear Fork
(4-3) to knock the Colts out of the conference race.
The Warriors (11-9,7-2) got a complete game victory from Ryan Chapman
and pushed across runs in the fifth and sixth innings to secure the win.
Coach Jeff Fisher says Chapman might have had his best outing of the
season at crucial moment for the Warriors.
“Ryan Chapman was exceptional (Tuesday) night.
He got ahead early. He
kept the ball out of the dirt in counts that he needed to.
He was in command through all seven innings,” he said.
The key for Chapman, according to Fisher, was to get ahead in the
count with strike one because that allowed him to pick spots for his
pitches. “It’s the most
important pitch in baseball. That
is something that has been elusive for us this year.
I think over the past week we have been much more in tune to making
that happen for us. It just
gives us the advantage of being able to use the whole zone and work up and
down,” said Fisher.
Chapman permitted four hits, walked one and struck on seven.
Ontario got on the scoreboard when Colten Ramion drove in Carter
Weaver with an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth and they got an
insurance run on sacrifice fly by Kyle Walters in the sixth.
At the plate, Fisher told his kids to remain patient and eventually
they were able to break through. “You
tell your guys to be patient and have quality at bats and hopefully the
second or third time though the lineup you get some advantages.
It was Carter Weaver’s base hit that set the table for clutch RBI
single by Colt Ramion,” said Fisher.
Now, Ontario still has three games to play in the “MOAC”.
They play at Marion Harding (7-13,2-8) on Wednesday, host Pleasant on
Thursday and still have to finish a game with Clear Fork that is tied
(10-10) going to the 12th inning, there is a pretty good chance
that will happen on Saturday at Ontario prior to a JV game.
Fisher says winning at Harding certainly is not a given by any means.
“Going to Marion Harding, or Grant Middle School, is a difficult
environment and it’s never easy to play and win at Marion Harding.
It’s just having to grind it out and find a way to come out on
top,” he told Swankonsports on Tuesday night, “Marion Harding is not
going to let down. They played
hard (Tuesday) night and played completive, probably well enough to win on
some days. It is not going to be
easy to come out on top.” Published 5/12/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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St.
Paul Claims Firelands Conference Title
Norwalk
St. Paul claimed its fourth straight Firelands Conference championship with
a (2-0) win over Plymouth it what amounted to a conference title game
Tuesday evening at Plymouth.
Scotty Adelman went the distance for the Flyers (18-6,12-2) allowing
no runs on four hits, walked two and struck out 14.
Zeth Goth was nearly as good for the Big Red (12-7,10-3) in a losing
effort.
Coach Aaron Fries says this is something the Flyers have worked hard
to secure. “I’m just really
happy for the kids. I know how
hard they have worked. It has
been a grind this entire season. We
knew the game (Tuesday) night was going to be tough.
It was exactly how I saw it playing out being a low scoring game.
We were going to need to manufacture a run here and there.
Whoever was able to do that was likely to come out on top and
fortunately for us it was St. Paul,” he said.
Fries says Adelman is a hard worker and a tremendous competitor and
that showed on Tuesday. “He
was fantastic again. He has just
been outstanding on the road. I
had some decisions to make after our games got switched.
We were originally supposed to play on the road on Monday, but due to
weather we ended up playing at home on Monday.
So, I had some decisions to make there and I just decided we were
going to keep him on the road even if that meant waiting until Tuesday.
He made me look pretty smart,” said Fries.
In the pivotal seventh inning, Jaycob Stanley led off with an infield
single. Thomas Bocock was hit by
a pitch. Both runners would
advance on a passed ball. Luke
Blum’s infield single scored the first run and the second scored on a
ground ball. Adelman struck out
the side in the bottom of the seventh to close the door on the Big Red.
Fries says they knew runs were going to be tough to come by.
“I don’t think a ball left the infield.
We were just able to get some guys aboard.
We took advantage of a few misplays on their part.
Our goal and we know there are going to be tight games, especially
when there are good pitchers on both sides.
We just try to get guys to third base as soon as we possibly can with
less than two outs. The more
often we do that, the better off we are going to be,” he told
Swankonsports.com after the win, “We know we can push a few in here or
there and we did that (Tuesday) night. We
had a few innings when we had guys at third base and we weren’t able to
take advantage early in the game. In
that seventh inning we were finally able to break through not only got one
but we got two. We felt good
going to the bottom of the seventh with a 2-0 lead.” Published 5/12/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Lexington
Trims Mt. Vernon
Lexington got a confidence boost going into the tournament next week
on Tuesday when they beat Mt. Vernon (2-1) in an Ohio Cardinal Conference
game.
It was pretty much the Chase Carter show for the Minutemen as he was
masterful on the mound and got the game winning hit.
Coach Kevin Morrow says it was a quality win the Minutemen.
“Mt. Vernon is always a really good team in the “OCC”.
We have been hanging on with a lot of people.
We just haven’t been able to scratch enough runs to get a win.
We played Shelby hard, Buckeye Valley, going all of the way back to
New Philadelphia, West Holmes, we just couldn’t score enough runs.
We kept it there 1-1 going to extra innings and Chase Carter hit a
walk off single. It was a nice
win against a good team,” he said.
With Carter and Cole Pauley, the Minutemen have had quality starting
pitching this spring. Morrow
their problem has been with the bats in their hands.
“We said going into the season with those two pitchers if we could
find some runs we could be a factor. We
haven’t been able to do that too much, but they have been pitching so well
they have been keeping they have been keeping teams down to zero runs, or
one, or even two,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday night, “Chase
Carter had another gem (Tuesday) night went almost eight innings and kept it
right there for us and he ended up winning it for himself with a nice line
drive single.”
Carter did a lot (Tuesday) night, but Morrow says he also had some
sound defense behind him. “He
has been something special all year long.
He is some kid. He is one
of a kind. He is our catcher.
He catches Cole Pauley and he pitches and he has been doing it all
year and been rock solid. The
defense we really good (Tuesday) night.
Cole Pauley, Kevin Grimm, Landon Goetz and Gabe Hamilton made some
really nice defensive plays. Chase
kept it right there and didn’t give in an we found a way to win it,”
said Morrow. Published 5/12/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Clear
Fork gets Outright Title
Clear Fork rallied to beat Shelby (7-5) on Monday and earn an
outright Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference title.
They scored four times in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a
tie and take a (7-3) lead and survived a couple of Shelby solo home runs in
the seventh to remain unbeaten in the conference.
It is Clear Fork’s 11th conference title in the
“MOAC” and the Ohio Cardinal Conference since 2003.
Head coach Jeff Gottfried, who has been there for all of them, says
it never gets old. “You
cherish those opportunities that you get because they don’t always come
around. Kudos to our team.
They just battled. They
have battled all year long. There
is just so much confidence and belief in that dugout right now.
It got 3-3 and nobody panicked. It
was just keep on playing. It is
just a seven inning game, sometimes eight, sometimes nine.
Our kids are going to play to the end,” said Gottfried.
Clear Fork (18-7,11-0) scored in the bottom of first the when
Courtney Palmer walked, stole second and third and scored on Hallie
Gottfried’s sacrifice fly. Palmer
homered to open the third and Ashtynn Roberts doubled and scored on an RBI
hit by Renee Anders. It was
(3-0) Lady Colts and Roberts sailed through the first four innings not
allowing a hit and striking out four.
However, there was not quit in the Lady Whippets.
Megan Grass blasted a three run homer in the fifth to tie it at (3-3)
and put the Clear Fork crowd getting ready to celebrate on edge.
Coach Samantha Martin says her team has been improving.
“I have been telling them from the very beginning if we work
towards being error free, I feel we are just as good as any team.
We are young. Basically,
I have been preaching every day try to be error free.
The past umpteen games we are getting closer and closer to that and
seeing better and better results,” said Martin.
Like championship teams do, Clear Fork responded by scoring four
times in the bottom of the sixth. Anders
began the uprising with a leadoff double.
She would score on likely the biggest hit of the game when pinch
hitter Maddi Dion ripped a one out double to right center.
Gottfried says Dion has been red hot.
“The ball looks like a beachball in her eyes right now.
She had a big day on Saturday. Had
a big end to last week. She has
confidence and we have confidence in her.
That’s what I’m taking about, it’s our entire team.
It’s more than the nine starters.
There are some kids that don’t even get in the ballgame and they
are just as big a part of what we are doing as the kids that play every
inning of every game. They are
loud, they are vocal and they are always into it,” he told
Swankonsports.com after the game, “Certain kids, maybe on other teams, may
set in the dugout and pout because they are not in games, but she knows,
always be ready. It might be
coming into pitch, going into pinch hit and Maddi had a big hit for us.”
Kylie Belcher reached on an error, scoring Grace DeWitt, who had run
for Dion. Reghan Barker doubled
in a run and Palmer singled in another to make (7-3) after six.
Shelby (9-15,4-7) again made it interesting when Kendal Parsons and
Sadie Smith hit solo home runs off Dion, who had relived Roberts.
Martin says they have some pop this year.
“We definitely have some girls that can put some power behind it.
We have struggled sometimes with timely hits, but (Monday) night it
seemed like we had some timey hits that we needed as well,” he said.
Gottfried says he told the players when Shelby was making its
comeback that nobody was going to cut them any slack.
“I told them between innings. You
guys are so tight, you can’t drive a nail in there.
You have to relax and just play.
I said this game, it’s just a game, it really doesn’t mean
anything, but it is the atmosphere that you are going to see for the next
week. If you don’t think
everybody is going to give you their best shot, they are going to.
Shelby knew what they were coming in against.
They wanted to knock us off, but our kids rose to the occasion,” he
said.
Clear Fork has had a number of all state players in Gottfried’s 22
year career. He says this year
is all about team. “I just
think the togetherness, the chemistry that is there.
We don’t have great, great players, but we have a great team, and
that is the mark of this club. We
have had better players in the past, don’t get me wrong, we have some
very, very good and talented players, but it takes the whole unit.
The girls were asking me (Monday) how may home runs we have hit and
we upped it by one (Monday), but they thing is we have seven different girls
that have hit home runs. In this
place it is not hard to do, you saw ball fly out a little bit (Monday).
Every kid trusts each other and they trust the process,” said
Gottfried. Published 5/11/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on Saturday |
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Plymouth
Win Creates Title Game
Cole Wentz threw a no-hitter on Monday evening and Plymouth beat
Norwalk St. Paul (5-0) to force a Firelands Conference title game on Tuesday
at Plymouth.
The Big Red scored three times in the third inning, including RBI
hits by Zeth Goth and Trace McVey and a sacrifice fly.
They added two more in the sixth on an RBI single by Wentz and
Clayton Miller scored on a wild pitch.
A game behind St. Paul going in, Plymouth was in a must win situation
and coach Jake Strayer says they delivered.
“It was absolutely our biggest game of the year.
We had to have this one if we wanted any shot at the league.
Cole Wentz came out and threw his butt off, he threw a seven inning
no hitter, which is the first one that I have coached against a great
hitting St. Paul team,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “They
have guys that can hit the ball around all over.
We came out and did what we needed to do and played a compete game
and set up essentially a winner take all (Tuesday) at our place.
What else can you ask for other than a chance?
All you need is a chance.”
Tyler Perkins was also pretty good for the Flyers in going all seven
and giving up only two earned runs.
St. Paul coach Aaron Fries says Wentz says did a good job of keeping
them off balance and the Big Red made the defensive plays they had too.
“Give Plymouth a lot of credit, they had their backs to the wall
and came out and had an all world performance.
Wentz was excellent on the mound.
He was not overpowering, but he did a great job of attacking our
hitters and his defense played well behind him.
Even when we did hit the ball hard, they were in the right position
to make the plays. I thought
Tyler pitched well. Defensively,
we made a few mistakes and they were able to take advantage of it with some
timely hitting. We have to
regroup,” said Fries.
Wentz walked two and struck out seven Flyers.
Stayer says he was on top of this game and get the ball in the zone,
not wasting pitches. “He threw
a lot of strikes. He kept his
pitch count down for the most part. He
went into some deep at bats, but he also got a lot of one pitch outs, two
pitch outs. He was all around
the zone. He had only two walks
all night. On top of that his
defense played a great game behind him, we only had one error.
I think he would tell you the last time he came out he wasn’t
throwing as hard as he usually does or had his best stuff.
(Monday) night he made up for it.
He came out and pitched a brilliant game,” said Stayer.
Plymouth (12-6,10-2) will host St. Paul (17-6,11-2) in what is now
the biggest game of the season for both sides.
Stayer says these are games competitors want to be in.
“Growing up these are the games you want to play in.
This is fun. This is what
high school sports is all about. This
is absolutely what every kid should want to play in.
Every kid of both teams (Tuesday) should beyond excited to play in
this game,” he said. Published 5/11/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Norwalk
Edges Vermilion
In a possible preview of a sectional final next week, Norwalk beat
division champion Vermilion (1-0) on Monday night in a Sandusky Bay
Conference River Division game.
Norwalk would score a run in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI
hit by Ian Minor. Thomas Gfell
would go the distance throwing a shutout for the Truckers.
Coach Wes Douglas says it was a very good win for them.
“I am feeling pretty good about our team (Monday) night.
It is an up and down process with us.
It was a well played game by both teams.
We scored a run in the bottom of the first.
Their pitcher Jacob Krausher pitched outstanding and our pitcher
Thomas Gfell battled all night and maybe pitched the best game of his
career,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “After a couple of
tough losses the last couple of games it was a great win.
We actually threw out the tying run at the plate to end the game.”
If Norwalk (14-10) would be Perkins in a sectional semifinal next
week they would advance to play at Vermilion (17-6) in division II sectional
final.
Douglas identified Monday night as perhaps Gfell’s best outing as a
Trucker. He says he was able to
throw all of his pitches for strikes. “He
has been our number one for the last couple of years.
He struggled a little bit the last time we played them, but he was on
his game (Monday) night. He had
four pitches working and kept them off balance.
Neither pitcher walked a guy. We
had one error late and I think maybe they had one error.
It was a pretty well played high school baseball game,” he said.
The lone run in the game was scored by Sam Battles, who had singled
to lead off the bottom of the first inning, and scored on Minor’s single.
Douglas says the Battles and Nate Adleman combined to retire a
Vermilion runner at home plate for the last out of the game.
“Sammy Battles led the game off with a hit, which he has done more
times than not this year, stole second base, and with two out Ian Minor had
a clean hit. We threatened one
other time. They threatened
maybe once and that was in the seventh inning.
They had runners at first and second and they hit a little blooper
over first. The runner on
second, they sent him, which I would have too.
Nate Adelman threw a strike and Sammy Battles put the tag on and the
ballgame was over. It was a fun
ballgame,” said Douglas. Published 5/11/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Fredericktown
Earns Co-Title
Fredericktown’s
game with Centerburg last Friday had to be postponed to Monday and the
Freddies knew going in that they need to win in order to share the title in
the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference.
They did just that with a (8-1) win over the Trojans on Monday
evening. This gives the Freddies
at least a share of four straight titles in the “KMAC”.
Coach Ryan Hathaway says it was exciting to know they were in a must
win situation. “It is fun to
have that pressure on you at the end of the season going into the
tournament,” he said.
Fredericktown (19-3,13-1), #3 in the Swankonsports.com baseball
coaches poll in the small school division, shares the title with Highland.
They split with the Scots this year.
It was the only loss in the conference for both schools.
In big games like this you need solid pitching and Hathaway says they
got that on Monday night. “Lincoln
Cunningham threw a complete game. He
was his best start I think of his whole career.
It was great to see (Monday) night and hopefully he has a couple more
left in him,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday night.
The Freddies have blown some teams out this season, but Hathaway says
they are more focused in games like Monday.
“I think it makes it more fun and they just seem to be a different
team when they lock in an actually be competing it seems like every pitch.
It is fun when you get play that kind of game,” he said. Published 5/11/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Baseball
Matchups Set
Baseball coaches in Ohio
spent a portion of Mother’s Day determining brackets for the state
baseball tournament, which beings next week.
When is comes to big schools, the two Northwest District schools in
this area play each other as Mansfield Madison is at Ashland on May 17.
The winner plays at Anthony Wayne, the top seed on, May 19.
“When you are the 13th seed your choices are limited.
Instead of playing the third seed Toledo St. John’s or the fourth
seed Oregon Clay. We went for a
home game,” said Ashland coach Rick Gough,
“We enter the tournament as the 14 seed in our district and we
chose to play Ashland on the road. From
a travel standpoint it’s great for us game one, obviously, but it’s a
team we are familiar with given we have already played them twice this year
and we are in the same conference. It
feels like a good situation for us,” said Madison coach Nate Taylor.
In the Northeast Wooster, the Ohio Cardinal Conference leader, is the
number 12 seed and plays at 10th seeded Strongsville on May 20.
“We are fortunate enough to have earned a bye into the sectional
final and look forward to competing against a very solid Strongsville team
at their place. Both teams will
be best on best with both of us having a bye, so we need to play a clean
game and be ready to compete from the first pitch.
We’re excited for the opportunity and looking forward to postseason
baseball for the first time in two years,” said Wooster coach Steve Young.
In the Central district, Mt. Vernon, of the “OCC”, plays May 19,
at home against Gahanna-Lincoln or Reynoldsburg.
In division II, there are area schools in a number of districts.
In the Fremont District, Vermilion, the Sandusky Bay Conference Lake
Division Champion is the first seed, Shelby, co-leader of the Mid-Ohio
Athletic the second, Huron, the third seed and Norwalk number four.
“Our district is loaded with good teams.
There will be a lot of great high school baseball games,” said
Vermilion coach Jeff Keck.
There is one semifinal in the upper bracket and Port Clinton is at
Sandusky on May 19 with the winner playing at Vermilion on May 21,
The other sectional final Sandusky Perkins at Norwalk on May 21.
“No surprises really. I
think we have played Pekins four or five years in a row in the sectionals
and we each other well. If we
get to Vermilion, the number one seed, it will take our best effort but as
they say… if you want to be the best you have to beat the best.
A lot of teams playing good baseball right now,” said Norwalk
baseball coach Wes Douglas.
There are two semis in the lower bracket.
Mansfield Senior plays at Bellevue the 19th with the
winner traveling to Shelby on the 21st.
Clear Fork is at Clyde on May 19 and Huron awaits the winner on May
21.
“We are excited for the opportunity to play a really good Bellevue
team. We’ve been very
competitive this year and hopefully it will be our day that day,” said
Mansfield Senior coach J.R, Davis.
“I don’t think there is any good draw with the quality teams in
this district. We have never
played Mansfield Senior, so we are excited about that opportunity,” said
Bellevue coach Andy Dennings.
“I think when you look at some of the matchups in the first round
you get a good understanding of how tough this district is.
Truly a gauntlet for every team,” said Shelby coach Jon Amicone.
“It will be a grind each night of the tournament.
We need to be playing our best baseball to be in the mix,” said
Clear Fork coach Joe Staab.
There is also a district that finishes at Bluffton High School.
Lima Shawnee is the top seed followed by Tiffin Columbian, St.
Mary’s Memorial and Galion.
In the upper bracket Fostoria is at Celina on May 19 with the winner
playing at Shawnee on May 21. Elida
is at Galion on May 21 a sectional final.
In the lower bracket, Upper Sandusky is at Ontario the 19th
with the winner traveling to Tiffin Columbian the 21st.
Lexington is at Wapakoneta on the 19th and the winner
earns a matchup with St. Mary’s Memorial on the 21st.
“A lot of new faces with the intersection of our district with the
“WBL”. We look forward to
hosting Upper in sectional finals,” said Ontario coach Jeff Fisher.
“We will try our luck in the Tiffin side of the bracket by starting
postseason against Wapakoneta,” said Lexington coach Kevin Morrow.
In the Central District, Highland, the Knox Morrow Athletic
Conference champ is the number two seed.
They will host either River Valley or Columbus East on May 20.
“We are excited to have received the number two seed, but the
tournament is like a new season. Everyone
starts out 0-0 and teams that play smart baseball and make the fewer amount
of mistakes will get to play another game.
At this point in the season it is truly survive and advance,” said
Highland coach Donnie Kline.
In division III, in the Shelby district, Colonel Crawford, the
Northern 10 Athletic Conference champion is the top seed, followed by Edison
with the second seed, Wynford the third seed and Woodmore the fourth.
The matchups look this way.
On May 19, Bucyrus is at Oak Harbor with winner playing at Colonel
Crawford on May 21. In the other
upper bracket semis New London is at Wynford and Crestview at Genoa on the
19th with the winners meeting on the 21st.
“Oak Harbor and Bucyrus are two schools with a good baseball
tradition. The 9-11 Oak Harbor
record is deceiving because they play a tough schedule,” said Colonel
Crawford coach Dan Gorbett.
“We are pleased with our bracket draw.
The opportunity to host our sectional is exciting.
If we play up to our seed and get the opportunity to play Colonel
Crawford again in the districts is all we can ask,” said Wynford coach Tom
Smith.
“We have drawn Genoa, which looks like they have played quality
opponents this year. They have
had some good teams in the past and should be a very sound team.
We will have to play a great overall game, but I think we are capable
to doing that,” said Crestview coach Don Keener.
In the lower bracket Western Reserve is at Gibsonburg on May 19 and
the winner travels to Edison on May 21.
Willard is at Woodmore and Margaretta at Seneca East on the 19th
with winners playing on the 21st.
“We are looking forward to the opportunity to compete for a
championship in a tough district,” said Edison coach Sean Hoover.
“I’m happy with our draw, but it will definitely be very
challenging. We play a good
Margaretta team in our first game. They
are a well coached team, so we have to be playing at our best,” said
Seneca East coach Rick Bowerman,
There are a number of schools covered by Swankonsports.com that are
in the Central District in division III.
North Union is at Marion Pleasant, Columbus Academy travels to
Centerburg and Fairbanks at Mt. Gilead on May 20.
Northmor plays the 20th too against either West Jefferson
of Madison Plains. Also on the
20th, Fredericktown will play either Johnstown Northridge or
Marion Elgin.
“There was a lot more passing than I have ever seen.
We are fortunate, we’ll get to watch our opponent play.
At the end of the day, we have to play well to beat anyone in our
district,” said Northmor coach Buck Workman.
“We had the opportunity to go where we wanted and let the teams
fill in around us. Having the
number one seed Worthington Christian in our bracket will be tough, but I
like the matchups we have,” said Fredericktown coach Ryan Hathaway.
In the Northeast District Norwayne District, Loudonville hosts
Oberlin on May 17. The winner
would travel to top seeded Canton Central Catholic May 19.
Norwayne plays at Lutheran West on the 17th and the winner
goes to Black River the 19th.
Smithville is at Chippewa May 17 with winner advancing to play Elyria
Catholic the 19th. Orrville
is at East Canton the 17th with the winner at Kirtland on May 19.
At the Copley District, Waynedale, the number two seed, hosts either
Brooklyn or Cleveland Villa Angela St. Joseph on May 19.
Akron Manchester plays host to Fairview Park on May 17 and the winner
plays at Wellington on the 19th.
Northwestern is at Tuslaw on the 17th with winner
advancing to play Gilmour Academy on the 19th.
Among small schools there is a district in Galion.
Mohawk in the number one seed, Plymouth number two, South Central
number three and Crestline number four.
“We put ourselves in the best position we could with the number one
seed and let the chips fall where they may after us.
There are probably eight or nine teams capable of winning this
district. I feel like we have
all beat up on each other throughout the season and it will come down to who
makes the fewest mistakes in the tournament games.
Getting a couple lucky breaks always helps too,” said Mohawk coach
Eric Hoover.
Upper Scioto Valley is at Carey in an upper bracket semi on May 18
with the winner traveling to Mohawk for a game on May 20.
The other semifinal in the upper bracket has Hardin Northern at
Buckeye Central on the 18th with winner getting South Central on
the 20th.
“We are happy with our draw. Anytime
we can host a tournament game is a great thing for our kids, school and
community,” said Buckeye Central coach Chad Jensen.
“I like how the brackets are set up.
We will have a challenge against whoever wins the Hardin-Northern at
Buckeye Central game, so we will be focused on being prepared.
We aren’t looking past anyone.
Every team in the district has talent,” said South Central coach
Mike Perry.
In the lower bracket, Mansfield Christian is at Lucas on May 18 with
the winner playing at Plymouth on May 20.
Ridgeway Ridgemont is at Arlington on the 18th with the
winner playing on the road at Crestline on the 20th.
There is a division IV district at Clyde where Hopewell-Loudon is the
top seed, followed by Norwalk St. Paul, Tiffin Calvert and Fremont St. Joe.
“Really happy with the number two seed and having the opportunity
to host a sectional final at our place.
Our district is full of good teams who are well coached.
Whoever advances will certainly earn it.
We like who we are, but we know we will need to be playing our best
to win and advance,” said St. Paul coach Aaron Fries.
There are three semis in the upper bracket.
Old Fort is at Danbury Lakeside on May 18 and the winner plays at
Hopewell-Loudon on May 20. Monroeville
is Fremont St, Joe and Vanlue at Toledo Christian on the 18th
with the winners playing on the 20th.
In the lower bracket, Sandusky St, Mary’s is at Cardinal Stritch on
May 18 and the winner travels to St. Paul.
Arcadia is at New Riegel on the 18th with the winner going
to Calvert.
In the Northeast district, Hillsdale, who advanced all of the way to
the state final in 2019, plays hosts Mapleton or Kidron Central Christian on
May 20. “We look forward to
the start of tourney time and all of the excitement that is involved,”
said Hillsdale coach Jason Snow. Published 5/09/21 © Swankonsports.com |
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Clear
Fork Earns Co-Title
Clear Fork routed Marion Harding (23-2) in Mid-Ohio Athletic
Conference play on Thursday evening and in the process claimed no less than
a share of the conference softball title.
They lead River Valley, who beat Pleasant (9-7) on Thursday, by two
with two conference games left. They
play Shelby next Monday and Wednesday and a win in one of those games will
give them the outright title.
Coach Jeff Gottfried is very proud of his whole team and how they
have bounded and become a tight knit team this year.
“You start the year with COVID following a year when you didn’t
play at all and you didn’t really know going into the season what you had.
We set down and do our goals and we thought on paper we could be
competitive, but when we got down to it, we had five kids that played any
varsity competition prior to this year.
Four of them were starters and the other was just a base runner for
us. We had over half of the team
out on the field with zero varsity experience for us.
One thing I really like about this team is they have embraced their
roles whether they are starters or role players.
Whatever they have been asked to do, they have done it,” he told
Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “Our dugout is amazing with the
energy. They are genuinely
excited for their teammates when their teammates do something well.
It is not, hey, look what I did.
The comments that are coming from the circle, do you remember what so
and so did? They are always
talking about a teammate and how good they played and that is what I value
most in our program and what the kids have done so far this year.”
The Lady Colts (15-7,10-0) pounded out 22 hits on Thursday.
Pacey Chrastina had four of them.
Courtney Palmer, Hallie Gottfried and Ashtynn Roberts had three
apiece. Gottfried and Maddi Dion
had home runs against Harding. Palmer
and Gottfried each had four RBI.
Roberts went all five innings giving up no earned runs on three hits
and striking out 11.
When this season started six weeks ago, Gottfried was not sure when
he had, but he says this team has got nothing but better.
“If there is one thing I could say about this team I think from
game one to game 22 there has been improvement all of way along.
If you compare our team from the first three scrimmages that we had
to now and you would not believe it is the same team.
There is so much confidence from all of our kids one through nine and
the kids that are coming off the bench and getting opportunities.
They are just hungry. When
they are going in to hit for somebody else, the starter that came out of the
game, they are absolutely complementary of their teammate going in and doing
the job. Just seeing the growth
and maturity off all of our players is just very, very pleasing to me and
our coaching staff,” said Gottfried.
When it comes to the league title, Gottfried says they want it to
themselves. “We have two games
to get one and that guarantees an outright championship.
Coaches say it, and it cliché, take it one game at time, but that is
what we have done all season. We
have two non-conference games on Saturday against Madison to really give us
a good test of where we are a within the district.
They are a solid team and well coached by coach (Tim) Niswander.
We have to go to Shelby on Monday and play them again on Wednesday.
Hopefully, we can get this thing and be a little selfish and claim it
outright,” he said. Published 5/07/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Ontario
Takes Care of Business
Caden Armstrong scattered three hits in going the distance in
Ontario’s five inning (12-0) destruction of Marion Pleasant to keep the
Warriors in a share of first place in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference.
Ontario (9-9,6-2) shares first place with Shelby a game in front of
Clear Fork. The Warriors host
Pleasant on Friday while Shelby is at home with River Valley, as always
weather permitting.
Coach Jeff Fisher says they got solid performances from their
seniors. “We put three up in
the first and that really catapulted us.
I was really happy with how the seniors preformed (Thursday) night.
Armstrong, (Owen) Hatfield, and (Ryan) Brophy, specifically.
They had the games that you would expect out of your leadership,”
he said.
Hatfield had three hits on the day for the Warriors.
Gage Weaver added two.
Fisher says leadership is important when you are battling for a
conference title. “You hope
the maturity piece can evolve to where they feel comfortable within the game
and all of that adversity that comes. “Army”
had a rough outing on the mound a week ago and (Thursday) he threw a ton of
strikes. It really put our staff
at piece. We are not running
guys to the bullpen all night long,” said Fisher.
Fisher says pitchers are becoming more efficient and they are making
the plays in the field too. “When
you limit the freebees without walks and wild pitches you know behind
defensively over the last three plus ballgames we have been pretty stout
there. I can only recollect one
error over the last three games including the suspended game against Clear
Fork. So, we have been catching
it and throwing it cleanly and it really gives us a chance to win,” said
Fisher.
With important games to play, Fisher says that keeps the players
engaged and ready to play. “Especially
in spring sports when you get into the month of May and you find yourself
down the line a little bit kids can be distracted with prom and everything
that goes with graduation,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “It
an exciting time in their high school lives, but at the same time the
baseball team has to stay focused and have their eye on the prize.
At this point right now, our kids are in a place when they are having
meaningful games here in May.” Published 5/07/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Colonel
Crawford Stays Unbeaten
Colonel Crawford has played 20 baseball games this year and they have
won them all, including Thursday when they beat Ridgedale (10-0) in a
Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference game.
Last week, they won an undisputed “N10” title and coach Dan
Gorbett says they were able to extend what has been a tremendous year in
athletics at Colonel Crawford. “That
was our number one goal. Football
had won it, basketball had won it, that is pretty unique that you win all
three main sports. We have four
kids that play football, basketball and baseball on the team, so that tells
you a lot about those kids. It
was pretty nice getting that clinched ahead of time,” he said.
Gorbett, who has been assistant football coach as well over his long
and successful career, believes there is a great benefit to playing multiple
sports. “The number one key in
any sport, and especially baseball, is confidence and belief in yourself and
handling adversity and failure. You
can’t practice those things. You
can’t work on those things in the off season.
You have to experience and live it.
So, I always tell our kids two outs in the bottom of the seventh is
no different being on the foul line with two seconds left and you have to
hit those,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “Being in
competition makes you a better football, basketball, baseball player, etc.
It’s a shame that so many kids are specializing in sports.
I love when I see in Facebook these athletes were multi-sport
athletes. Tom Brady, you can
name just a bunch of outstanding players that play more than one sport.
So, I think that is very, very important.”
Pitching has been the number one reason for the success of the Eagles
(20-0,15-0), #1 in the Swankonsports.com baseball coaches poll in the small
school division, this year. Cade
Hamilton and Drayton Burkkart both have ERA’s under two for the season and
they have combined to be (16-0) for the year.
Gorbett says sometimes he is baffled why they aren’t noticed more,
but they just go about their business. “Drayton
Burkhart was outstanding (Thursday). He
and Cade Hamilton have had outstanding careers on the mound and they are
both hitting well too. Last
week, the biggest secret in area sports Cade Hamilton threw a no hitter and
hits for the cycle in one week and nobody knows that.
I thought that was definitely player of the week credentials and
nothing. We just keep plugging
away quietly doing our thing and the kids are having a great time and that
is all that’s important,” said Gorbett. Published 5/07/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Wooster
Belts Madison
Wooster scored 12 times in the third inning and went on to blast
Madison (15-0) in five innings in an Ohio Cardinal Conference game on
Thursday evening at Madison.
The Generals (11-6,7-1), #4 in the Swankonsports.com coaches poll in
the large school division, lead both Mt. Vernon and West Holmes by two in
the conference standings.
Already leading (2-0), the Generals brought 17 batters to the plate
and faced three different Madison pitchers in collecting nine hits in that
third inning. Eight of the hits
were singles. Blake Bowen’s
double was the only extra base it.
Coach Steve Young says the finally found some rhythm.
“That is what we talked coming over here.
We have had a rough two and half, three weeks here.
We haven’t been able to get games in with COVID, snow, rain.
There has been no consistency and no rhythm.
We have played few games here and really haven’t swung it very
well, but at the same time we have been barreling balls up right at people
and we are getting Texas leaguers against us.
We just told our guys to say with it, stay with the approach, don’t
change anything and they will start to fall a little bit.
It is starting to come back around.
Hopefully, we can get some more games in and get some timing and
rhythm,” said Young.
Madison coach Nate Taylor says they don’t have pitchers with big
time stuff and they get hurt more the deeper they get into games.
“The third inning this year has been the bane of our existence.
By the time they roll back over to the top of the lineup they have
made some adjustments. We
don’t have strikeout guys for the most part, we pitch to contact.
They are able to adjust and stay back a little bit.
Give them credit they hit some balls wll, but there was a bloop here,
a dink and dunk there. When you
are not playing really well, nothing seems to go your way,” said Taylor.
Bowen had two doubles, two runs scored, and an RBI for the Generals.
Jack Williams drove in three.
Chris Franks gave up only one hit over four innings to get the win
for Wooster.
Wooster started out the season winning nine of its first 11 and Young
says hopefully they can get back on a streak.
“It is something we talk about every single day all of our goals
are still ahead of us. Our
number one goal is the get to Akron for the state championship and number
two is the outright “OCC” title. It
has been a goal since we started with the first day of tryouts.
We talk about it every day, we preach it, otherwise our kids start
getting nervous about it. We
know at this point we kind of control our own destiny,” he told
Swankonsports.com after the game, “We have to come out and play a clean
game every time out. We have
seen it, if you let teams hang around, and you make mistakes, they make you
pay for it. So, just want to
play clean baseball and make sure we are taking care of business.”
Wooster is scheduled to host Madison on Saturday.
Young says more than anything they need to play more games.
“To be totally honest it wears on you.
You want to be outside. It
is springtime, you are in the middle of your season, you are trying to
prepare for the tournament, you are trying to win an “OCC” title.
When you get two games cancelled because of COVID and your field is
playable, it is not playable, your opponents’ field isn’t playable, it
is hard. We try and get creative
inside with different things and create competition indoors and get a lot of
swings and stay sharp. It is not
just physical, it is mental as well. We
have to make sure our guys aren’t mentally drained and get after it every
single day and get better,” said Young. Published 5/07/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Highland
One Step Away
Wyatt Groves Owen Mott combined on a three hitter and Rider Minnick
pounded a three run homer and Highland beat Northmor (6-3) Thursday evening
in Knox Morrow Athletic Conference action.
They have lost only once in conference play this season, yet they
have to beat Northmor at home on Friday or they may go home with nothing
when it comes to the conference title.
They are tied with Fredericktown, both are (12-1) in conference play.
The Freddies beat Centerburg (14-3) on Thursday and are scheduled to
play the Trojans again Friday, weather permitting.
Highland coach Donnie Kline says they are pumped
to have this opportunity. “We
are very excited with where we are at from the standpoint that we are still
in the league hunt with a game to play.
It has kind of got that tournament feel.
If you win you are in and you lose you are out.
Ever since the split with Fredericktown that has been our season.
Every game has been life or death for us.
Hopefully that makes us a stronger team as we head for the tournament
run. It’s one game to hang a
banner or say, hey, we were very close,” said Kline.
Northmor (14-7,7-6) has played some excellent baseball this year too.
Kline says the Golden Knights are going to make it tough on them.
“I think Northmor is one of the more underrated teams in our area.
I think they are well coached. Buck
Workman does a fantastic jog over there.
He is an experienced guy. They
have some pieces, they really do. The
young man that threw against us (Thursday) night, the freshmen, Grant
Bentley, did a fantastic job, kind of kept us off balance for a while,” he
told Swankosports.com after the win on Thursday, “We were able to get a
couple of guys on and get one over the fence.
Rider Minnick hit a home run to put us up by three.
It wasn’t over until the very last out as they had a chance to tie
it up at the very end. (Thursday)
was the easy one, (Friday) is the hard one.”
Northmor certainly put a scare into the Scots on Thursday.
Coach Buck Workman says they just made a few too many mistakes.
“Highland is a very good team.
We made a couple of mistakes that good teams exploit,” he said.
Highland (19-1,12-1), #3 in the Swankonsports.com baseball coaches
poll in the large school division, has a great season, but Kline says it all
comes down to Friday. “This
what we say all of the time, this is why you play at Highland follows.
If you want to be in blowouts and in games that don’t matter there
are a lot of programs around where that can happen.
At Highland we are very blessed that these games matter.
We usually see a team’s best pitching and we get team’s best
shot. We are excited by that, we
like that at Highland. It has
been a fun run, but (Friday) is why you put in the winter workouts, all of
the weights. Everything comes
down to one game and we wouldn’t have it any other way,” said Kline. Published 5/07/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Clear
Fork Stays Close
Jared Scott threw a one-hitter and Clear Fork kept its Mid-Ohio
Athletic Conference title hopes alive with a (7-0) shutout of the Marion
Harding Presidents on Wednesday at American Legion Field in Bellville.
The win keeps the Colts (9-8,5-3) a game behind Shelby and Ontario in
the conference race. Shelby
hammered River Valley (13-4) on Wednesday.
Ontario’s game with Marion Pleasant was postponed.
The Colts play Shelby in a home and home “MOAC” series next week.
They also have a game with Ontario that needs to be finished.
The two teams were tied (10-10) going to the top of the 12th
inning last Friday when darkness came.
It has not been the greatest season for Harding (7-11,2-7) this
season. They are in last place
in the conference.
Clear Fork coach Joe Staab says they had to have focus for the game
on Wednesday. “We can’t take
anybody lightly, especially if we are going to try and make a run at the
conference here late in the season. We
have to play our best no matter who is in the other dugout.
Our boys did pretty well (Wednesday).
We did well in all angles of the game.
We just have to come out and do the same job (Thursday),” he said.
The Colts put up four in the bottom of the second inning.
Brock Talbot doubled off the rightfield fence to lead off the inning.
Aaron Brown was hit by a pitch and Kaden Riddle ripped a single down
the leftfield line to score Talbot. A
series of wild pitches, passed balls, a walk, and two errors led to two more
runs for the Colts. Luke
Schlosser ended the scoring in the second with an RBI ground ball, scoring
Nate Lind.
Clear Fork plated three more in the fourth, which was more than
enough for Scott, on RBI singles by Kaleb Hollar and David Ballinger and a
sacrifice fly by Talbot.
Staab says Scott came out, took the mound, and was on point from the
first pitch on. “Jared has
been really good for us. At the
beginning the year, we had him coming out of the bullpen in a lot of crappy
situations. We just kind of gave
him the ball at the beginning of the game and run with it.
He has been doing very well for us, especially during our conference
series,” he said.
At times Clear Fork has been sloppy the field, eight errors last week
against Ontario comes to mind, but Wednesday they made only one and Staab
says that was key. “We did a
good job playing behind good pitching and that is one thing that is going to
help keep his pitch count down and allow him to go deep into the game and go
seven innings if we are playing good defense behind and not kicking around
the baseball,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “I think we made
one error (Wednesday), which is better than we have been doing.
We just have to continue to play good defense behind good pitching
and manufacture runs.”
Clear Fork takes to the road to play at Harding on Thursday.
Staab says again they must have focus on the task at hand.
“It is one game at a time. That’s
what it has to be the rest of the year.
We are trying to focus on what are we going to bring and be playing
our best baseball for the next two weeks, especially going into the
tournament. We have our seeding
and our draw this weekend, so hopefully we can go into the tournament
playing our best baseball. For
us, our focus has to be one game at a time,” said Staab. Published 5/06/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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St.
Paul Earns Big Win Over South Central
Norwalk St. Paul maintained a share of first place in the Firelands
Conference by beating South Central (4-3) on the road on Wednesday evening.
The win keeps them in a share of first place with Plymouth, who’s
game with Mapleton was cancelled due to a wet field.
They play the Big Red twice next week in a pair of crucial games.
South Central (10-9,8-4) is now eliminated from the race.
Coach Aaron Fries says it was very important for them to get back on
the winning track after losing (10-4) to the Trojans on Tuesday.
“It was easily our biggest game of the year.
We felt we needed to comeback and have a solid game (Wednesday).
We had our best pitcher on the mound and we really needed to get
(Wednesday) to set us up for next week and give ourselves the best chance to
win a conference championship and we were able to do that.
It wasn’t pretty by any stretch of the imagination, but we scored
one more run that they did and that is all that matters,” said Fries.
Scotty Adelman was a big factor on Wednesday on the mound, the
batter’s box and on the bases. He
went all seven innings and permitted two earned runs on six hits, striking
out 11, while walking four.
He also got the offense started in the top of the first off South
Central starter Shane Vanderpool when he walked, stole second and third and
scored on a groundout by Eli Fisher.
Fries says Adelman is an ignitor for them.
“Anytime we have him on the mound we definitely want to get those
runs early. They walked him
right off the bat, he stole second and stole third and we were able to get
him in. That is the kind of way
we play when he is on the mound specifically.
We are looking to scratch runs by anyway possible,” he told
Swankonsports.com after the win, “Anytime we get that leadoff runner on it
is just huge for us. We were
able to take advantage of that. We
left a few guys on base, which was a little disappointing, but at the end of
the day we got enough guys in position and did enough work to get four runs
in and that’s what we needed to win.”
In the second inning, the Flyers scored when Thomas Bocock was hit by
a pitch, stole second and scored on wild pitch.
In the third, Bocock doubled, stole third and scored on a single by
Kaden Maxwell.
Stolen bases were involved in first three Flyer runs and Fries says
they like to be aggressive. “We
run a lot. We have probably have
close to 110, 115 stolen bases on the year.
As a group, we run quite a bit. (Adleman)
is our leader. He had three or
four (Wednesday), so he is about 45 for the season.
So, that is the way we play, we are aggressive on the basepaths and
want to make things happen that way. Anytime
(Adleman) gets on base we are looking to move him,” he said.
With the tying run at third in the bottom of the seventh, Adelman got
Blaine Wheeler to ground out to end the game.
The Flyers (17-5,11-1) made five errors in their loss to South
Central on Tuesday. Fries says
they got back to normal on Wednesday. “It
was much better. We had a few
missed played and obviously that is going to happen. We
made one error (Wednesday) and we made the plays we needed to make in big
situations. We were going into
(Tuesday) night fielding the ball at 96 percent, we are a very good
defensive team, and for us to have five errors and one ball that was missed
played in the first two innings of the game.
We can go a whole week of game without having five errors and
sometimes a couple of weeks. Obviously,
we needed to get back on track and just make sure to play really confident
on our fundamentals and make the plays that are in front of us and we did
that,” said Fries. Published 5/06/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Seneca
East Downs Mohawk
Seneca East scored three runs in the fourth inning on only one hit
and went onto beat Mohawk (4-2) in a Northern 10 Athletic Conference game on
Wednesday evening outside of Attica.
Mohawk (13-8,7-6) took a (1-0) lead on an RBI hit by Trey Combs in
the top of the third, but The Tigers would respond with three in the bottom
of fourth. Pitcher Turner
Bridgford would double and score on a sacrifice fly Shayne Walker.
Mohawk pitcher Nathan Geary would hit a batter and walk three
resulting in three runs and (3-1) Seneca East lead.
The Tigers would tack on another run in the sixth on error.
Mohawk scored a single tally in the seventh.
Seneca East (11-8,9-4) coach Rick Bowerman says were able to take
advantage of their chances to score. “Mohawk
had a 1-zip lead. We didn’t
have a lot of hits (Wednesday). We
had one hit, a double by Turner Bridgford, but we made the most of our
opportunities. Mohawk’s
pitcher struggled a little bit. We
scored on a SAC fly after Turner Bridgford had doubled and advanced to third
on a passed ball. Our hitters
did a great job of being patient and not swinging at bad pitches and their
pitcher started struggling a little bit and we were able to capitalize on
that,” said Bowerman.
Bridgford went all seven for the Tigers and allowed only three hits
and no earned runs.
Bowerman says he was excellent. “He
pitched very well, nine strikeouts and I think only three hits and two
walks. He was pretty much in
command of what he was doing. Anytime
he got in trouble, he was able to step back, take a deep breath and work out
of that trouble,” he said.
Seneca East had not played since last Friday, but Bowerman feels they
had pretty good focus in the game against Mohawk.
“Game reps are a lot different than practice reps.
You want to get out there and you want to face pitching and see your
hitters get at bats and get comfort and when you are missing a couple days
it takes a while. We hit the
ball hard a couple of times (Wednesday), but didn’t get base hits,” he
told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday after the win, “I thought our focus
was there and we did a nice job after being off for a while and coming back
and focusing and doing what we had to do.
We had a based loaded walk, sophomore Cooper Skeel got down in the
count 1-2 and fouled off about four or five and then worked the walk for an
RBI. Things like that a coach
loves to see.” Published 5/06/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Buckeye
Central Shuts Out Carey
Kaiden Vaughn fired a four hitter on Wednesday in out dueling
Carey’s Jordan Vallejo as Buckeye Central beat the Blue Devils (1-0) in a
Northern 10 Athletic Conference game.
Vaughn struck out seven and walked three.
Coach Chad Jensen says he got stronger as the game went on.
“Kaiden pitched a great game. He
scattered four hits, struck out seven, we played great defense behind him.
He had some jams and we got out of them.
It was a really, really good team effort.
Their kids pitched really well too.
We were able to get a key hit from Elliot Geissman in the fourth to
score a run. Kaiden just got
stronger as the game went on. He
got stronger and really started pounding the zone and just did a great job.
Another close game for us. We
have had a lot of them and we were able to come out on top,” said Jensen.
The Bucks (8-15,7-6) only had four hits themselves, but got the big
one from Elliot Geissman. They
only had one error.
Jensen says this team has to be fundamentally strong if they are
going to win games. “We talk
to our kids a lot and we talked about it again (Wednesday).
We have to stay strong on our fundamentals.
All of those ground balls we take in practice, all of those fly balls
we take in practice, I know it’s boring, and it is the same thing, but
this is how you win 1-0 ballgames,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday
night, “How you win one run ball games is being fundamentally sound,
making the routine play. We did
that again (Wednesday). We have
played good defense all year. We
continue to put the ball in play. Kade
pitched a great game and got ahead and pitched a great game.”
The tournament draw for baseball teams across Ohio is Sunday and
Jensen believes they have the ability to do some damage later this month,
especially with their pitching. “We
started out the season 0-9 and we are 8-6 since.
We are 7-6 in the “N10”, which is a tough league.
Almost half of our games are against D2 and D3 teams, so I think we
are playing well. We still need
to continue to get better each game, but our pitching keeps us in games and
our kids are playing with confidence. We
will take it one game at a time and see where it takes us,” he said. Published 5/06/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Bellevue
Beats Norwalk
Bellevue hung a tough loss on the Norwalk Truckers (5-1) on Wednesday
in play in the Lake Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference.
The result eliminated the Truckers from the division race and gave
the outright title to the Vermilion Sailors.
Bellevue coach Andy Dennings says it was one of their biggest wins of
the season. “We needed one of
these. We have been playing
better the last week or two and playing much cleaner baseball.
Norwalk has been playing extremely well.
It is always a really nice program over there.
We are really happy with the win,” said Dennings.
Bellevue (8-11,4-6) has played its best baseball over the last couple
of weeks. They also beat Perkins
the last time they played them.
Dennings says they got a nice effort on the mound.
“Adam Hosang threw a two hitter.
He threw the ball extremely well.
We needed that. He is one
of our top couple of guys and he really came out an performed extremely
well,” he said.
One of the keys to their improved play, according to Dennings, is the
are making the fundamental plays that where weren’t make earlier.
“That has been an issue at points this year.
Early in the year we had problems fielding the baseball.
We have made way more errors than we are typically used to.
To compound that we were waking a lot of kids and had a lot of
HBP’s,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday, “We are starting to get
things figured out here. Our
pitching has always been competitive. Just
playing cleaner baseball. Run
the bases better, field the ball better, just making smarter decisions.
Now, we are starting to put some things together.” Published 5/06/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Ontario
the Right Job for Mergel
Ontario has a new head boys’ basketball coach for the first time in
more than 30 years. It’s Tim
Mergel, who leaves Madison, his alma matter, to take the job with the
Warriors.
Hall of Famer Joe Balogh retired after this past season after 36
years on the sidelines. He won
598 games.
Mergel says this is a job that you always think about.
“You look at Ontario and you are always an admirer from the outside
looking in from an athletic standpoint when It comes to basketball.
When it comes open you kind of look at it like it hasn’t been open
in 30 some years. What if it is
not open for 30 more years? That
is a big decision to make. I am
not getting any younger and I can’t wait 30 more years.
I thought now was as good a time as any to apply for it and see what
my chances were,” he said.
With the kind of success that Ontario has had the kids in the program
have been prepared of what they need to do to be successful.
Mergel says he must continue to challenge the players.
“A thing I like to stress to our teams is when you are comfortable
is when you get complacent. When
you are comfortable is when your mind is in neutral, so we want to continue
to challenge the kids and just grow and build on that foundation that Joe (Balogh)
has been so successful at and keep on Ontario in that same tradition and
carry on that legacy. It’s a
challenge. Is it a positive that
things are set? Absolutely, but it’s a challenge one to follow in Joe’s
steps, but also not to be complacent and continue to challenge these
kids,” Mergel told Swankonsports.com last Friday in an interview that
first aired on our “Out of Bounds” program.
He says Balogh has been very helpful and answered all of his
questions about the program.
Mergel had been the head coach at Madison for nine seasons (79-129)
and had played for the Rams as well.
He says leaving there wasn’t easy in any way, but it was the right
thing for him. “It is one that
weighed on me, but this is an opportunity for me and my family that I can
grow professionally. At Madison,
I have developed such good relationships.
Such long lasting relationships, that nothing I think is going to be
damaged. They are life long
relationships. I am always going
to be a Ram. I graduated from
there. But, now I am going to
bleed some blue and gold. Was it
tough? Yes, but when you weigh
the pros versus the cons, I had a lot of conversations with my wife and we
thought that this was a good opportunity to take advantage of,” said
Mergel. Published 5/05/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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South
Central Stays Alive
South Central scored eight times in the first two innings and handed
Norwalk St. Paul their first Firelands Conference loss (10-4) on Tuesday to
close within two games of Flyers in the conference title race.
Each team has three conference games remaining.
Plymouth shares first in the conference with St. Paul.
Each has one loss in Firelands Conference play.
David Lamoreaux had a two run single and another Trojans run scored
on a ground ball for a (3-0) in the top the first.
The added five more in the second.
Sam Seidel walked, stole second and scored on a single by Karl Ferber.
Carson Music and Blaine Wheeler singled, scoring Ferber.
Two more scored on an outfield error and Kayden Hauler plated the
final run of the inning on a single. It
was (8-0) Trojans.
“The kids really came out to play.
It was just the second time this year that we didn’t make an error
in the field. Karl Ferber was
fantastic on the mound. We hit
the ball we put the pressure on them. We
got up on them early and just kept the pressure on them,” said South
Central coach Mike Perry.
St. Paul would load the bases in the second and third, but score only
two runs and Ferber got out of jams. He
allowed four runs on nine hits and struck out three in going all seven to
get the win.
Perry thought the start to the game was key.
“I think that kind of let the kids know.
I told them before the game there are games you want to win, there
are games you hope to win, but I said this is a game that I expect to win
because this is out fourth win in a row, we are playing very good baseball.
Don’t get more wrong, St. Paul is a fantastic team, well coached.
They made some uncharacteristic mistakes (Tuesday) night.
We knew our backs were against the wall and I expected to go out
there and play well and the boys responded,” said Perry.
St. Paul coach Aaron Fries says they made too many errors and
didn’t take advantage of their chance to score.
“The difference in game came down to defense.
We did not make the plays when the opportunities presented themselves
and conversely South Central made great defensive plays when we were
threatening,” he told Swankonsports.com after the game, “We had five
errors in the game and a few other plays there were not errors, but could
have been made. South Central
beat us at our own game, pitching and defense.
Give South Central a lot of credit, they handled tough playing
conditions well. They played
championship baseball.”
It was a wet day in which a lot of games were cancelled.
Perry says Ferber was able to maintain his focus.
“I think it was the third inning and he kind of struggled a little
bit because the ball was wet and I kept saying throw strikes, throw strikes.
He came out after and said, coach, you don’t have to tell me that,
I know what to do. I didn’t
say anything to him the rest of the game he is just a fun kid.
He has a lot of confidence and a lot of ability,” said Perry.
South Central (10-8,8-3) is scheduled to play at home against St.
Paul (16-5,10-1) on Wednesday and Perry says that game is just as important.
“We are going to see (Scotty) Adelman.
He’s a great pitcher. We
know we have our work cut out for us, but we want to be that team that plays
well at the end of the season and that’s what we are doing we are playing
well and giving ourselves a chance at the conference and looking forward
towards the tournament. I like
where we are sitting right now,” he said. Published 5/05/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Mohawk
Downs Lakota
Mohawk scored three times in the third inning and went on to beat
Kansas Lakota (5-1) in a non-conference baseball game on Tuesday evening.
It was the Warriors (13-7) sixth straight win.
Coach Eric Hoover says they did job of managing the game.
“We played a pretty efficient game (Tuesday) night.
We really wanted to get a game in.
We didn’t get to play (Monday) and not sure about (Wednesday).
I feel like we are getting a little momentum and a good rhythm.
Our field was in good shape, so we got a game in and really made a
lot of defensive plays. Our
pitcher threw a lot of strikes and did a great job pitching to contact and
we made a lot of good plays behind him,” he said.
Landen Snyder singled to open the bottom of the first and scored on a
sacrifice fly by Blake Harper. In
the third Tyler Hayman doubled and Terry Combs walked and they both scored
on an a two-run double by Nathan Gerry, he later scored on an error.
Another run scored on an error in the sixth.
There were not many games played on Tuesday, but Hoover felt it was
important for them to get on the field if possible.
“We really want to stay sharp.
There is only so much you can do.
We end up practicing inside if we get cancelled.
We just had an inside practice (Monday).
The kids, after we have played 20 games, they don’t want to go back
inside and have a practice,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday night,
“It’s hard to get them motivated to do much.
It is great to keep playing games and stay in that rhythm.
I think that is more beneficial than anything you are going to get
out of practice.”
Junior Reese Hannam started and went the distance for the Warriors,
permitting a run on four hits, striking out seven.
Hoover says they also made some good plays behind him.
“He has not got to pitch as much this year.
We have a good number of seniors that pitch also.
We have been throwing five different guys, so we have a deep
rotation. He pitched really
well. He only walked a couple.
He let them put the ball in play a little more.
He was always around the plate. He
had a good off speed, so he did a really good job of keeping them off
balance and letting our defense work,” said Hoover. Published 5/05/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Shelby
Has done its Part… So Far
Shelby has moved into a share of first place with Ontario in the
Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference standings, a game in front of Clear Fork.
The Whippets (14-2,6-2), #1 in the Swankonsports.com baseball coaches
poll in the large school division, have won six straight conference games
after losing their first two to Ontario by one run each in extra innings.
They play river Valley (7-9,3-5) Tuesday and Wednesday, weather
permitting, and Clear Fork next week.
Coach Jon Amicone says they knew what their assignment was going to
be and they have embraced it. “Our
guys have one a really nice job accepting the challenge.
Walking an uphill climb that we did to ourselves.
We are really proud of our guy’s efforts so far.
They didn’t bat an eye. We
made our bed, but we didn’t sleep in it.
Our guys did a nice job responding to that.
We still have four more games to go.
We have to approach every single game like it is do or die because at
this point to accomplish the goals we want it really is,” he said.
When it comes to winning the title, Amicone says it has been kind of
like the tournament, they knew they had to run the table.
“That is kind of what we have preached to our guys.
Our guys have done a really nice job of responding to that.
We had it very clear to them after the games with Ontario that to
accomplish our first goal we are going to have to play a perfect season
within the league,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday, “Our guys have
to come up to the challenge and have strung six wins together, but we have
two more teams to play that are extremely talented and we will need to catch
a few breaks here and there. Our
guys have done a really nice job accepting this tough challenge.”
Shelby has gotten excellent pitching this season Marshall Shepherd,
Blaine Bowman and Alex Brushkotter are all in the top five in the conference
in ERA when stats were last reported last week.
Amicone says his guys have given the team a chance to win.
“Marshall Shepherd and Logan Green and the guys on our pitching
staff have done an excellent job giving us a chance to win.
Ultimately pitching is the name of game, especially in high school
baseball. Those guys have done a
really nice job and we have really good relief pitching, guys like Jackson
Moore, Lanny Kennard, and Alex Brushkotter.
We kind of lean on those guys. Hitting
comes and goes, but as long as you have that good pitching it is going to
keep you in every single game,” said Amicone. Published 5/04/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Tygers
Getting Closer
Mansfield Senior has won three baseball games this year and more than
that has become more competitive than they have in a the last several years.
Now, the goal is to take the next step.
Coach J.R. Davis, in his first year, says hey are more competitive
and now they have to start winning more games.
“Competitive wise, yes, I have been pleased.
It is great to hear because I feel like every game we have played
coaches have come up, and even umpires, and say how different of a product
we are putting out on the field. I
feel really good about it, but then again at the end of the day I am very
competitive and I want to win,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday, “It
is nice hearing that stuff, but I want to win.
We are very close. We
have had close calls with Lexington and Madison and Marion Harding and
Crestline. All of these games
are close and competitive, but I want to win now.
We are competitive, now I just want to win.”
Davis says it is an attitude. “That
is the toughest thing. Growing
up in the program I understand, Senior High baseball is not known for being
good at all. You are probably
used to getting beat by 10, 15, if not 20 runs.
The losing mentality is one we just have to change is one we just
have to change right now. We are
in ballgames now and we have to find ways to win rather than go back to our
old ways,” he said.
Now, Mansfield Senior over the last week has been on a forced
vacation due to a positive COVID test. They
hope to return to action Wednesday against Ashland in Ohio Cardinal
Conference play.
Davis says that isn’t what they needed at this time.
“Baseball is one of those sports where you have to play everyday
and practice every day. The
toughest thing right now it happened on Wednesday when we were notified and
everything, so we have been off since Wednesday.
Luckily, our JV team is still going, so I still help out with that
and build for next year. Varsity
wise in a week or so we are going to be in the tournament.
We need that practicing and games to keep that momentum and keep
going forward,” said Davis. Published 5/04/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Softball
Seeds Determined
The high school softball tournament begins next week and the matchups
were determined on Sunday, except the Central District.
It is not quite the political process that it once was with no face
to face meetings, but there are still bound to be teams that are happy with
what happened and those who are not.
In division I, Ashland, of the Ohio Cardinal Conference ended up as
the fifth seed in the Northwest District and will play at home on Wednesday,
May 12, against Toledo Notre Dame Academy.
Wooster, also of the “OCC” is the 15th seed and plays
at Rocky River Magnificat on Monday, May 10, that’s the Northeast
District.
In division II, in the Willard district, Lexington, also of the “OCC”,
is the top seed, followed by Bellevue, Clear Fork, and Ontario with seeds
two, three and four.
In the upper bracket, Ontario and Galion play on Tuesday, May 11 with
the winner playing at Lexington on Friday, May 14.
Madison will host Mansfield Senior, a team they have beaten twice
this season, in a sectional final on the 14th.
In the lower bracket, Shelby hosts Vermilion May 11 and the winner
goes to Bellevue on May 14.
Also, Norwalk plays at Tiffin Columbian om the 11th and
the winner makes the trip to Clear Fork, the leader of the Mid-Ohio Athletic
Conference, on the 14th.
There are also a number of schools covered by Swankonsports.com that
are part of the division II bracket in Genoa.
Oak Harbor is the top seed and will play May 14 against either Toledo
Rogers or Rossford. Perkins
plays at Maumee on May 11 and if they win will play at Wauseon on the 14th.
Clyde, the number 3, seed, hosts Port Clinton in a sectional final on
May 14.
Wooster Triway, the leader in the Principal’s Athletic Conference,
will play Thursday, May 13, against either Woodridge or Orange in the
Northeast district.
West Holmes, part of the East District, will play May 12 at Dover.
In division III, in the New Riegel district, Huron, of the Sandusky
Bay Conference Bay Division, is the top seed, number two is Edison, number
three Colonel Crawford and number four Crestview.
In the upper bracket, Willard and Wynford meet May 11 for the right
to play at Huron on the May 14 and Margaretta hosts Western Reserve on the
11th and they play at Crestview the 14th.
Meanwhile, in the lower bracket, Carey plays at Bucyrus on the 11th
with Edison getting the winner on the 14th and the other semi on
May 11 has Kansas Lakota at Upper Sandusky with the winner playing at
Crawford on May 14.
Over in the Northeast District, in the Norwayne district, Orrville
plays at Mapleton on May 11 with winner visiting Tuslaw on May 13 and
Cleveland Campus International playing at Manchester in the semi on the 11th
and Elyria Catholic getting the winner on the 13th in upper
bracket games.
In the lower bracket, Cleveland Villa Angela St. Joseph plays
Brooklyn May 11 with the winner going to Norwayne on the 13th and
Fairless is at Garfield Heights Trinity on the 11th and the
winner will travel to Black River.
Meanwhile, in another division III district in Wellington, Chippewa
plays at Lutheran West in an upper bracket semifinal on May 11 and the
winner plays at Independence on May 13.
Waynedale plays at Northwestern in a sectional final at played on the
13th.
The lower bracket has two semis, both May 11, and feature Oberlin at
Rittman, Wellington gets the winner on the 13th, and Smithville
at Wickliffe, with winner playing Brookside, also on the 13th.
In division IV, in the Shelby district, Monroeville is the top seed,
followed by Mohawk, Plymouth and Norwalk St. Paul in seeds two through four.
In the upper bracket, New London is at Vanlue on May 10, with the
winner paying a visit to Monroeville on May 13 and Buckeye Central is at
Crestline on the 10th with winner traveling to Plymouth on the 13th.
On the other side, Mansfield St. Peter’s plays at South Central on
the 10th and will get to play at Mohawk the 13th,
meanwhile, Seneca East is at Lucas on May 10 and winner is at Norwalk St.
Paul on the May 13.
Up at Oak Harbor, New Riegel in the top seed, Hopewell-Loudon number
two, Gibsonburg number three and Tiffin Calvert number four, all from the
River Division of the “SBC.”
In the upper half of the that bracket there is only one bye and it
goes to New Riegel, who plays either Cardinal Stritch or Sandusky St.
Mary’s on May 13. Ottawa Hills
is at Calvert and Fremont St. Joe at Old Fort on the 10th with
the winners then meeting on the 13th.
In the lower bracket, Danbury Lakeside hosts Emmanuel Christian on
May 10 with the winner traveling to Hopewell-Loudon on May 13 and Toledo
Christian playing at Arcadia on the 10th with the winner getting
a date with Gibsonburg on the 13th.
In the Richfield district in the Northeast Loudonville, the four
seed, will play either Kidron Central Christian or Columbia on May 12 and
Hillsdale, also on the 12th, plays either Canton Central Catholic
or Dalton. Published 5/03/21 © Swankonsports.com |
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Ontario
Still Developing its Pitching
Right now, there is a logjam at the top of the baseball standings in
the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference as Ontario and Shelby have two losses,
Clear Fork three and Pleasant and Galion four.
The Warriors fell out of sole possession of first place with a (10-5)
loss to Galion on Tuesday. Their
game with the Tigers on Wednesday was postponed.
They are scheduled to play at Clear Fork, weather permitting, on
Friday.
Coach Jeff Fisher says you have to be ready to compete every night in
this conference and it begins with pitching.
“If you can go out there and form out a great pitching outing you
have a great chance of winning. Unfortunately
for us Tuesday night, (Brody) Symsick of Galion didn’t walk a batter and
didn’t give us much wiggle room. When
we did get ducks on the pound, we did squeeze out some runs.
It is one of those things that every night you have to be ready to
play and play well,” he said.
Fisher says they are still in the process of developing their
pitching staff. He says they
have some good nights and some not so good.
“We are happy that our guys are willing to take the ball and go out
there and compete, but on any given night it can be a roller coaster ride,
they are off or they are on. We
feel like we are just inexperienced,” he told Swankonsports.com on
Thursday, “We look back over the years when Ontario was healthy they had a
pair and spare. When you don’t
at the high school level you are a kind of in the development mode.
When you are in that mode, you still want to keep the eye on the
prize and compete to win and win championships.
You want to make sure there is a healthy balance.”
Especially, with the rules in place in baseball in Ohio regarding
pitch counts, Fisher says you have to have a lot of pitchers.
He says they are working toward that goal, but haven’t gotten there
yet. “I think the pitch count
dynamic has really fostered the need to develop even here at a division II
school with a 27 game schedule in basically a span of six, seven weeks you
really need guys that might not see themselves as traditional pitchers to
get up there and eat up innings and get outs.
We as a program would like to get to a place where we have a guy that
can strikeout 10. The guy that
is coming in the next day is going to strikeout seven, a one and two and go
from there, but we don’t yet,” said Fisher. Published 4/30/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Seneca
East Coming Along
Seneca East has won six of its last nine games, and two of those
losses are to unbeaten Colonel Crawford, and it looks like the Tigers are
becoming a pretty good baseball team.
They beat Upper Sandusky (5-2) in a Northern 10 Athletic Conference
game on Wednesday.
Coach Rick Bowerman says they were very young and inexperienced at
the beginning of the season, but they have found some form and he likes what
he sees. “I have especially
lately. I think we are really
starting to mature. We start
three sophomores, two freshmen. Right
now, I only have two players that have any varsity experience at all.
I’m sure that is like a lot of other teams.
In the last week or two you see these guys really starting to become
varsity baseball players,” he said.
Bowerman says you can practice things, but kids need to experience it
in the pressure of a game. “It
is one thing to practice it and go over it in a controlled situation or even
a live situation in practice. It
is quite different when you get out in a game.
The pressure is on. The
speed of the game for them is so much faster than what they were used to
when they were younger. So, it
takes that experience. It takes
things to happen once or twice before things really start to click,” said
Bowerman.
Seneca East (10-7,8-3) will play Upper again on Friday, weather
permitting.
The Tigers have been known for their pitching over the years and
Bowerman says they have some kids that are rounding into shape.
“At the start of the year I wasn’t sure.
I had two seniors and one senior was out 10 days with COVID and it
took a while for him to come back. I
have a couple of sophomore pitchers that have been throwing really well,”
he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday, “Our senior pitcher has really
stepped up and threw a really good game against Colonel Crawford on Monday
in a tough luck loss. My senior
with COVID is coming back and he is throwing well.
A couple of freshmen have had some spot innings here and there. So, I
really like my depth right now.” Published 4/30/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Crestview
Finding What it Can do
Crestview has won four of its last five game and the Cougars are
starting to find their grove a little bit.
They lit up Monroeville (22-3) and (20-3) in Firelands Conference
games this week and will play New London in conference games on Monday and
Tuesday.
Coach Don Keener says he and the kids have kind of had to get used to
each other this spring. “I
think we are making some progress. I
think over the last week or so guys are starting to figure out what their
roles are. Us as coaches, it
took us some time to figure out where we wanted to plug kids in at position
wise in the lineup, hitting wise, and so on and so forth,” he told
Swankonsports.com on Thursday, “A lot of years you get that figured out
sooner, but unfortunately it took us a little bit.
We thought we had an idea of what kids could do, but you still had to
see that in the games to see what kids could and couldn’t do.”
Crestview (8-10,4-6) has won three of its last four conference games.
The Cougars did not have much experience going into this season,
related a lot to not having a season last year, and Keener says they have
had to do a lot of teaching. “I
was thinking about this. It is
kind of one of those years where the year before you had seven or eight
seniors that were just really dominate for you and then you have to replace
all of those kids. It is the
same situation. We had nothing
and we were pretty much starting from scratch.
The kids are adjusting well and it has taken us coaches some time to
adjust with some of these kids,” said Keener.
Right now, Norwalk St. Paul has a one game lead in the conference
standings over Plymouth. Keener
says they have had an advantage because they have two outstanding pitchers
that has experience. “Their
one and two are good. We took
their one to the brink there, they beat us 5-3, but those kids are really
good pitchers. Every night you
have to go out and be ready to play. Anybody
can knock anybody off,” he said. Published 4/30/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Mt.
Vernon Beats West Holmes This Time
Mt. Vernon stayed alive in the Ohio Cardinal Conference baseball race
with a convincing (14-4) thumping of West Holmes on Wednesday evening on the
road outside Millersburg.
They had lost to the same Knights (4-2) on Tuesday.
Both schools trail “OCC” leader Wooster by two games in the loss
column. The Generals game with
Mansfield Senior was cancelled on Wednesday due to health issues.
The Yellow Jackets only have two “OCC” games left and those are
against Lexington in two weeks.
Coach Nate Hunt says they had to bounce back and they did in no
uncertain terms on Wednesday. “Last
week we had talked that you need to bounce back after the Wooster game.
I don’t think we were down that low.
The thing about the West Holmes game the first time around was we
beat ourselves a lot of that game. We
told the guys the crazy thing about this “OCC” was you can’t harp on
this one. It is not like
football where you have got to wait a week to compete again, you are right
back into the battle. Our guys
responded really well (Wednesday),” he told Swankonsports.com after the
win, “Just executing and doing all of the things right.
Caden Rowland, who is a sophomore, (Wednesday) was his fifth start,
and now is 5-0. So, it was just
really good to see the guys bounce back.
I told them they had 24 hours to think about it, but as soon as the
first pitch goes (Tuesday) is over and (Wednesday) is (Wednesday).
So, they did a nice job of battling back.”
Rowland is not the youngster to play some good baseball for the
Jackets (12-4,8-3) this season. Hunt
says they have had a lot of kids playing high school baseball for the first
time that are contributing. “We
have two freshmen and about three or four sophomores, who are helping us win
ballgames between Caden, who is a sophomore, and Logan Trace, who has caught
even inning except three this year, him being a sophomore as well.
Those guys are competitors and they do a nice job for us,” he said.
In getting the 14 runs on Wednesday, Hunt says they took advantage of
situations. “We had timely
hitting. We have been trying to
find a leadoff guy. Actually, we
have tried six different options. I
think we are finally penciling on Jonny Askew, a freshman, who had two big
hits (Wednesday) and our seniors being seniors and finally kind of settling
down and not putting too much pressure on themselves.
They walked, I think, eight guys and we capitalized on that, which
was big, because the one thing I know about West Holmes, and you can even
look back to their Wooster score, it is never over until it is officially
over. They do all of the little
things right and they are just a fundamentally sound team.
So, again just a great win for us,” said Hunt. Published 4/29/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Highland
Goes to Danville and Wins
Cooper Merckling and Owen Mott combined on a no hitter on Wednesday
as the Highland Scots handled Danville (9-1) in a Knox Morrow Athletic
Conference game.
The win kept Highland (16-1,10-1), #2 in the Swankonsports.com
baseball coaches poll in the large school division, in a share of first
place in the conference with Fredericktown, who beat Norrthmor (2-1) on
Wednesday.
Coach Donnie Kline says they took the bus to Danville and did what
they had to do. “I think
anytime you go on the road in a conference game and you come home with a
win, that’s a good night. We
had two pitchers combined for a no hitter. Cooper Merckling, a junior, and
Owen Mott, a senior, they did a really nice job kind of keeping Danville off
the bases for the most part. We
got some timely hitting and scored some runs late to kind of pull away,”
he said.
Highland did not score in the first three innings, but would score at
least one in each of the final four.
Merckling went the first four and two thirds innings, striking out
nine, while Mott finished up striking out five over the final two and a
third innings.
Kline says it was kind one of those situations where you didn’t
even realize what was happening. “The
boys have been pretty effective and credit to pitching coach Andrew
Westbrook, he has done a really nice job just setting the guys up and put
them in good position to have success. It
was one of those situations where the boys just keep pitching well,” he
told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night, “We didn’t even realize it
until it was late. It wasn’t
one of those ones where everybody has to count down and crewing our
fingernails. It was like after
the game, hey, there was a no hitter there.
It was just a fun game overall, the boys played well, and got a
couple of big hits late.”
Highland got 13 hits in the game, including a home run from Zach
Pinkerton, who had five RBI on the day.
Kline says it wasn’t their best effort, but it was still pretty
good. “That is one of the
challenges of high school baseball. Danville
is not having the best season, but they are a well coached team, they are
good guys over there, and at the end of the day they are high school
athletes. They are going to give
us their best. For our guys they
have to understand regardless of who is on the schedule they have got to
bring their “A” game. (Wednesday)
was probably our B+ game, it wasn’t our “A” game, but the boys found a
way to win. A couple of long
balls late and pulled away,” said Kline. Published 4/29/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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South
Central Holds Off Western
South Central took the lead with a four spot in the fourth inning and
went on to get past Western Reserve (7-6) in a Firelands Conference baseball
game on Wednesday evening.
They stay three games behind conference leading Norwalk St. Paul, who
beat Mapleton (4-3) on Wednesday. The
Trojans (9-8,7-3) play St. Paul next week in what are going to be two
crucial conference games and then end the conference schedule against last
place Monroeville.
Coach Mike Perry says his team got a couple of big hits from
unexpected sources on Wednesday. “We
had a really big hit from our freshman second baseman Eric Sanders and
another big hit by Jackson McCormack, a senior who struggled at first, but
he has really, really come on strong lately.
It was a couple of really good at bats by those kids and we were able
to push a couple of runs across,” said Perry.
Perry adds when you get big plays like that it gets the team fired
up. “It pumps the whole team
up and everyone gets behind them. They
are the kind of kids that everybody roots for.
We have a pretty tight team and it’s nice to see them pull for each
other,” he said.
McCormack and Carson Music both had two hits for the Trojans on
Wednesday. Sam Seidel had a
triple, he leads the conference in that offensive category, and an RBI and
Karl Ferber added a double and an RBI.
Blane Wheeler got the start for the Trojans and set six innings to
get the win, allowing five runs on five hits, walking four and fanning six.
Sanders pitched the seventh to get the save, allowing an unearned
run.
The postseason tournament begins in just over two weeks and Perry
believes they can make some noise this year in division IV.
“At the beginning of the season we were so top heavy with our
lineup. Now we are getting
contributions one through nine. If
we can keep that going, we will be in really, really good shape when the
tournament rolls around,” Perry told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night. Published 4/29/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Fredericktown
Gets What it Needs
Fredericktown got a run scoring hit in the bottom of the seventh
inning and beat Northmor (2-1) to keep pace with Highland in the race in the
Knox Morrow Athletic Conference.
Highland beat Danville (9-1) in “KMAC” play on Wednesday.
Coach Ryan Hathaway says they got a walk off single off the bat of
ninth place hitter Evan Rine. “Evan
Rine came up with a hit when we needed it the most (Wednesday) night.
It was good to see him with two strikes on him put the ball in play
and get the run in for us,” said Hathaway.
Hathaway says Rine was able to deliver when it mattered the most.
He says Rine had a really good approach.
“He was down 0-2 in the count and ended up seeing a pitch and
fouling a couple off. Just had a
really good at bat. Just for him
to get the ball in play and at least give us a chance.
Seeing him battle like that was great,” he said.
Fredericktown (16-3,10-1), #3 in the Swankonsports.com baseball
coaches poll in the small school division, plays Northmor (14-5,7-4) again
on Friday in conference play, this time on the road.
Pitching was also key Wednesday for the Freddies and Hathaway says
Cade Carpenter was more than up to the task.
“Cade Carpenter threw a compete game and gave up three hits and I
don’t think he had any walks, a couple of strikeouts, but he just pitched
the game we needed (Wednesday) night, especially against a Northmor team
that is really strong at the plate. He
got it done with less that 100 pitches and that was big for us,” he told
Swankonsports.com after the win on Wednesday. Published 4/29/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Lady
Colts With Huge Win
Clear Fork put the hammer down on Tuesday as the Lady Colts beat
Marion Pleasant (4-1) to take command in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference.
They lead the rest of the pack by two games with five left to play.
They are scheduled to play at Pleasant (10-5,4-2), who shares second
place with River Valley, who handed them their first loss in the conference
(5-4) on Monday.
Ashtynn Roberts was a key in the circle and in the batter’s box on
Tuesday.
She picked up her 10th win of the season on the mound,
allowing five hits and striking out five.
Plus, got maybe the biggest hit of the game too.
Coach Jeff Gottfried had a smile on his face when talking about his
team’s effort on Tuesday. “Pleasant
is a very, very good team. They
came off a tough loss (Monday) night to River Valley.
We had a tough one ourselves at Northwestern, so it was a matter of
who was going to pick it up and play the best.
We were fortunately at home and our kids were comfortable.
You could see when Pleasant walked in, they had their heads down a
little bit. We recognize all of
that stuff,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “It is more about
us than it is the other team. It
was nice to jump on the board first. The
pitcher and catcher were all over it. Hallie
Gottfried calling and Ashtynn (Roberts) throwing strikes.
It was nice to see, it was a good win.”
Courtney Palmer got the scoring started for Clear Fork in the third
with a solo home run and Lady Colts tacked on another after Hallie Gottfried
singled and pinch runner Brooklyn Walker scored on an error to make it (2-0)
after three.
The Lady Colts (12-7,7-0) got two more in the fourth when Roberts
drove in Reghan Barker and Palmer with a single through the hole to make it
(4-0) Clear Fork after four innings.
Gottfried says that hit gave them some breathing room and allowed
them to relax just a little bit. “We
scored two runs in the fourth, but probably the two bigger runs were later.
That two out hit that put us up four.
You are a whole lot more relaxed when you are up four as opposed to
two or one. I was pleased with
our defense. We had one error,
but even on that play we threw the girl out at the plate,” he said.
Pleasant is solid and they weren’t going to go away.
They got two on in the sixth, but Roberts got out of the jam
unscathed. They scored their
only run in the seventh when Olivia Johnson doubled and scored on a ground
ball.
Gottfried says Roberts had good command and kept the Pleasant hitters
guessing throughout the game. “She
got into some tough jams late in the ballgame, but that is going to happen
when you see a team three times through the order.
I think her most effective pitch (Tuesday) was strike one.
She was ahead in the count most of the time.
When she was able to do that, she was able to mix and hit spots.
The battery worked together well,” said Gottfried. Published 4/28/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Clear
Fork Beats Pleasant; A Game Back
Clear Fork got itself right back in the race in the Mid-Ohio Athletic
Conference on Tuesday as they scored five times in the fifth inning and went
on to drill Marion Pleasant (9-3) at American Legion Field in Bellville.
The Colts (7-8,3-3) banged out eight hits and got a pair of two run
home runs from Brock Talbolt and Jared Scott to move within a game of first
place in the standings. Ontario
shares the lead with Shelby after the Warriors lost (10-5) to Galion on
Tuesday. Shelby didn’t play a
league game. Pleasant (9-4,2-3)
is also a game back as teams are bunched together at the halfway mark of the
season.
Clear Fork opened the scoring on David Ballinger’s two out RBI
single in the third inning to score Scott and Kaleb Hollar.
Coach Joe Staab says they were able to get some key hits in big
situations. “It was nice for
us to find ways to get on base and then capitalize on the other team’s
mistakes and be able to advance into scoring position,” he told
Swankonsports.com after the game, “There were a couple of times that we
did get the big hit and rallied with two outs.
We got a couple of home runs that got us a couple more runs here and
there. I thought offensively we
competed pretty well.”
Pleasant got on the board in the top of the fifth when Jonathan
Curren tripled off the left centerfield fence, as Casey Swank crashed into
the fence going full speed, and then scored on a passed ball.
“We got it to 2-1. Jonathan
Curren, our three hole hitter got a nice one to the fence and got us back in
it. We were right there.
We had Nathon Newell on the mound and we were trying to decide if we
were going to leave him in one more inning or not.
That third time around the lineup they go to him pretty good.
All the kids did a heck of a job,” said Pleasant coach Brad Potts.
The Colts would put up five to take a (7-1) lead.
With one out, Scott singled, stole two bases and Hollar walked.
Ballinger lifted a sacrifice fly to right to score Scott and make it
(3-1) Colts. Talbolt then
unloaded a two run homer over the leftfield fence to put Clear Fork up four
(5-1) and then two more runs would score on three straight walks and two
wild pitches by reliever Peydon Gosnell.
Pleasant got one back in the top of the sixth on an RBI groundout by
Austin Adkins to make it (7-2).
However, the Colts got two more on Scott’s two run drive in the
sixth.
Staab says they made some solid contact, especially late in the game,
but still they need a better approach at the plate.
“It was a little warmer. The
wind was pushing to leftfield. I
thought early in the game we had too many pop ups, too many weak pop ups.
A couple of the balls we hit solid were carrying really, really well.
If we are able to get on top of the ball a little bit and hit line
drives and let the elements take care of themselves, we will be better
off,” said Staab.
Lefty Luke Schlosser started and went six innings for the Colts,
giving up two runs, one earned, on four hits.
He walked just two and fanned seven.
Staab says he looked strong. “Luke
pitched really well. For him to
come in in this game he has been a guy that hasn’t got the most starts,
but he has got a lot of appearances coming in late in the game, coming in in
tough situations, whether it is based loaded, guys on base or just late in
the game, it gave him the opportunity to go out and get it going from the
get go,” said Staab. Published 4/28/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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St.
Paul Stays Clean in the Firelands Conference
Norwalk St. Paul rallied to beat Mapleton (13-10) in eight innings on
Tuesday evening to remain unbeaten and on top of the standings in the
Firelands Conference.
Plymouth, who beat New London (15-5) is a game back.
St. Paul scored the go ahead run when Eli Fisher executed a squeeze
in the top of the eighth.
The Flyers (15-3,9-0) were busy with the bats early and took an (8-3)
lead after two innings of play. Mapleton
tied it (8-8) with a Landon Sword three run homer in the bottom of the
fifth. Trailing (9-8) with two outs in the top of the seventh, St. Paul
scored two runs on a throwing error. Mapleton
got a run in the bottom of the seventh to send it to extra innings.
St. Paul coach Aaron Fries says he knew Mapleton had some pop on
offense. “I knew going over
there that they could hit the baseball.
They were as advertised, they could really put the ball in play.
They hit the ball well early, so I thought if we didn’t get things
under control this could get to a game where we would have to put some runs
on the board and kind of grind something out.
To their credit, they kept battling when we had them down 8-3,” he
said.
Tyler Perkins, who was leading the conference in ERA, permitted 11
hits and eight runs on Tuesday. Luke
Blum went the final three and a third to get the win, giving up two runs on
eight hits.
Fries says this was kind of a gut check for them as they really had
not given up a big lead like this until Tuesday night.
“Typically, this year we have won a lot of different ways, but when
we have been up in games, we have basically closed those out.
So, if we have gotten up early, we have never surrendered a lead.
This was the first game that we had a lead early, a substantial one,
and usually we close those out. They
battled us as and it was good to see the kids stay resilient, stay
confident, and at the end of the day we were able to pull it out,” said
Fries.
Fries says he feels like they were able to they were able to come
back in the game because they never lost confidence that they were going to
pull it out. “It wasn’t
anything that we were doing specifically.
Mapleton was just hitting the ball and putting runs on the board.
They got a three run homer from their eight hitter.
That’s why I don’t think our kids lost confidence.
We weren’t making errors or anything like that.
Mapleton was playing some good ball offensively.
We stayed at it,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday after the
win, “We were able to take advantage of a few mistakes they had late that
allowed us to stay in it. Eventually
we played some small ball there late in the game and were able to get a
three run cushion going into the bottom of the eighth and that was
enough.” Published 4/28/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Hillsdale
Gets Past Northwestern
Hillsdale kept itself alive in the race in the Wayne County Athletic
League by beating Northwestern (5-3) on Tuesday in a league game.
They trail Waynedale and Dalton by three games with five to play.
Hillsdale will play Northwestern again Wednesday, weather permitting.
Waynedale shut out Norwayne (5-0) Tuesday, meanwhile Dalton beat
Smithville (12-5) in their game.
Hillsdale fell behind (2-0) after one on Tuesday, but got single runs
in the second, third and fourth to take the lead (3-2) and then added a
couple of key runs in the fifth.
Coach Jason Snow says made some clutch plays.
“It was a well played game defensively by both teams.
I think they only had one error.
We had an opportunity in the first inning and didn’t get anything
in. We had a runner on third and
nobody out and they jumped on us in the bottom for two.
We went one, one, one and got a big hit to get it to a two run lead.
We held on. In the last
inning they did get second and third with one out, but Nick Kandel, who went
all seven innings for us, found a way to shut it down and gave us a win,”
said Snow.
Kandel got a big hit in the fifth to drive in a run to help himself
and scored on a hit by Caden Fickes.
On the mound, he went all seven innings giving up one earned run on
three hits.
Snow says his pitching has been improving.
“He hasn’t given up a lot of hits.
I think it a couple of games he has given up just three hits.
He is working to get more consistent in the zone. He did walk four
guys, so he has some guys on base that he has put on.
As a sophomore that is one of the things that he has to get more
consistent in the zone and manage his pitches a little better.
We have a good one there that was are looking forward to having over
the next few years,” he said.
After Northwestern, the Falcons (13-5,5-4), #4 in the
Swankonsports.com baseball coaches poll in the small school division, finish
up their league schedule with Chippewa and Smithville.
Snow says they have to keep winning and get some breaks when it comes
to the league race. “We just
have to take care of business and you never know what is going to happen.
There are two teams ahead of us and we want to make sure we stay in
the top half. There are still a
lot of games,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday, “Dalton still has
to play Waynedale and you never know what is going to happen there and
everybody else has to finish out their seasons.
So, there are some teams there that can knock you off.
Northwestern played a very good game (Tuesday) and we will have our
hands full (Wednesday) and we just have to take care of doing what we do and
keep getting better.” Published 4/28/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Madison
Edges Ashland
Madison scored seven runs on only five hits on Tuesday and beat
Ashland (7-6) in an Ohio Cardinal Conference baseball game at Madison High
School.
It didn’t start out well for the Rams as they allowed four runs in
the first two innings, but then they got busy scoring two in the second,
three in the third and two more in the fourth.
Coach Nate Taylor says as the game went on, they started to believe
more. “I have told the guys we
are very much Jekyll and Hyde, Some
days it is day to day and some days it is inning to inning.
We started off (Tuesday) pretty rough and were down 4-0.
We were able to run a squeeze and get a couple of runs there and kind
of changed the tide,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “Even
then with (Chase) Hunt on the mound for them, you don’t know what to
expect. If you can get a couple
of runs, you get a couple runs. He
is pretty good. He is one of the
better pitchers in the conference. Our
guys stayed with it and got a couple of runs and started to believe again,
their energy level got up. Quite
honestly that is the key for us, if we can keep our energy in a game, we are
not bad.”
Seth Ohl had two hits for Madison.
Cole Applegate and Jarrett Mandusic both had two RBI.
Ashland, who got 12 hits, got three hits from Jon Metzger and two
each from Hunt, Andy Somsak and Logan Fulk.
Ohl got the win for the Rams, giving up five runs on nine hits over
four and two thirds. Hunter
Church closed to get the save.
Madison (6-12,3-6) has been inconsistent in its play this year.
Taylor says they are working on their mental approach.
“I have told our guys all of the time physical mistakes and going
to happen, errors like that are going to happen.
If we can limit the mental mistakes we are going to be okay.
I’m always impressed by the guy that boots, and looks at the
pitcher and says shoot me another ground ball here and they make that next
play, that’s the tough part. With
our guys it has been a mental battle all year.
I am pretty tough on the guys. At
times, I am a major pain to these guys, but expectations around here are
never low. They are always high
because of what we have been able to do in the past.
Keeping the mental part of it in baseball is so key,” said Taylor.
With only five hits, Taylor says they had to take advantage of their
chances to score. “When you
are not swinging the bat all that well and, again, you are seeing a guy like
Hunt on the mound, you have to make the most of your opportunities.
We were able to walk three times (Tuesday) night, got hit by a pitch,
and we had some quality at bats on the night.
We didn’t have a ton to show for it, but we moved runners when we
had to and played small ball and it was just enough,” he said. Published 4/28/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Colonel
Crawford Wins on Rare Play
Colonel Crawford kept a two game cushion in the Northern 10 Athletic
Conference with a dramatic, come from behind, (5-4) win over Seneca East on
Monday evening in North Robinson.
The Eagles lead Wynford, who beat Carey (13-5) on Monday, by two
games, while Seneca East falls three games back.
The game was tied (2-2) after four innings and the Eagles scored on a
groundout by Carson Feichtner in the fifth to take (3-2) lead.
Seneca East responded with two in the top of the sixth on an RBI
single by Caden Fritz, who later scored on a passed ball to make it (4-3)
Tigers.
Crawford tied it in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI hit by Micah
Thomas. They loaded the bases
with one out with a walk to Cade Hamilton and Feichtner was hit by a pitch.
That set the stage for the final play where Brock Ritzhaupt popped
out in foul play, but Thomas tagged an scored on a ball hit 40 feet because
no one covered home.
Colonel Crawford coach Dan Gorbett says it was the strangest plays he
has been involved in though his hall of fame career.
“The number nine hitter Caleb Lohr came up and worked a walk, so
that was huge getting the leadoff runner on base and now we have the top of
the order. Then they had a ball
in the dirt and he was able to get to second.
Then our freshman third baseball Micah Thomas got a hit to score him,
he had two hits (Monday) night, he had an outstanding game.
He advanced on the throw home and we bunt over to third.
(With the bases loaded) it was a unique ending to a game with a pop
fly in front of the first base dugout that the first baseman catches and the
catcher went after it too and nobody is coving home and we scored on an F-3
pop fly, you don’t hear that too often,” said Gorbett.
Seneca East coach Rick Bowerman says they did some good things at the
plate, but they allowed the Eagles to have some runs they probably
shouldn’t have had. “The
game was a battle between two good teams.
Crawford’s starting pitcher, Cade Hamilton, struggled a little in
the first two innings, so they brought in probably the league’s best
pitcher, Drayton Burkhart. I
thought we put up a lot of good at bats against him, getting seven hits and
three runs. All three runs they
scored before the seventh, I thought we could have prevented,” he told
Swankonsports.com on Monday night, “We let them score on a steal of home
with two outs in a first and third situation, outfielders not communicating
on where the fence is and we don’t catch a fly ball that turns into a
double and an unearned run off an error.
You can’t make those little mistakes and beat a great team like
Colonel Crawford. Then letting
them walk it off on a pop foul to the first basemen, that hurts!”
After Seneca East (9-7,7-3) had taken the lead in the sixth, Gorbett
says they got a critical defensive play to stem the tide.
“There was a huge play in the sixth inning.
They had already scored two and after a base hit to centerfield,
Mason McKibben gunned him down at home plate and the ball was right on home
plate and Brandon Britt caught it and just put the tag on.
When looking at the scheme of things, that was a huge out,” he
said.
Bowerman believes they can learn from the loss.
“Kudos to Colonel Crawford, there is a reason they are undefeated.
Our pitcher, Turner Bridgford, pitched a heck of a game, he battled
all game long. I am really proud
of how we battled (Monday) night, especially after falling to them 12-1 on
Friday. We will learn from our
mistakes and strive to get better,” he said.
Colonel Crawford (17-0,12-0), #1 in the Swankonsports.com baseball
coaches poll in the small school division, has also won a game this year
when they didn’t get a hit.
Gorbett says they are able to find a way.
“I know that is another overused coaching cliché, but there is a
lot of truth to that. We usually
play good defense, but we were a little shaky (Monday) night and we had
opportunities to break the game open, but you have to credit their pitcher,
he made the plays and we left some guys stranded,” he said. Published 4/27/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Norwalk
Gets Back in Race
Norwalk earned a crucial win on Monday evening as they beat Sandusky
Perkins (8-5) in a Lake Division game in the Sandusky Bay Conference.
They trail Vermilion by two games in the division standings.
They tail Perkins by one.
Coach Wes Douglas says Monday was a must win for them.
“If we have any hope at all we couldn’t fall another game back.
A quality Perkins team had beaten us earlier in the season.
We always seem to have back and forth games with them.
We got down 3-0 early (Monday) night and fought back for a nice win.
We feel really good about it,” he said.
Perkins (10-5,7-2) took a (3-0) lead in the first when Luke Walton
hit a solo homer to start the game and two more runs scored on errors.
The Truckers (10-7,5-3) started their comeback with a run in the
third. Nate Adelman produced an
RBI double in the fourth to make it (3-2) and Norwalk took the lead (4-3)
when two more runs scored on errors. Perkins
tied it the bottom of the fourth (4-4), but Norwalk took the lead for good
in the fifth on a two-run double by Adelman.
They added two insurance runs in the seventh on a two-run single by
Thomas Gfell.
Ian Minor pitched six innings of relief to get the win.
Douglas says they kept fighting to get the win.
“That’s what we keep talking to the guys about.
Sometimes they have had that energy to keep going.
A couple of times they haven’t.
We made a point of it after the game that we were really happy that
the energy stayed up, the focus and the belief, and our course you transfer
that to some life lessons along the way.
Things don’t always go as planned and you just keep working as hard
as you can until it’s said and done and usually things will turn out the
way they are supposed to,” said Douglas.
When they made some mistakes early and got behind, Douglas says you
have to put that in the review mirror. “Every
coach talks about that with their players in every sport.
In baseball, you are kind of on that island on that one play.
Everybody knows you didn’t make the right play.
I made a call that I questioned myself on against Defiance a couple
of Saturdays ago in a 1-0, 10 inning loss that ended up costing us the game.
It ate at me for a while, but I told the players that I had to move
on to the next situation and keep coaching.
It’s not always easy and sometimes it’s a thing you have to learn
in any sport, but I think it is very visible in baseball,” said Douglas.
With four games left to play in the league, Vermilion and Perkins
have three, the Truckers are still alive, but Douglas says they have to keep
playing. “Vermilion won 4-3
over Tiffin (Monday) night, so that puts them in the driver’s seat.
They are a really good baseball team.
We have another shot at them. Our
loss to Tiffin last week we knew at the time was a tough one to swallow with
the league race, but we are still alive.
We will keep playing until the last pitch and see where we fall,”
he said. Published 4/27/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Mohawk
Gets Another Win
Mohawk won its third straight “N10” game on Monday when they beat
Bucyrus (10-1) at home at their place.
After going through a rough patch where they lost four league games
in a row, coach Eric Hoover says the Warriors (10-7,5-5) has righted the
ship a little bit. “Yeah, it
feels that way. We have been
getting contributions from more players.
We were stuck with about three guys making our offensive
contributions at least. We have
had some younger guys starting to do some things the last few games, so that
is good to see going forward because we are going to need more guys to
contribute if we are going to have any consistency,” he said.
Wyatt Swartz pitched well on Monday and Hoover says they got some
solid defense behind him. “I
put senior Wyatt Swartz out there and he did a great job controlling the
game. He threw strikes and
didn’t let guys on on free passes. We
made some really good defensive plays on some tough balls on the infield,
probably about four of them. Plays
that could go either way. We did
a really good job being consistent in making those plays and pretty much
played error free,” said Hoover.
Mohawk has three freshman and sophomores and four juniors on its team
this year and Hoover says those younger guys and starting to get things
done. “They have done a good
job. We got to see them a little
last summer. We got to play a
little in July. Not only do they
not have experience, I’m not sure what they can do when we actually start
playing because by the time you get outside you don’t get a chance to see
them in any game situations,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday night,
“We get them in them in there and get the opportunity to get their feet
wet and we can learn a little more about what they can do.
They are really starting the step up and that’s good for us.” Published 4/27/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Clear
Fork Shuts Downs Ontario
Clear Fork scored five runs in the second inning and went on to down
Ontario (7-1) in a Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference game on Friday evening in
the valley.
The win keeps the Lady Colts (11-5,6-0) in a share of the conference
lead with Marion Pleasant, who has not played a conference game since April
8.
Taylor Mullins led off the game with a home run over the rightfield
fence for the Lady Warriors (7-8,2-4), but they would not score again.
Courtney Palmer was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the first.
She then stole two bases and scored on an error.
The Lady Colts then erupted for five runs in the second to take the
lead and never looked back. Trinity
Cook walked to open the inning and she promptly stole two bases and scored
on an RBI double by Tate Swihart, who scored by a two out single by Reghan
Barker. Barker stole the third
base of the inning and scored on wild pitch.
Clear Fork wasn’t done. They
added two more when Palmer walked and came home when Hallie Gottfried
unloaded a two run homer that just cleared the centerfield fence.
Clear Fork coach Jeff Gottfried says against Ontario no lead is
secure, but he says his pitcher Ashtynn Roberts did a great job of keeping
her focus and making some great pitches.
“Sometimes you wonder if it is going to hold up.
The way things went Tuesday, I wasn’t relaxed until that last out.
It was a very, very good team that we beat, but kudos to our pitcher
to bounce back like she did,” he told Swankonsports.com after the game,
“To give up the leadoff home run and to say that’s it we aren’t going
to allow anymore. She was on it
and the defense played well, I think we had one error.
A couple of innings they threatened and we made some big plays with
two outs and that is the key to keep teams from scoring some runs to get
back in the ball game.”
Roberts gave up 10 hits and struck five in going the distance.
Clear Fork got some fine defensive plays too, including a nice play
when Palmer ranged into the hole to throw out Halle Ciroli and strand two
runners in fifth. Kylie Belcher
retired Ciroli when she caught a rising line drive in the fourth.
Roberts ended the last two innings with strikeouts.
Ontario coach Sean Snow says they didn’t cash in on their
opportunities. “I know it’s
going to come together I have been part of this game for a longtime.
Leaving runners on is our story and it has got to come together.
It is timely hitting. I
don’t know if the girls and in their own head.
We have good hitters and it is not showing on a six game skid right
now. We don’t play a weak
schedule either. That’s a
credit to the teams and we have to figure out how to beat them,” said
Snow.
Ontario stranded nine runners. They
ran themselves out of a possible rally in the fifth when Taylor Counts was
thrown out at the plate attempting to score from second base on a double by
Julia Oblisk with nobody out and then Roberts got the last two.
Clear Fork beat Ontario (13-10) on Tuesday.
Gottfried says they were committed to finishing the game better on
Friday. “The game on Tuesday
ended up 13-10, but it was 11-1 and 13-2 at two different times and we just
didn’t finish. We talked about
that the last two days. We have
had some leads that we have surrendered and we said no more.
We have to got pitch and play defense for seven innings and that’s
what we did (Friday) night and I am really proud of our defensive team,”
he said.
Clear Fork stole seven bases on the night, three by Palmer, two by
Cook and two by Barker, plus picked up extra bases and forced throwing
errors.
Gottfried says they want to be aggressive and force the action.
“It is our mojo. We hit
a few home runs here and there, but the key to our system is we put pressure
on the other team. It’s no
secret, everybody around the state knows that’s what we do, but even if
they know what is coming them have to figure out how to shut it down.
They hit a home run to score their first run and we had a hit by
pitch and scored a run without a hit. We
just did it in a different way and it set the tone for our team and we said,
you know what? We are not going
to back down, we are going to keep the pressure on them and go get them,”
said Gottfried.
Gottfried says they come to the diamond wanting to be the aggressor.
“It’s a mindset that we have established in our program.
They all get it and understand whether it is running the bases or at
the plate or if we are playing in the field you have to be aggressive.
We have told them forever if you make a mistake, make it going
forward and not going backwards on your heels and that’s what we do,” he
said. Published 4/23/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
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Hillsdale
Comes up With Big Win
Hillsdale handed Waynedale their first loss of the season in beating
the Golden Bears (8-4) in a Wayne County Athletic League game on Thursday
evening.
It was likely the Falcons (11-5,4-4) biggest win of the season so
far.
Coach Jason Snow says it felt good.
“We are still a very young team and we have had a lot of close
losses and to beat a very quality Waynedale team and find a way to get
things done and make plays. Mark
Able came in and gave us five and two thirds of shut out ball to help us
hold on for a big win,” he said.
Hillsdale scored six runs in the first two innings and Snow says the
way they responded in the second inning for key.
“We worked some walks and they made a couple of errors that helped
us out, but then we got some big hits. All
throughout the game we had some guys that stepped up and got a couple of RBI
here and there and we kept adding on. We
put four up in the first inning and they answered with three and they we
were able to come back in the second inning and get two more.
I thought that was a big part of the game, that second inning for
us,” said Snow.
Ty Williams had two hits for the Falcons.
Nick Kandel and Caden Fickes both had two RBI.
Snow says it was not an easy day to play baseball, but his players
were able to focus on what they had to do.
“(Thursday) night was not an easy night to play for anybody.
Pitchers getting a grip on the ball with the wind, the cold weather.
Both starters struggled to find the strike zone and both relievers
came in and threw strikes and the game really settled down after the first
two innings. Fortunately for us
we got to them early and got a few more runs and we were able to hold on,”
he said.
Waynedale (14-1,7-1), #1 in the Swankonsports.com baseball coaches
poll in the small school division, now shares first with Dalton, who beat
Norwayne (5-2) on Thursday, and the Bobcats are game back.
Hillsdale trails by three.
Snow says they have had some tough losses in close games this year,
but they are getting better as the season goes on.
He says you have to put those losses behind you.
“It is difficult to do that, especially the Norwayne loss, leading
2-0 with two outs in the seventh, and nobody on.
We will look back at that one later and say, ouch, that one probably
hurt, but you can’t do anything about that at that point,” he told
Swankonsports.com after Thursday’s win, “We have to keep going out, keep
battling, I think for us to go out last week with games with Triway and West
Holmes and Ontario and now two with Waynedale we have really played a strong
schedule and I think our kids are getting better.
We also know we can compete. We
have been in every game, I think 4-2 is our biggest loss. Our
other losses are 3-2 and 5-4, we have had three 3-2 games.
So, we are learning how to play in close contests and getting better
each time.” Published 4/23/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Colonel
Crawford Beats Wynford; Stays One Back
Colonel Crawford belted Wynford (10-2) on Thursday evening and the
Lady Eagles kept themselves right in the race in the Northern 10 Athletic
Conference.
They are a game behind Bucyrus, tied with Mohawk for second place in
the standings.
Coach Sarah Fraser says they had to battle the elements too on
Thursday, but they found a way. “We
started out kind of slow. Hitting
the ball in the air obviously wasn’t going anywhere because of the wind,
so we made adjustments and started hitting line drives and made them make
plays and we came out ahead,” she said.
Fraser says she was coaching the kids that a day like Thursday was
not the best environment to hits home runs.
“I think I said down and hard about 2,000 times (Thursday) night.
We have been really working on that just as a team in general because
we have a pretty hard swinging for the fence team,” she told
Swankonsports.com after the win, “You try to get the mental approach a
little different instead of visioning the ball going over the fence we are
trying to get them to visioning it going through the fence.
So, that definitely came into play (Thursday) night for sure.”
In fact, the Lady Eagles Alivia Studer leads the “N10” in homers
so far this season.
Colonel Crawford (13-2,9-1), #2 in the Swankonsports.com softball
coaches poll in the small school division, lost for the first time last
Friday when Mohawk beat them (4-1) in a conference game.
Fraser believes they have reacted quite well to that loss and have
came back this week and played well. “It
definitely took a bit out of us. Last
week was a tough week. We had
six game in the week but the Friday Mohawk loss we were only halfway through
our six games. So, we were
mentally and physically exhausted an then we came back and beat a tough
Lexington team on Saturday in our second game.
It took a bit of mental readjusting and a day off to physically
recuperate from last week,” said Fraser. Published 4/23/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Buckeye
Central Gets Past Upper
Buckeye Central won its fourth “N10” game in its last five by
beating Upper Sandusky (5-4) on a cold and windy Thursday in New Washington.
Coach Chad Jensen says his young group, they have only one senior, is
improving and played very against Upper.
“We hadn’t played this week.
There are nine teams in the “N10”, so it was our bye and it is
hard to schedule games at the beginning of the week because every other team
in playing league. We have had a
chance to work on fundamentals in practice and things we need to work on.
The kids played really well (Thursday).
It was cold. We got some
clutch hits that we haven’t always gotten.
We got some big clutch hits and got a great pitching performance from
Alex Kanney and the kids played really well,” said Jensen.
Buckeye Central scored twice in the bottom of the first on Thursday
and Jensen felt it was important to get in front.
“We were able to get on the board early.
We had a big double by Kaiden Vaughn that got us two early and we
were able to get a couple of base runners early and Kaiden had that big
double for us. That was huge.
You get that lead and to get a clutch hit with runners on was big for
us. It really did help us to get
that lead and help us establish,” he said.
Kanney won this third game of the season and has an ERA of less than
two. Jensen says he was a
bulldog again on Thursday and wanted the ball.
“It was a great job by Alex. It
was 2-2 in the fifth and we were able to get three runs.
We got a sac fly from Lane Bauer, we got a couple of clutch singles
from Clay Green and Manny Mullins. Alex
gave up a run in the sixth and it was 5-3.
We got two quick outs in the seventh like on five pitches,” he told
Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “Then they got a couple runners on,
didn’t hit it real hard, but were able to find some green.
I went out to talk to him and I was debating on weather I was going
to pull him or not. He looked at
me and said I can get this guy coach, I can get him, and I’m a sucker for
competitiveness. So, when a kid
says he can get him, I tend to believe him and we got a pop out and got the
win.” Published 4/23/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
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Mohawk
Claims “N10” Win
Mohawk won its first Northern 10 Athletic Conference baseball game in
more than two weeks Thursday when they downed Carey (6-3) on the road.
Coach Eric Hoover hopes that it injects some confidence into his
team. “We have been on a bit
of slide and having trouble putting runs of the board.
Just can’t make any breaks for ourselves, can’t catch any breaks,
so getting a win was good. We
definitely needed one to build some confidence going forward,” he said.
Mohawk scored four times in the sixth inning and twice more in the
seventh to secure the win. Blake
Harper had a couple big hits for the Warriors with RBI singles in both the
sixth and seventh. Tyler Hayman
drove in the go ahead run in the sixth.
Landon Snyder started and went the whole way for Mohawk giving up one
earned run on four hits.
Hoover says this time they were the ones that got the big inning.
“Hopefully they will build on it and look to improve some things.
Honestly, we played about the same that have been playing.
We made some really bonehead mistakes, plays that you just can’t
make. We struggled with runners
in scoring position. We were the
ones that had the one big inning this time.
It is usually one that we give up.
We were on the other end of it and had our one big inning and took
the lead and hopefully we can carry that momentum forward,” said Hoover.
Mohawk (8-7,3-5) plays at Bucyrus (3-11,3-4) on Friday.
Hoover says going forward they have to take better advantage of
things. “I feel like we leave
so many runners in scoring position and we are not getting any of the key
hits. Two years ago, the last
season that we had, we ended up with a really good record, but we won a lot
of close games because we got key hit after key hit to get runs to take a
one run lead at the end of games or something and we are not getting those
right now. That’s baseball and
that’s how baseball works and we just have to find the confidence to make
those plays and take advantage when the other team makes a mistake,” he
told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “We are not even doing that
defensively and making them pay for mistakes that they make like our
opponents and doing to us. I
think it is a confidence thing and hopefully we can get some more guys
rolling, communicating, and just relaxing and having fun playing the
game.” Published 4/23/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
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Mt.
Vernon Bounces Back
Mt. Vernon earned an important win over Madison (9-2) on Tuesday to
keep themselves in the hunt in the Ohio Cardinal Conference.
They are tied for second with West Holmes and Ashland, a game behind
Wooster.
Coach Nate Hunt felt it was important for them to get back on the
beam right away after being swept by Wooster last week.
“Wooster last week, obviously, not the way we wanted it to go.
I can’t say anything bad about Wooster because they have a good
ballclub, fundamentally sound, they did everything right.
As a program, you have to take a step back.
I knew we had a couple of tough non-conference games on Saturday.
I just knew we had to bounce back,” he told Swankonsports.com on
Wednesday, “Olentangy Berlin is a top ten division I team in the district
and Licking Heights is top too. The
Wooster game we learned a lot about ourselves, about our program, about our
seniors, and our seniors bounced back. It
was really good to see the team bounce back, especially after a tough
loss.”
Hunt says with the baseball season being short and so many games
crammed together there really isn’t time for a slump of any kind.
“We get the two wins on Saturday against two really good baseball
teams and then we just kind of carried over into Tuesday for conference.
It was just a good thing to see a comeback.
There are times when the game of baseball beats up on you and when
you are down and you need a break, you don’t get one, so definitely good
to see,” he said.
Mt. Vernon (10-4,5-2), #5 in the Swankonsports.com baseball coaches
poll in the large school division, plays host to Madison (5-9,2-5) again on
Thursday after snow postponed the game on Wednesday.
Coming into the series, the Rams had won four of their last five and
Hunt knew they would be ready to play and will be Thursday as well.
“The thing that I wanted to stress to my guys was at the end of the
day they are ready to go. They
think of you are a rival as everyone in the conference does.
You are going to see their best guy and they sling it too.
It is something that I tell them, never look at scores.
Scores are something that you should never base a team off of.
The only time you should judge a team is after the game when you are
done playing them. The best team
doesn’t always win, it’s the team that plays the best on that day that
wins. We went two scoreless
innings in the beginning. So, it
was just good again to see our guys compete and ready to go,” said Hunt. Published 4/22/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
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South
Central Stays Close
South Central scored two runs over the final two innings to rally and
beat Plymouth (4-3) Tuesday in Firelands Conference action.
The win keeps the Trojans (6-8,4-2) two games back of Norwalk St.
Paul in conference standings. Plymouth
(7-5,5-1) is now a game back after losing their first conference game.
Plymouth had won (9-8) at their place on Monday and South Central
coach Mike Perry feels that Tuesday was huge for them.
“That’s what I told them going into it.
We weren’t able to get the job done the night before.
I explained to them that this is the game we need if we have any hope
to compete in this conference,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday,
“We came out and looked like we did the night before.
We threw the ball around a couple of times, had a couple of unearned
runs and went down 3-0 and then my freshman second basemen in about the
fourth inning tweaked his knee and he had to come out of the game and we had
to put some subs in there and it seemed like the adversity got the boys
going. After that we had better
at bats and Carl Ferber on the mound was just untouchable in the last three
or four innings.”
Trailing (3-2) headed to the bottom of the sixth, Carson Music led
off the inning with a triple and scored on an sacrifice fly by David
Lamoreaux. Then in the seventh,
Karl Ferber drove in the winning run with an infield single.
Perry says the players circled the wagons when behind and did a very
good job of battling adversity. “It
was a wakeup call. I mean Eric
Sanders, he is only a freshman, but he is a very, very important part of
both our offense and defense. He
is a kid that I ask a lot of things and he even pitches a little.
When you see him come off the field it kind of jolted everyone and
everyone came together and things turned around from that point,” he said.
Ferber went the distance and gave up three runs, one earned, on three
hits, striking out nine.
Perry says he had good stuff and was mentally strong in what was a
very good effort. “That was
the great thing (Tuesday). He
had a couple of errors behind him in the same inning.
There was a check swing call that didn’t go his way.
Instead of worrying about it, he just wanted the ball back and the
next pitch he took care of it himself. He
retired the last 11 guys and I don’t think he went to three balls on
anyone. He was throwing harder
than I have seen him in a long time and his curveball was incredible,”
said Perry. Published 4/22/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
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Ontario
Leads “MOAC”
Ontario has a young baseball team in many ways, but one that has
enjoyed success this season, especially in conference games.
They beat Clear Fork (11-5) to stay in first.
Coach Jeff Fisher says they got the early lead and they were able to
stay in front. “We scored
first. We scored with two outs.
We had some clutch hits and we extended the lead,” he said.
Ontario (7-6,4-1) leads Shelby by a game, they have beaten the
Whippets twice, and Pleasant is also a game back.
Especially with a young team, Fisher says confidence in their
abilities is very important. “Confidence
for a young team is paramount. It
just comes with knowing that baseball is a difficult game to play the right
way. Once you can get past that
you can start focusing on the positives. We
had a really good practice on Monday and we turned that into a solid
performance on Tuesday,” said Fisher.
The Warriors seem to be a team that has shown improvement this year,
but Fisher says that must, of course, continue, especially with some of the
young pitchers that have. “We
are not out of the woods yet. We
are still 7-6. There is enough
damage in the review mirror to force a head coach to pause.
We have got to clean things up, especially on the mound and establish
some roles there,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday, “Have some
quality innings with good defense behind them to temper some of the big
innings we have been victimized by. The
jury is still out there. We are
looking to right those wrongs and just try to play through.”
The rematch with Clear Fork (5-7,2-3) that would have been Wednesday
if not for the snow, will be played at American Legion Field in Bellville on
April 30. Ontario’s next game
will by Friday at the Cedar Points Sports Center against Vermilion of the
Lake Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference.
Fisher says whatever the day brings his kids have to continue to be
ready to play the game and get better. “Take
advantage of the day that you have whether it is an off day or is game day.
Each of those opportunities has its own routine.
We are trying to control those so we can have a proper plan when we
get to the ballfield,” he said. Published 4/22/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
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Fredericktown
Shares First
Fredericktown and Highland share first place in the baseball
standings in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference and it looks like it is
going to be an interesting race over the next three weeks.
The Freddies (11-3,7-1), #4 in the Swankonsports.com baseball coaches
poll in the small school division, beat Danville on Monday (16-1) and
Tuesday (11-1) to keep their share first place.
Coach Ryan Hathaway says they were focused in those games.
“We played pretty well against them.
I might not be the strongest team that Danville has had, but they
compete really hard and compete hard against us.
So, to just continue to get better each game and I thought we took
some good steps this week,” he said.
The Freddies really didn’t have a lot of experience coming into
this season, but Hathaway says they have come around quite nicely.
“That is kind of what we were hoping to begin the season.
Having the guys get the timing back and everything.
Just getting them all playing together.
This is the first year for this team playing as one team with all of
the seniors that we graduated two years ago and then obviously not having
last year. We didn’t have that
year to get guys acclimated and playing together.
So, I knew it was going to take a little time and we pretty pleased
with what we are seeing,” he said.
Right now, their biggest win of the season came last Friday when they
handed Highland their only loss of the season (9-5) to move back into first
place after losing to them (4-1) on Wednesday.
Hathaway says they played that game with confidence.
“Looking at it we didn’t want to over hype it too much, but it
was definitely a big game just to stay in the race with them knowing who
they had left with their schedule and the tough games that we have left in
the conference yet. We knew that
we had to get at least one of two from them to stay in the race.
We really played with a lot of confidence that night,” said
Hathaway. Published 4/22/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
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Clear
Fork Outlasts Ontario; Stays in First Place
Clear Fork rapped out 17 hits, including four home runs, and they
held on to beat Ontario (13-10) in a Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference softball
game on Tuesday evening.
The Lady Colts (10-5,5-0) maintain a share of the lead in the
conference standings. Pleasant
(9-3,4-0) had their game with River Valley cancelled on Tuesday.
River Valley trails by two games and Ontario (7-7,2-3) by three.
The rematch is now scheduled for Friday in the valley due to snow and
cold temperatures over the next couple of days.
Courtney Palmer had four hits, including two doubles and a triple for
the Lady Colts. Ashtynn Roberts
and Trinity Cook both had three hits. Hallie
Gottfried, Roberts, Renee Anders, and Reghan Baker all had home runs for
Clear Fork. Courtney Palmer and
Roberts both had three RBI.
Coach Jeff Gottfried says they hit the ball hard, but they could
never put Ontario away. “Any
win you can get on the road in conference play is a good win.
We certainly swung bats very well, we had 17 hits, so we hit it all
over the place. We just
couldn’t seem to finish. We
actually had a 10 run lead and an 11 run lead at different points in the
game,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “We were looking at a
run rule, but they were scratching and clawing and got it down to nine, then
it was back up to 11, and they got it under 10.
All of the sudden, I think we got a little tight at the end and just
couldn’t really finish the way we needed to, but fortunately we had a big
enough lead that we were able to get it done and get a nice win on the
road.”
Leading (2-1) going to the fourth inning, Clear Fork hung up a
crooked number by scoring seven times to take command.
Gottfried says they just got momentum on their side.
“We scored seven runs in one inning.
We had a big explosion with two outs.
The momentum thing in high school sports it is indescribable, I
don’t care what sport it is when you see that momentum ball rolling it
happens and it happened in that inning for us offensively and it also
happened for Ontario late in the game. They
had a three run inning followed by a five run inning.
Thank goodness, they ran out of outs at the end.
The momentum thing is huge in high school sports,” he said.
Clear Fork had to hang on though, leading (13-2) heading for the
bottom of the sixth, the Lady Warriors plated eight runs in their final two
at bats. Gottfried had to bring
starting pitcher Roberts back into the game to finish it up after replacing
her with Maddi Dion after the fifth inning.
Gottfried says his girls always kept fighting.
“We made a couple of errors and gave them some easy runs that kind
of put them back in the game. It
gave them some confidence to do some things, but fortunately they never did
bring the tying run to the plate. Our
pitching staff, we used both of them (Tuesday) night and we had to bring the
starter back in to get it done. I
don’t know if either them felt really, really good about their outing.
The one thing that we do is we keep fighting.
Win or lose, we are going to fight to the end and that was what I saw
out of our kids and they fought to that last out,” said Gottfried. Published 4/21/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
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Shelby
Keeps Pace in the “MOAC”
Shelby earned another important win in the Mid-Ohio Athletic
Conference on Tuesday as they went to Galion and beat the Tigers (8-2) to
stay a game behind Ontario.
The Warriors beat Clear Fork (11-5) on Tuesday.
Coach Jon Amicone says its important to win on the road in the
conference and he likes to get the first game of that two game series.
“It kind of keeps us in the hunt as far as the “MOAC” goes
playing a really good team at Galion. On
the road, it is always good to get that first win because in our league we
play back to back. We play them
again (Wednesday) pending weather and we are looking for the sweep.
It is always important to get that one because it kind of takes the
pressure off, but we know we will be in a battle the next time we play
them,” said Amicone.
Shelby (11-2,5-2) is scheduled to host the Tigers (8-5,4-3) on
Wednesday, but it looks like the weather might be a real problem with snow
falling in the early morning hours of late April.
Amicone says they got an excellent start out of pitcher Marshall
Shephard on Tuesday that put them in control of the game.
“Galion top to bottom is a really good team.
They do a lot of little things right defensively and have a really
solid lineup. We got a really
good effort out of Marshall Shepherd, obviously he is supposed to be our guy
this year. He had a number one
type start for us. He went six
strong and held them to one run. We
able to extend the lead in the sixth and were able to go to the bullpen,”
he said.
Marek Albert, Shepherd and Luke Shepherd all had two hits for the
Whippets and both Shepherds had two RBI.
Shelby erupted for five runs in the sixth inning and Amicone thought
that was key in their win over Galion. “Our
kids did a really good job of extending.
That is something we talk about in our offensive philosophy is
extending the lead and how important that is when we do have a lead to keep
taking on runs. We were able to
open it op a little in the sixth and score five and the top of the seventh
push one across, which I thought was huge,” he told Swankonsports.com
after the win, “It all goes back to being on the road too.
When you are on the road and they get that last at bat you have to
keep extending the game. You
don’t want to be the guy that gets walked off, so all of those late runs
are extremely important, not only for the psyche of the team, but just
knowing you have a little insurance because you don’t want to be walked
off.” Published 4/21/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
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Lexington
Gets a Win
Lexington broke a seven game losing skid on Tuesday evening by
trimming Mansfield Senior (2-0) in Ohio Cardinal Conference action.
They had not won since beating Norwalk in a non-conference game on
April 3 in the second game of a doubleheader.
Coach Kevin Morrow says it feels really good.
“The boys definitely needed to feel that and have some happy
feelings on senior night. It was
a hard fought game, but we came out on top.
It was good the finally get back in the win column,” he said.
Lexington (3-10,3-4) is supposed to play at Mansfield Senior
(1-11,0-5) on Wednesday, but it looks like the weatherman may get in the way
of that game.
The Minutemen got good pitching on Tuesday and Morrow says they were
able to field the ball too in a game played at Mansfield Christian, the home
field for the Minutemen this year. “Gabe
Hamilton went five innings and he only gave up one hit and then Cole Pauley
came in for a scoreless two inning save and both boys combined to keep us up
the whole game and then our defense didn’t have any errors, so that helps
too,” said Morrow.
They didn’t tear the cover off the ball in anyway, but Morrow says
they did what they had to do to score some runs.
“We came through, but I’ll tell you what Mansfield Senior is much
improved,” he told Swankopnsports.com on Tuesday night, “Coach (J.R.)
Davis has got those guys playing hard. Their
shortstop and their centerfielder robbed us of a couple smashed hits that
could have put some more runs on the board, but we got just enough.
Kevin Grimm got an RBI hit that was enough to make it stand for the
win.” Published 4/21/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
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Northmor
Pounds Cardington in Rematch
Northmor scored five times in the second inning and never looked back
in blasting Cardington (11-3) in a Knox Morrow Athletic Conference game on
Tuesday evening at Cardington.
They lost to Cardington (7-1) on Monday.
That is the third time the Golden Knights have responded to a
conference loss with a win this spring. Coach Buck
Workman says wins this year in the “KMAC” are truly up for grabs.
“I think it speaks volumes to the depth of the league really.
On any night, anybody can beat anybody, and that is just what has
happened to us in these three sets against Centerburg, East Knox and now
Cardington. We lost the first
game and were able to turn around and get the second one,” he said. Northmor
(10-5,5-3) also did something else they have done all season and that is get
behind early. Workman says
they sort of feed on that. “We
have had traditionally show starts this year and we did it again (Tuesday)
night. We went one, two, three
in the first inning, we hit a couple balls hard, but hey come up and score a
couple. It was the same old
story we go down early,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday night, “In
the second inning we get a leadoff double and I’m like, alright, here we
go, then we get two quick outs and I’m like, oh man, but then we put
together five runs with two outs. From
that point forward the kids were just oozing with confidence and we were
able to keep it going.” Max Lower,
Pierce Lower and Andrew Armrose all had two hits for the Golden Knights, Max
Lower had two RBI. Drew Hammond
gave up two runs over five and two thirds innings to get the win. All five of the
runs it the second inning came with two out and Workman says those key hits
are really big. “I tell my
kids all of the time those two out hits, those are almost like extra runs
because they are so demoralizing to the defense.
When you are one pitch from getting out of the inning and it is bing,
bang, boom and you give up two, three runs, just like that, it’s
frustrating,” said Workman. Published 4/21/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
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Colonel
Crawford Grabs Lead
Colonel Crawford railed form a five run deficit to beat Wynford
(12-7) Monday evening and take first place to themselves in the Northern 10
Athletic Conference.
The Royals scored two runs in the top of the first on two hit
batsmen, a perfect bunt for a single by Cody Taylor and RBI ground outs by
Cainen Allen and Grant McGuire. They
added runs scoring hits by Leyton Appleby, Taylor and Spencer Miller to make
it (5-0) after an inning and half.
Crawford coach Dan Gorbett says that put his unbeaten team in an
unfamiliar position. “We
got down 5-0 and I told the kids we have never been in this situation this
year, how are we going to respond? I
said we can’t expect to get five runs in an inning, we just have to chip
away,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “Seven and eight got
base hit and nine got a ground ball to get them in.
That bottom of the order picked us up there.
From that point on it was like everybody started hitting all of the
way through the lineup. I
thought that was kind of the key, the guys that aren’t supposed to hit
picked it up and got us going. We
had our backs to the wall and did a nice job coming back.
They are good team, they really are, they put the bat on the ball.
It will be a tough game Wednesday with them.”
After leaving the bases loaded in the first without scoring, the
Eagles got two in their half of the second on a single by Brennan Hamilton,
an RBI double by Mason McKibben and an RBI ground out by Caleb Lohr, as
numbers seven, eight and nine got them started.
Crawford would take the lead (6-5) with a four spot in the bottom of
the fourth with RBI hits by Cade Hamilton, Carson Feichtner, two other runs
scored on errors.
The Eagles weren’t done, they got four more in the fifth to take a
(10-5) lead on a run scoring hit by freshman Micah Thomas, a sacrifice fly
by Feichtner, and a couple more errors.
It became (12-5) in the sixth on back to back singles by Thomas and
Cade Hamilton and a sac fly by Brock Ritzhaupt.
Wynford scored a couple in the top of the seventh on hits by Miller
and Allen and a RBI double by Dylon Robinson.
Thomas and Cade Hamilton both had four hits on the day.
“Micah has really been coming on strong, he had a great game.
Cade, they put that shift on, and he put that bunt down there and he
had that hit down the line, so he had a really good game,” said Gorbett.
Wynford starter Sam Collene got out of two bases loaded jams and
stuck out four Eagles in the first three innings, but coach Tom Smith says
beginning in the fourth he got the ball over the middle of the plate.
“The strike zone was really tight and his pitch count got up early
and when you have to start throwing the ball over the plate they are going
to hit you. He just got tired
there in the fifth inning and they hit him, they put the ball in play,”
said Smith.
Collene gave up 10 hits in going four innings, facing three batters
in the fifth.
Drayton Burkhart earned his sixth victory against no losses this year
on Monday in going the distance. However,
the Royals did reach him for 10 hits on the day.
“We were facing the best pitcher in the league and we scored seven
runs against him. I think we are
good going forward. We have been
hitting all year. We are leading
the league in batting average and second in runs scored.
We have been hitting the ball, so to coming and hit the best pitcher
in the league like that. We are
hitting the ball fine, the offense is fine,” said Smith.
Burkhart allowed only five hits, three in the seventh, in the final
five innings on Monday and Gorbett says he pitched better as the game went
on. “I have never seen him hit
two batters in a season and he hit two in an inning.
He said his hands were slippery and it was a slider and it kind of
slipped out of his hands. They
scored two runs and the ball never left the infield.
So, he had that slow start and the came back and got a couple of more
on him. Once we battled back, he
picked it up and notch and really finished strong,” said Gorbett.
Colonel Crawford (13-0,9-0), #2 in the first Swankonsports.com
baseball coaches poll of the season in the small school division, plays at
Wynford (11-5,8-1) on Wednesday, if the weather allows.
Gorbett says it will be important for them to maintain their slim
lead in the conference. “One
game at a time. I know that is a
cliché, but that was our cheer, 1-0. This
will be nice to enjoy tonight, but we have to think of one game leading them
because they are just one game behind. That
will be a big game,” he said.
Seneca East, who beat Bucyrus (16-0) on Monday, also tails Crawford
by a game.
Smith says they want to win at home, just like the Eagles did.
“I mean it’s another game, right?
Obviously, we want to get a spilt with them.
They defended their home field, so we want to come back and defend
ours next game,” he said. Published 4/20/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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St.
Paul Edges New London
Norwalk St. Paul’s Scotty Adelman outdueled New London’s Jacob
Shaver and the Flyers beat the Wildcats (4-1) in a Firelands Conference game
on Monday evening.
Both pitchers struck out 15 batters.
The win keeps the Flyers (11-3,5-0) in share of first place in the
conference with Plymouth, who beat South Central (9-8) on Monday.
Coach Aaron Fries says it was the kind of game he expected.
“We kind of thought going over there that runs and hits would be
tough to come by. I thought we
had a good plan. It kind of
played out for us the way we hoped. It
was definitely a pitcher’s duel with 30 strikeouts between the two of
them. Shaver was an excellent
pitcher. I had heard quite a bit
about him from the kids and he did a nice job.
Scotty was just unbelievable again (Monday) night like he has been
all year,” he said.
Adelman has not allowed an earn run over his last three starts.
He has permitted only one earned run in in Firelands Conference play,
which has included wins over Monroeville, Crestview and New London.
Fries says he had both of his pitches working on Monday.
“(Monday) was about as good as he has pitched since really our
scrimmage versus Norwalk as far as his command.
I thought he was really good with his command with both his pitches,
his curveball, which is excellent, and then his fastball, and he was able to
put them about anywhere he wanted to and he got ahead of most of the hitters
throughout the night. He is
really in midseason form right now, right where you would want him to be.
He just seems to be gaining more confidence and getting better with
each outing,” said Fries.
Eli Fisher tied the game at (1-1) with an RBI single in the top of
the third, Kaden Maxwell doubled and scored on wild pitch in the fifth to
the Flyers on top (2-1) and St. Paul added two runs in the seventh that
scored on wild pitches.
Fries says this executed on offense.
“I think anytime we face a strong pitcher our goal is to get as
many guys in scoring position as we can if we get them on, we want to get
them over and get them in scoring position.
We know when we get them in scoring position they aren’t always
going to score, but the more times we do that the better our chances are to
get a few and that is what we feel we need in most circumstances with the
pitching we have. He was by far
the best pitcher we have seen this year, so it was good to preform that
way,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “We are going to see good
pitchers throughout the season and you have to play a certain way to compete
and be successful. I thought
what we did (Monday) night was exactly what we needed to do.
When we got guys on, we got them in scoring position and we got
enough in and put enough pressure on them.” Published 4/20/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Edison
Maintains First Place in Bay Division
Thomas Simon allowed only three hits and struck out 11 as the Edison
Chargers maintained a one game lead in the Sandusky Bay Conference Bay
Division with a (5-0) win over Oak Harbor on Monday evening.
The Chargers lead Huron by a game in the division standings.
The Tigers beat Willard (15-1) on Monday in division play.
Coach Sean Hoover says Simon really didn’t have command early in
the game, but he battled. “He
had a great game. He got up in
the zone early and struggled a little bit and got his pitch count up, but
battled through it and that is what good pitchers can do, they can battle
though sometimes when they don’t have their best stuff until they start to
find it,” he said.
Simon stuck out the side in the seventh inning to put the game away.
Hoover says he showed some mental toughness.
“Especially with young kids when they don’t have their best stuff
sometimes mentally that doesn’t put them in a great place out there, so
they have to learn how to not only get over the physical part of it and how
can I still put the ball where if the other team hits it we can make outs
and not just get frustrated because they don’t feel like they have command
of all of their pitches,” said Hoover.
Simon and Clint Finnen had RBI hits in the fifth for the Chargers
(8-4,4-0) and they scored three in the second with the befit of only one
hit.
Hoover says it’s about finding a way.
“We did a good job of getting some guys on base in the second
inning. When you find ways to
get them across the plate, you will take them whenever you can get them,”
he told Swankonsports.com on Monday night, “We didn’t hit any balls in
the gaps or clear bases with bases loaded.
A couple of guys were standing in the right place in the batter’s
box to wear a couple of pitches. You
will take the lead anyway you can get it.” Published 4/20/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Vermilion
Tops Bellevue
Vermilion got solid pitching and took advantage of opportunities on
offense to beat Bellevue (10-3) Monday evening in play in the Lake Division
of the Sandusky Bay Conference.
The win keeps the Sailors (9-4,6-1) a game behind Perkins in the Lake
Division standings, the Pirates beats Clyde (5-0) on Monday.
Coach Jeff Keck says it was a good overall win for his team.
“Jake Krausher had another good game.
He’s 3-1 right now. He
had 10 strikeouts and was able to go six innings and Carter Klausing
finished it in the seventh, I think he threw under 10 pitches in the seventh
to finish it off. We were ale to
create some runs,” he told Swankonsports.com, “We are able to take
advantage of some walks by Bellevue. I
think that was probably one of the things that was a key to the game.
We were able to push some runs across.
I think we only had about three or four hits.
It was a good win. The
weather was pretty nasty. It was
pretty windy and cold. It was
one of those typical spring games on the lake.
It’s hard to play in the elements like that.
So, we were fortunate to come out of it with a win.”
Keck says they are a team that knows how to run the bases and pick up
some runs and they got some key hits Monday.
“That is part of high school baseball you can create some runs.
One thing that we take pride in is our kids runs bases well.
They take extra baes when they can, read pitches and do things the
right way on the bases and because of that I think sometimes we can create
runs. Basically, we are taking
advantage of other teams’ mistakes, not even necessarily mistakes, just
playing the game the right way. Cody
Shultz came up with a big hit that scored two runs.
Ethan Hendrickson had a key hit that scored two runs.
So, out of those three hits, two of them were pretty big hits and
accounted for four runs. We had
hits at the right time,” said Keck.
The weather has turned kind of nasty of the last week and it is
supposed to be worse on Wednesday when the Sailors are supposed to play at
Bellevue. Keck says you have to
be mentally tough. “Both teams
have to play in it and you have to be the one the team that plays through it
and overcomes adversity. We were
able to do that (Monday). I
guess (Wednesday) morning we are supposed to have about three inches of snow
on the ground, so I don’t know how that is going to work in late April,
that’s interesting,” he said. Published 4/20/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Mehock
Relays Return
After a year hiatus due to COVID-19 the Mansfield Mehock Relays
returned Saturday under a partly cloudy sky and the competition was solid
with Brunswick winning team titles in both boys and girls.
Crestview was second in the final boys’ standings and Mansfield
Madison was second in the girls.
In boys’ competition, Brunswick won five events as Tomas Rimac took
both the shot put and the discus, Evan Jarold won the 1,600 meters, Alex
Keller won the 3,200 meters and the Blue Devils won the 400 meter relay.
In the girls’ side, they were also strong in the field events with
Madison Wyatt winning the discus and Emma Gray the pole vault, they also won
the mile relay.
Madison had an excellent day and coach Andrew Saris says their
performance was a little unexpected. “Actually, it was a little bit of a
surprise. We just ran Thursday
at the Ontario Relays and I thought I put together a tough lineup for that.
(Saturday) I wanted to specialize with a few kids here and there.
We had some girls, and even boys, that I didn’t expect would come
in and place, maybe snuck in and got a fifth or a sixth.
Some kids weren’t fully evented, but in the events they did come
out and participate in they were able to score points for our team.
It was cool, I didn’t know I would be getting this trophy, but
it’s awesome,” said Saris.
Kari Echenwiler was dynamite for Madison in winning the 300 meter
hurdles (48.29) and the long jump (17’3”). “I wanted 17 so bad
(Saturday), I have been waiting all season it, actually I have been waited
two years for it. I just felt
really good. I felt like I
really wanted to win Mehocks because it would be my third straight.
I knew 17 would have to do it, so I went really hard and was really
aggressive with my jumps and I go it,” said Echwnwiler.
She also won the long jump at the 2018 and 2019 relays.
Nevaeh Lewis took the 100 meters and Alexsia Davis the 200 for the
Lady Rams. They also won the 400
meter relay.
Brunswick totaled 110 points, while Madison had 100.
Shelby finished third with 64, Lyndhurst Brush fourth with 55.75 and
Crestview fifth with 46.75.
Other local winners in girls’ events include Samantha Comer of
Galion the 100 hurdles, Emily Hanft of Mt. Gilead in the 3,200, Kassie Stine
of Shelby in the high jump and Bree Mills of Ontario in the shot put.
Also, Brie Trumpower of Ontario won the 800 meter run. “I felt
pretty good. It was a little
weird with this being my first race. I
usually have the mile or the 4x800 before it, so my legs felt a little
heavy, but I eventually warmed up,” said Trumpower.
With a tremendous finishing kick, Destiney Rose of Willard took the
1,600 meters. “I have been
running cross country and track for a really long time.
I wanted to be sprinter, but I wasn’t able to do that very well and
I have always been able to kick in the end,” said Rose.
Isaac Brooks of Madison took two boys’ events in winning the 110
and 300 hurdles, so did Tanner Moore of Crestview in taking the 100 meters
and the high jump, Josh Hawley of Ashland won the 800 meters, Aveon Grose of
Mansfield Senior won the long jump and Ethan Staley of Clear Fork the pole
vault.
In the final boys’ standings, Brunswick totaled 113 points,
Crestview had 92, Mansfield Senior was third with 68, Shelby fourth with 55,
Brush fifth with 51 and Madison sixth with 49. Published 4/17/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Colonel
Crawford Faces Mohawk in Big One
Colonel Crawford shares first place in the Northern 10 Athletic
Conference softball standings with Bucyrus, a game in front of Mohawk, at
nearly the halfway mark of the conference schedule.
The Lady Eagles (10-0,7-0) beat Mohawk (6-5) on Wednesday in Sycamore
and will host them at Chuck Huggins Field in the rematch on Friday in North
Robinson.
Crawford beat New London (13-4) in a non-conference game on Thursday
evening.
They are unbeaten on the season overall and coach Sarah Fraser says
they have had great consistency so far this year.
“That is one thing we have been hammering in.
We really make a conscious effort to expect every team is going to be
the best team we are ever going to play.
So, that definitely helps with the tough schedule,” she told
Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “We have six games this week, after
(Thursday) night we are only halfway through.
It is definitely grueling for spring sports.”
It’s more of an offensive game that is ever has been, but pitching
is still the key in softball and Fraser believes they have two very
successful pitchers. “We are
fortunate to have our ace in Lauren Frietchen, who has won six big games for
us this year and our number two girl Alivia Studer, who was number one two
years ago, she pitched (Thursday) night and picked up her fourth win.
So, we have been very fortunate to have a very good one, two
punch,” she said.
Going into this week, Frietchen had an ERA of 1.13, second on the
conference. Studer is also the
Lady Eagles leader in home runs and RBI.
Mohawk’s Aubrie Harper leads the “N10” in batting average and
RBI.
Having won the first game with Mohawk (9-1,4-1), Fraser hopes the
home field gives her team a little edge.
“I am glad we went up there (Wednesday) and got the win on their
turf, so we can bring them to our field.
I think the home field advantage will help a little bit, but it’s
Mohawk. They are an amazing team
and we have got to dig in and play,” she said.
Fraser also played for Colonel Crawford, and very successful it
should be added, and she says being at home in North Robinson makes you more
comfortable. “As a player I
always did. I think a lot of it
is you are playing for the people that don’t go to all of the away games.
You are playing for that community that really supports you.
There is just something about being on Chuck Huggins Field period.
So, I hope that will play in our favor,” said Fraser. Published 4/16/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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South
Central Beats Mapleton; Stays in FC Race
Blane Wheeler picked up the win on the mound and added two hits and
three RBI leading South Central to an (8-6) win over Mapleton in Firelands
Conference action on Thursday evening.
The Trojans (5-6,3-1) trail Norwalk St. Paul and Plymouth by a game
in the conference standings.
Coach Mike Perry says this was a big win for his team.
“It was very critical to get the win (Thursday) night, so we could
kind of hold serve. Mapleton is
a very talented team, they hit the ball well.
We knew we would have our work cut out for us after getting down big
and coming back and taking the lead (Wednesday) and then losing it at the
end. It was important in a lot
of ways for us to win this one,” said Perry.
Mapleton had won (12-11) in eight innings at their place on
Wednesday.
Perry says his team was determined on Thursday.
“They definitely came to play, they were focused from the very
beginning. We gave up a couple
of runs in the first inning, but I don’t think they ever questioned they
were going to win this game,” he said.
The Trojans trailed (4-1) after two and half innings, but got three
in the third to tie it and tacked on four more in the fourth.
Karl Ferber also had two hits and three RBI for the Trojans.
South Central plays Wellington and non-league game on Friday.
Perry says it should be a lot of fun.
“The funny thing is the coach at Wellington is a friend of mine.
They are a Lorain County team and I live in Lorain County.
I am really looking forward to it.
I coach a couple of Wellington kids on my summer team.
So, it is going to be a lot of fun,” he said.
Then next week, the Trojans play Plymouth and Crestview in two home
and home conference series.
Perry says he is looking forward to it and believes his team in
playing well right now. “Next
week with four conference games it is going to be important for us to come
to play. To tell the truth with
the way we have been pitching the ball and getting some quality at bats all
of the way through the lineup I am really liking where we are sitting right
now,” said Perry. Published 4/16/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Fredericktown
Meets Highland Again
Fredericktown fell from a share of first place with Highland in the
Knox Morrow Athletic Conference when they lost (4-1) to Scots on Wednesday.
They get a chance at some revenge when they host Highland on Friday
in the rematch.
Outside of Wednesday, the Freddies has really been hitting the ball
well. They 17 runs against East
Knox on Tuesday and 11 on the Bulldogs last Friday in conference play.
Coach Ryan Hathaway says they have been getting their timing back.
“We have been really happy with what we have been doing on offense.
Guys are starting to get their timing back from the year off, but it
seems like they are starting to put it all together, especially at the
plate,” he said.
Hathaway says, yes, the game against Highland is important, but it is
not going to make or break their season.
“It is an important one. It
is not the most important of the whole season, but it is definitely up
there, that is how we are approaching the next game with them.
We just made too many mistakes on Wednesday.
When you get a team like Highland, I think it is the best team that I
have seen in the six years that I have been at Fredericktown.
You just can’t give them extra outs and put extra baserunners on
when you are playing a team like them,” said Hathaway.
Hathaway emphasizes that they have to play with confidence on Friday.
He adds this is a team that’s going to get better as the season
unfolds. “You can’t be
perfect, but you try to be. You
just have to have confidence that you are going to make plays and I think
that is the thing that our guys are starting to come around to this season.
To face Highland early, I don’t know if we had full confidence
facing Highland on Wednesday night. We
are starting to get there,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night,
“I think when this team gets to later in the season and we have a lot of
games under our belt I am excited to see what happens.
We will try and get it figured out in time for (Friday) night.” Published 4/16/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Clear
Fork Stays in First Place
Clear Fork buried Galion (19-3) on Wednesday to remain in a tie for
first place with Marion Pleasant in the softball standings in the Mid-Ohio
Athletic Conference.
They lead River Valley and Ontario by two games after the Lady
Vikings beat Ontario (14-8) on Wednesday.
Lady Colts coach Jeff Gottfried feels the wins they had last week
against River Valley set the foundation for their season.
“We have had a good start. I
would like to talk more about last week than this week within the
conference. Winning two games
against River Valley, our first conference foes.
You don’t know what you have got, especially after having a year
off with COVID stuff. To win at
home against them like we did 3-1, solid pitching and defensive effort and a
couple of timely hits for us. Then
to go on the road back down to their place the next night and come away 4-3
winners and we were down 3-0 in that ballgame was certainly nice see with
our kids and be resilient and be able to battle and come back and beat a
pretty solid team in River Valley,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday
night, “This week, with Galion, they are definitely down with their
players and their abilities. We
are still focusing on our pitching and defense more than anything else and
right now we are doing things there pretty well.”
Clear Fork also beat Galion (26-0) on Tuesday and Gottfried says that
while it can be difficult to keep locked in they were able to work on some
things. “Absolutely it
difficult to keep your focus. We
just try to stress to them that we still have to play to our level.
We worked on base running things.
We worked on some situational things on defense making sure people
were in the right places. Just
talking about some little things that still need to happen.
Checking the outfielders out pre pitch when you are on the bases and
doing different things like that regardless of the pitches you see.
If anything else it was almost like two days working on hitting
changeups because that is all the faster they were coming in, normal
changeup speed. For some of our
kids that is difficult to do even if you know it’s coming.
I felt our kids still played the way we play in our program and
followed what we do for two days,” he said.
Clear Fork (7-4,4-0) plays a tough non conference schedule too and
that is a plus. Gottfried adds
this week also gave him a chance to give other players a chance to get in
the game more. “There are not
a whole lot of breaks in our non conference schedule.
We have Ashland coming up at the beginning of next week.
We were supposed to play Bucyrus on Friday, but they have some COVID
issues, so we found a game with Northmor and they are 5-2 or something like
that right now, so they are a solid opponent and Plymouth on Saturday.
It was the nice the last couple of days to get some kids that are
role players for us that don’t necessarily get a lot of at bats, pinch
runner, pinch hitter type kids. They
got some looks that they normally wouldn’t get in regular games.
It was nice to give them that opportunity.
The one thing that I really, really like about our team is the way
they get along. They are very
unselfish, very good chemistry, they just enjoy being around each other and
it shows in the way they play and the success we have been having so far to
start our season,” said Gottfried. Published 4/15/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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River
Valley Outscores Ontario
River Valley scored seven times in the first two innings and went on
to down Ontario (14-8) in a Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference softball game on
Wednesday evening.
Shelby Westler had an RBI single in the first and an RBI double in
the second for River Valley.
Assistant coach Katie Jividen ran the game on Wednesday for the Lady
Vikings because head coach Phil Shepler was unavailable due to sickness.
She says they got off the bus ready to play.
“Absolutely, our bats were hot.
We knocked their pitcher out in the second inning.
We came out ready to play,” she said.
Ontario errors certainly helped the River Valley’s cause on
Wednesday. The Lady Warriors had
nine errors.
Coach Sean Snow says that is very uncharacteristic of them.
“You can’t make mistakes like we did against good teams like
that. I can almost tell you
without looking at the stats that we made more errors than we have in the
last 10 games we have played combined,” he told Swankonsports.com after
the game, “When things are going really well, but a lot of times in this
sport things fall apart and defensively it fell apart, but you can see that
the girls don’t give up and I am proud of them for fighting back.
My pitcher threw well, we didn’t support her defensively.
Still proud of them and still pointing out the good things.”
Freshman Autumn Taylor started the game for Ontario, but she lasted
only an inning, and gave up six runs, four earned, on five hits.
She was replaced by sophomore Joselyn Frazier, who went the final six
allowing, eight runs, four unearned on eight hits.
River Valley (10-3,4-2) also beat Ontario (7-4,2-2) by a score of
(10-9) on Wednesday. They both
trail Clear Fork and Pleasant by two games.
Jividen says this was a big series for them after losing twice to
Clear Fork last week. “We
talked about before we came in that this is one of the teams that is going
to contend for the league and we have to come out and start strong and we
did both nights,” said Jividen.
Ontario trailed (11-0) going to the bottom the fourth, but responded
with three in their half and scored in each of the final four frames to make
it a game. Catcher Kylie Snow
highlighted the Ontario attack with three RBI.
The Lady Warriors scored three times in the bottom of the seventh and
had a runner on when River Valley pitcher Laine Wooten struck out the final
hitter.
Westler and Bentley Auld had three hits for the Lady Vikings.
Jividen says they gave a consistent effort on Wednesday.
“We never gave up. We
played hard the whole game and we finished when we needed to,” she said. Published 4/15/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Ashland
Beats Lexington in Pitcher’s Duel
Ashland earned an Ohio Cardinal Conference win Wednesday over
Lexington (2-0) behind a fine pitching performance by freshmen Luke Bryant.
The Arrows trail “OCC” leaders Wooster and West Holmes by a game.
The Generals hammered Mt. Vernon (11-1) in six innings Wednesday.
Bryant was masterful going six innings, allowing just one hit,
walking one and striking out nine.
Arrows coach Rick Gough says he surpassed their hopes for him on
Wednesday. “It was an
outstanding performance. You
can’t ask mush more than that from your pitching staff.
We started a freshmen Luke Bryant on the hill (Wednesday) night.
He exceeded our expectations,” Gough told Swankonsports.com after
the win.
Gough says Bryant good stuff and he was able to keep ahead of the
hitters. “He was around the
zone all night. Coach Darren
Hunt did an excellent job calling pitches and kept them off balance,” he
said.
Logan Fulk finished up for the Arrows throwing a scoreless seventh,
striking out one.
Lexington starter Cole Pauley and reliver Kevan Grimm were nearly as
good for the Minutemen. Pauley
went the first five and together they only gave up six hits.
Lexington coach Kevin Morrow was pleased with his pitching, but says
they couldn’t get anything going at all on offense.
“Cole Pauley pitched an excellent game for us, but Ashland’s
pitcher was even better. We had
no answers on offense,” he said.
Two runs scored by the Arrows in the top of the third were the only
tallies of the day. Gough says
they did it with some small ball. “One
aspect of our game right now is we are not hitting the ball as well as I
think we are going to, so we have to scratch and claw and try and get a
couple of runs here and there. Chase
Hunt got a good bunt down (Wednesday) night that scored a run.
We were lucky enough in a bases loaded situation to get a hit batsmen
to get a run in and it held up,” said Gough. Published 4/15/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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St.
Paul Stays Unbeaten in Firelands
Norwalk St. Paul remained in a share of first place with Plymouth by
belting Crestview (8-1) in a conference game at their place on Wednesday
afternoon.
Tyler Perkins was again outstanding for the Flyers (8-3,4-0) as he
went all seven giving up no earned runs, only four hits and recording six
strikeouts.
St. Paul would erupt for six runs in the fourth inning to put the
game on ice.
Jaycob Stanley, Adam Baker and Scotty Adelman had RBI singles and
Luke Blum a two-run double.
Coach Aaron Fries says they were able to get some key hits with
runners in scoring position. “We
were able to put up eight runs (Wednesday) night, which was pretty good.
We put up five versus them (Tuesday).
(Wednesday) I just think we did a little better strategy wise.
We had a lot of stolen bases and were able to get guys in scoring
position and then able to get them in. (Tuesday)
night we had a ton of opportunities with guys in scoring position and we
just didn’t get that big hit. In
one inning (Wednesday) we put six runs up.
That obviously was enough, the two in the prior inning was enough.
That was certainly more than enough for Tyler,” said Fries.
The Flyers had 10 stolen bases, five of them by Adelman.
Perkins entered his start with a microscopic 1.11 ERA, the best in
the conference, which is going to be lower after his start against the
Cougars.
Fries says Perkins pitched a little bit more to contact on Wednesday.
“He continues to impress. Going
into the year we thought obviously he was going to have a big year and he
has certainly lived up to all of that. His
strikeout numbers were not as high (Wednesday) night, but he was very good
and the defense behind him was very good, which was good to see because
sometimes I think this year we haven’t played as good a defense behind
him, but (Wednesday) we did a very good job of that.
Crestview put the ball in play and made us field it and we did a good
job of that,” he said.
St. Paul made only one error on the day and Fries says that was a
step in the right direction after some problems in the field late in a (5-3)
win at Crestview on Tuesday. “(Tuesday)
night we were sailing right along and in the sixth and seventh inning we had
four errors there in the last two innings and basically gave them three runs
and an opportunity to tie the game there.
They had the tying run at the plate.
Really it was nothing that they did.
For some reason we just lost a little confidence there.
It is a long season and that can happen, one mistake can turn into
two and can cascade on you,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night,
“It was good to see the kids bounce back.
I would say the defense was perfect almost.
The only mistake was had was Tyler on a little one out in front of
the plate just overthrew first base, it allowed a guy to go to third and he
eventually scored on a ground out. Other
than that, we were pretty good. It
was good to see because defensively you have to stay on things.
You can have events like that and it can start to snowball on you and
go into other games. We were
able to stop that (Wednesday) night, so I felt really good leaving the
field.” Published 4/15/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Shelby
Downs Harding; Climbs in “MOAC” Race
Shelby has drawn to within a game of lead in the competitive Mid-Ohio
Athletic Conference after a (10-7) win at Marion Harding on Wednesday
evening.
In other conference games, Galion beat Clear Fork (2-1) and River
Valley handed Ontario its first conference loss (10-7) at Ontario.
Right now, Ontario leads Shelby, Clear Fork, Galion and Marion
Pleasant by a game in the conference standings.
Shelby had beaten the Presidents (10-0) on Tuesday.
Coach Jon Amicone says the Whippets did what they had to in order to
win the game. “I was very
proud of effort (Wednesday) night, it was a very gritty win and that what we
told our guys after the game. There
were a lot ups and downs, a lot of lead changes.
You give Marion Harding a ton of credit.
After the game (Tuesday), they came back (Wednesday) and they were
full of confidence and played extremely well,” he told Swankonsports.com
on Wednesday, “We were very fortunate to get some big hits at the end of
the game and that gave us the lead. They
had the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh.
They pushed one across, but we were able to go to Blane Bowman and he
was able to shut the door on them.”
Amicone says they got some big performances on Wednesday form some
kids that were forced into unfamiliar roles and they were ready.
“We have kind of gotten hit by the injury bug and some guys needed
to step up in our lineup and they did a very nice job.
Luke Sheppard comes a hits cleanup for us and has three hits and four
RBIs. The bottom of our lineup
did a really nice job with production. We
were able to push a run across late in the game running two bunts, we bunted
a runner over to third and ran a squeeze to get him home and that was from
our seven, eight and nine hitters to get that run across.
I was really proud that we found a way to score runs, especially in
those really close games,” said Amicone.
Amicone says it takes a lot of focus to be able to make those little
plays that end up winning you games in the end.
“You work on things and doing it in practice, but doing it in the
game when the pressure is on is two different things.
I was really proud of Doran Steele, our ninth place hitter to get the
bunt down and run the squeeze and run it well.
It was a big run late in the game to tack on another one and give our
pitchers a little bit of breathing room and a bit of comfort late in the
game. Those runs that extend
leads are really key in high school baseball to put pressure on that other
team to score more than one or two runs late in the game in kind of the name
of the game,” he said. Published 4/15/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Clear
Fork Earns Big Win over Galion
Clear Fork took the early lead and then put up a big three spot in
the fifth and went on to beat Galion (6-2) on Tuesday and stay right there
in the early season race in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference.
They trail Ontario by a game in the conference standings.
Clear Fork scored twice in the first inning on a single by pitcher
Jared Scott, he moved up on a couple of wild pitches and scored on a RBI
single by catcher David Ballinger. The
Colts then loaded the bases on walks to Luke Schlosser and Kaden Riddle.
Aaron Brown was hit by a pitch, forcing in Ballinger.
In the third, second basemen, and leadoff hitter, Kaleb Hollar
doubled down the leftfield line, stole third, and score when the Tigers
misplayed the throw to third, making it (3-0) Colts.
Clear Fork coach Joe Staab says his players were there to compete,
especially when things got tighter later in the game.
“This was a great job of resilience by our players that we
haven’t seen a lot of this year, but no better time to come out.
We put up a couple of runs on offense, but the biggest thing is we
put up a zero in defense,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win,
“When the game got close, we started tightening it up and playing even
better baseball. Our boys had a
lot of energy and that is what it is going to take to win is everybody
coming together.”
Scott started and went the distance for the Colts.
He scattered six hits, walked three and struck out six, three of
those strikeouts ended three of the last four innings, including Spencer
Keller with two on in the seventh to end the game.
Staab says Scott did what he was supposed to do.
“One thing we discussed with Jared is he is good enough to strike
kids out, but that is not his job. His
job is to pitch to contact and throw the ball across the plate and
strikeouts can be a byproduct of that. He
did a great job of pitching to contact and letting the defense play and when
he did get behind, he came back and threw strikes,” said Staab.
With Clear Fork leading (3-0) after three, Galion scored their only
two runs of the game in the fourth on an RBI double by Troy Manring and RBI
single by Luke Prosser.
Galion stranded runners in both the sixth and seventh innings.
Coach Neil Schafner says they had their chances.
“We didn’t get that key hit.
I thought we had good at bats and opportunities.
Defensively they made some good plays at the right time.
We were swinging at the right pitches and attacking the ball I
thought. It’s how baseball
works they were stopping momentum when they needed to,” said Schafner.
Staab believes one of those key plays came in the third when Hollar
fielded a ball hit by Carter Keinath and tagged out Landon Campbell and
threw Keinath at first for a double play to end the third.
“It was huge to get that tag and get that ball to first and anytime
you can get two outs with one ball it is going to be a great day for your
pitcher and your defense,” he said.
Leading (3-2) going to the bottom of the fifth, the Colts would score
three times. DH Brock Talbott
doubled off the rightfield fence with one out, Ethan Staley pinch ran for
Talbott and he scored on a single by Schlosser, who advanced to third on a
wild pitch and scored on a balk. After
two Galion errors and a couple more wild pitches, Ben Blubaugh, the Colts
leading hitter on the season, plated the final run with an RBI single.
Clear Fork (4-4,2-1) plays at Galion (6-3,3-2) on Wednesday in the
rematch.
Staab hopes they can gain some needed confidence from the Tuesday’s
win. “Hopefully, one thing it
does is it gives us confidence and it gives us a little energy to want to
come out and play together as a team and win as a team.
Anything we want to accomplish this year is going to be by a join in
by everybody we have in the dugout and everybody we have on the team.
I thought they did a great job (on Tuesday) and hopefully the next
step is going forward,” said Staab. Published 4/14/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Madison
Rallies to Top Tygers
Madison gave up three runs in the bottom of the first inning, but no
more, and came up big late to beat rival Mansfield Senior (5-3) in eight
innings in Ohio Cardinal Conference baseball on Tuesday afternoon at Arlin
Field.
Kade Mullins hammered a solo home run the top of the seventh to tie
the score (3-3) and then the Rams got a two run hit from Jarrett Mandusic in
their half of the eighth to get the win.
Coach Nate Taylor says they showed some resiliency.
“It definitely didn’t start off that way.
We fell behind first inning 3-0.
We kind of talked to the guys we have to suit up and get after it
here and start pushing a couple of runs across,” he told Swankonsports.com
after the win, “We chipped away and then Kade Mullins hit a game tying
home run in the seventh. Jarrett
Mandusic singled in two more runs in the eighth to take the lead.
Hunter Church on the mound shut it down.”
Madison (2-7,1-4) needs some momentum and Taylor hopes they can get
some of that, especially with the way they had to dig down deep and get the
win. “You build on every
possible thing that you can. The
easiest thing to build off of is obviously a win.
To do it the way we had to comeback and battle and scratch and claw,
those are the things that kind of brings a team together and you can
capitalize on down the road,” said Taylor.
The rematch is Wednesday at Ram Field at Madison High School.
Taylor believes it’s a very important game for them, but he knows
the Tygers (1-8,0-3) will be inspired to play and they better be too.
“Senior High is going to be ready to play (Wednesday).
They are going to have a bitter taste in their mouth.
They are going to show up ready to play.
It is going to be up to us to show up and do the same thing and
hopefully take care of business,” he said. Published 4/14/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Norwalk
Beats Sandusky; Plays Vermilion Next
Norwalk got back in the win column in the Lake Division of the
Sandusky Bay Conference with an (8-4) win at home over Sandusky on Tuesday
evening.
They trail Perkins by a game in the division standings.
Sam Battles opened the bottom of the first inning with a double and
Eli Obringer followed with an RBI double.
Ian Minor had a RBI single and the Truckers used some small ball to
get a (4-1) lead after one.
The Blue Steaks got back in the game and trailed (6-4) going to the
bottom of the fourth. Norwalk
pushed two more across in their half of the fourth when Jessie Cole singled
and Battles followed with another single.
They scored on a ground ball and a sacrifice fly.
Coach Wes Douglas says it was a good way to start the game for them.
“We came out in the first inning, first pitch double, second pitch
double, followed that with some small ball and got four runs in the first
inning, pushed it out to 6-2, they cut it to 6-4 and it ended up 8-4.
So, it was a beautiful night for baseball and we played pretty clean
defensively. Got a win in the
league and looking forward to a game at Vermilion (Wednesday),” said
Douglas.
Cole started and got the win, Obringer pitched the final three
innings for a save.
Norwalk (7-4,3-1) suffered their only loss in the division to Perkins
(5-3) April 7 and Douglas says it was key to get back on the winning track
on Tuesday. “That was a tough
loss. We had one bad inning
defensively. They played cleaner
than us and they put the ball in play a little bit better than us.
So, it was good to play solid (Tuesday),” he told Swankonsports.com
on Tuesday night, “I thought we had some really good at bats and extended
some at bats and got some momentum going into a big week with Vermilion and
Bellevue. We are playing
Defiance over at Bowling Green on Saturday.
So, it is a very good week to compete against some good teams.”
The Truckers play at Vermilion (6-4,4-1), a (3-0) loser to Perkins on
Tuesday, a big early season game in the Lake Division.
Douglas says they can’t afford to get too far behind.
“Perkins has a one game lead over us and Vermilion now, so whoever
does not come out on top (Wednesday) will be two back in the loss column.
You are digging a little bit of a hole.
I don’t know what is going to end up winning the league.
We can’t afford to fall much farther behind than that.
We are going to need our best effort (Wednesday).
We have our top two pitchers both healthy and fresh.
So, we will go over there and compete and hopefully we will play
well,” he said. Published 4/14/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Ontario
Pounds River Valley; Keeps First Place
Ontario routed River Valley (14-6) on Tuesday to maintain first place
in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference standings.
They are unbeaten through three conference games and lead Clear Fork
by a game, the Colts beat Galion (6-2) on Tuesday.
The Warriors scored 10 runs over the last two innings to rally and
get the win.
Coach Jeff Fisher says they got some big hits and a lot of them were
for extra bases. “We had 13
hits and seven of them were doubles, but that really didn’t come until
after the fifth inning, so it was one of those back and fourth games early.
We had a quality start out of Ryan Chapman.
It really wasn’t the nail in the coffin until the seventh,” he
told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday night, “I was really happy to go on the
road and claw out a win after a week where we found ourselves fighting each
other on how to play the game the right way.
It was good to start the week on the right foot.”
Colton Ramion had three hits for the Warriors.
Ryan Brophy and Jacob Barabani had two hits each.
Fisher says they had to grind it out early in the game and you often
have to do that in baseball. “That
is the nature of the game. It’s
a seven inning war. You try to
get to the bullpen. We had that
big five run sixth that chased the starter and we were able to extend the
lead. It is a long year and here
we are and still young and have to find ways to win,” he said.
Ontario (5-4,3-0) plays host to River Valley (3-5,1-4) in the rematch
on Wednesday afternoon in “MOAC” play.
Fisher says they are still seeking the consistency that they have
been lacking in the early season. “We
are still seeking that consistency. The
lineup is starting to settle in a little bit and the pitching rotation
hasn’t. There are still some
x’s there as we seek out some roles to go forward into (Wednesday).
This group has some baseball savviness about it.
We have put ourselves in a position here early that we control our
own destiny. I think it is
important here that we continue to play fundamental baseball.
We have bulldogged the tough moments and were able to persevere and
come out on top,” said Fisher. Published 4/14/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Seneca
East Stays in First
Seneca East stays in a share of first place in the competitive
Northern 10 Athletic Conference with a come from behind (9-6) win over
Ridgedale on Tuesday evening in Attica.
They are in a fist place tie with Colonel Crawford and Wynford.
The Royals beat Bucyrus (5-3) on Tuesday in conference play.
Starting pitcher Turner Bridgford gave up six runs, three unearned,
over the first two innings, but rallied to go the distance, striking out
eight to get the win.
Coach Rick Bowerman says Bridgford solved some mechanical issues and
got better as the game went along. “It
was a gutsy performance by a senior pitcher.
Hs struggled the first couple of innings.
He wasn’t really sharp, but he kept battling.
He got better as the game went on.
I don’t think he let a runner past second base after the second
inning, so I was very proud of him. He
did what a senior is supposed to do he gutted it out and worked on some
mechanical issues early on and found his rhythm and pitched very well those
last five innings,” said Bowerman.
Trailing (6-2) after three innings, the Tigers (4-3,4-0) scored three
in the fourth, took the lead with two more in the fifth on two run singled
by ninth place hitter Matt Chappell and tacked on two more in the sixth.
Bowerman says they weren’t ready to play early in the game, but
they got more focused after getting behind.
“I think we are maturing as a team.
We have some young players and they are getting some varsity
experience,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “We got down early
on I think, it was a matter of we beat them pretty handily on Friday, coming
in thinking we are going to do it again, and they came in with a lot of
excitement, jumped on us early, and we weren’t really playing with the
excitement we needed to, but we found a way to get it done.
We chipped away, chipped away, and we finally got some momentum going
and did what a mature team does and found a way to win.”
Buckeye Central (2-9,2-4) is the opponent for the Tigers on Wednesday
and Friday in league play. Bowerman
says they need to be ready from the get go.
“We have Buckeye Central coming up on Wednesday and Friday and they
struggled early on and lost a lot of close games then their last two games
they knocked off Mohawk, who is a pretty good team.
You can’t take anybody for granted in this league,” he said. Published 4/14/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Colonel
Crawford Maintains a Share of “N10” Lead
Colonel Crawford stays in first place after recording two victories
over Carey in Northern 10 Athletic Conference baseball on Monday and they
did it was only two hits over the two games.
In the game that was completed from Friday, Carey’s Ian Yeater
threw a no hitter, but the Eagles scored single runs in the fifth and sixth
innings as the Blue Devils had three errors and won (2-1) behind Drayton
Burkhart.
Crawford coach Dan Gorbett says he has never really been through game
like that has he has been a coach for a lot of years.
He says the goal is to win and that is what they did.
“That’s the bottom line. When
you win a game with no hits, I don’t think that has happened to me in 30
years as a head coach, but I’ll take it.
He just kept us off balance. We
didn’t strike out much, he just changed speeds and is a good pitcher even
though he doesn’t have that blazing fastball, he did a good job against
us,” he said.
Burkhart permitted only four hits and struck out 10 on in game one.
In the second game, the Eagles (8-0,6-0) beat Carey (14-2) and they
got only two hits in that game. However,
Carey pitchers walked 12 Crawford batters.
Gorbett says they found it tough to get in any rhythm at the plate,
but they did what they had to win the game.
“We had some sac flies and we did some good things.
They were kind of out of pitchers.
So, when you get a game where you walk two batters in a row and there
are not a lot of strikes being thrown it can be hard to get in your hitting
grove,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday, “We had good pitching and
great defense in both games and found some ways to score some runs and win
and that is the bottom line.”
The Eagles only had one error over the two games.
Colonel Crawford, Wynford and Seneca East all have no losses in the
conference so far, the Eagles have played six league games, Wynford five and
Seneca East three. Wynford plays
Bucyrus and Seneca East hosts Ridgedale in “N10” games on Tuesday, they
were rained out on Monday.
Crawford returns to conference play on Wednesday against Mohawk.
Burkhart has won all four of his starts this season, three in
conference games against Buckeye Central, Upper Sandusky and Carey, and
leads the “N10” in strikeouts.
Gorbett says they have gotten outstanding pitching this spring,
including Monday. “Drayton
Burkhart came back (Monday) to pitch and he was really sharp.
All of his pitches where going. In
game two, the Hamilton bothers both pitched well.
Cade started and we pulled him, so he would be eligible for
Wednesday. His little brother
(Brennan) came in and did an outstanding job.
So, our pitching was outstanding (Monday),” said Gorbett. Published 4/13/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Northmor
Beats Mt. Gilead Twice
Northmor picked up two important wins in the Knox Morrow Athletic
Conference on Monday in beating Mt. Gilead (10-9) and (5-3) to keep
themselves in the conference race.
They trail Highland and Fredericktown by game in the conference
standings.
Coach Buck Workman says Monday was a rare opportunity.
“We don’t get a chance to do that very often unless it’s a
Saturday. Being able to pull out
two on Monday makes it even nicer,” he said.
The first game was started on Friday, stopped due to rain, and
continued on Monday.
Workman says they didn’t start on Monday very well in giving up
five runs in the top of the fifth, but they were able to battle back.
“It didn’t start out so swimmingly for us.
We come out and we are up 5-4 and the next thing you know we are down
9-5. We gave up five runs and
that first inning that we start games has been giving us issues, but a
tribute to my kids they never give up and they got right back in it and tied
it up at nine in the bottom of the fifth.
Then we held them twice and were able to get a run across in the
seventh to win it,” said Workman.
Grant Bentley had a walk-off RBI single for the Golden Knights.
Workman says one of the best things about these kids is their grit
and determination. “They
don’t quit, I’ll give them that. I
would say in the eight games that we have won, we have been down in five or
six of them and found a way to come back and get the job done,” he said.
Jack Sears got the win in the second game for the Golden Knights
(8-1,3-1) by going the distance in giving up only six hits and no earned
runs. Drew Hammond got the win
in relief in the first game.
Workman adds playing these games on Monday changes a lot of things,
but his kids where prepared. “You
have to change your game plan and the way you do things.
You are getting out of the school a little sooner, you are kind of
rushed. A good majority of my
kids have done this stuff, they have played some travel ball,” he told
Swankonsports.com on Monday night, “We aren’t 8-1 if we don’t have the
baseball I.Q. that some of these kids have.
We don’t have flame throwers out there on the mound, but we have
kids that know the game and they find a way to get it done.”
Max Lower had two hits in both games against Mt. Gilead.
They had nine hits as a team in the first game and 11 in the second.
Workman says this team has found a bunch of ways to score runs this
year. “We have done a little
of everything. We have played
some small ball, we’ll hit a away, and take walks and sometimes when
people make mistakes on errors and what not.
It has just been a combination from game to game.
You just don’t know what is going to happen with us, but we find a
way to score,” said Workman. Published 4/13/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Buckeye
Central Holds on to Beat Mohawk
Buckeye Central won its first game Friday against Mohawk and they
beat the Warriors again Monday (3-2) in Northern 10 Athletic Conference play
to continue to build momentum.
Kaiden Vaughn fired a five hitter on Monday, striking out 12 for the
Bucks.
Coach Chad Jensen says they knew they had to build on what they did
on Friday. “We knew that
Mohawk is a very good team and we knew we would have to play our best.
We talked about not having any letup.
We had to play well and in fact we played better.
I couldn’t be more proud of our kids.
We got two runs in the first on a two-run double by Tommy Phillips,
got a suicide squeeze in the second from Manny Mullins and Kaiden Vaughn
pitched a heck of a game, a complete game, and struck out 12, and we
didn’t have any errors. It was
just a great team win for us,” said Jensen.
Jensen says Vaughn was just tremendous on Monday and they knew he has
this kind of talent. “Our
league is tough. Alex Kanney has developed himself into our ace, but Kaiden
Vaughn has had some injuries early in the season and hasn’t really pitched
very much. We felt he and Alex
were both legitimate one type of pitchers.
So, he hasn’t pitched as much.
He felt good (Monday) and got the start and pitched like aces do.
We need to continue to keep him healthy.
He pitched lights out (Monday) night and I couldn’t be more proud
of him,” he said.
The Bucks (2-9,2-4) play Seneca East, one of the co-leaders in the
“N10” along with Colonel Crawford and Wynford, on Wednesday and Friday.
Buckeye Central has gotten good pitching this year and Jensen says
Vaughn was a bulldog for them on Monday and made big pitches when he had to.
“Our pitchers keep us in games and we feel that gives us a chance.
I felt like when we got the 3-0 lead, I knew Mohawk was good, and
Kaiden hung a curve ball Trey Combs hit one that hasn’t landed yet and he
is a great player and had a really great night for them.
The key that we talked about was after he gave up the homer to Combs,
he stuck out the next two,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “So
many times over the years when the kid gives up a homer he hits the next guy
or walks him on four straight or whatever and Kaiden didn’t do that.
In the seventh, the tying run was on first and Kaden was able to
strike out the number two hitter to seal the victory.
So, it was just a lot of gut check from all out kids.” Published 4/13/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Highland
Stays on Top
Highland maintained its share of the lead in the Knox Morrow Athletic
Conference by getting two wins over Cardington on Monday, one was a
continuation of a game started Friday, but postponed due to rain.
The Scots (8-0,4-0) share first place in the “KMAC” with
Fredericktown, a game in front of Northmor.
They beat the Pirates (22-0) behind Rider Minnick and (7-1) with
Wyatt Groves getting the win.
Coach Donnie Kline says those were two good wins.
“That is a pretty challenging Cardington team this year.
The boys jumped up on the early on Friday.
I don’t want to say that game was over before it was finished, but
I think both teams knew where it was headed.
The second game was a real pitcher’s duel.
They threw their ace and we thew one of our aces and it was 0-0 going
into the fourth. It was a close
game and eventually the boys stretched out the lead and made it a 7-1 game,
but very good game,” said Kline.
Kline says they have found an approach this year that is working for
them and they are going to stay with it.
“We have preached to the boys this year, let’s keep it simple.
Let’s get them on, get them over and get them in and that seems to
work. Maybe with the kids we
have this year, we don’t have as much experience as the teams we have had
in the past. We have had to
simplify things and it seems to have really worked out for us so far,”
said Kline.
He adds that one of the big things a coach is charged with doing is
finding what buttons to push. “Every
year is a different family. Every
year is a different culture. Even
a lot of times you have the same boys, but they develop different throughout
the years. Some of the kids
spend some time in the summer developing their game and some others focus on
some other sports. Coming to
together every year is kind of a challenge,” he told Swankonsports.com on
Monday, “Without being able to play last year, we didn’t know what kind
of family we were going to have this year.
So, for us to be able to put it together so far it has been a lot of
fun and the boys have been playing some very good baseball.” Published 4/13/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Colonel
Crawford is Unbeaten
Colonel Crawford has gotten off to a fast start to the season and
right now they share the lead in the Northern 10 Athletic Conference with
Bucyrus and Mohawk.
They play Carey on Friday and Monday and then Mohawk in two games
next week in conference play.
Coach Sarah Fraser says she has a bunch of hard workers this spring
and that is key. “We are
pretty good at every position and ultimately the girls they come in and
work. They don’t take any team
lightly. They think whatever
team we play that night is best team in the area, that’s how they view
things. They are workers, they
want to be the best and that has definitely helped us along the way,” she
said.
The Lady Eagles reached double figures in runs in beating Upper
Sandusky twice this week (11-10) and (10-0) and they beat Buckeye Central
(19-1), that’s a lot of runs.
Fraser says they have a lot of depth in their batting order.
“We are pretty solid one through nine and we have some good speed.
We have some great slappers and bunters and we have five, six, seven
girls that can hit for power. So,
we are very well rounded as far as everything goes.
Years ago, when I played it was definitely a base hit game.
Whoever had the most base hits scored the most runs or who could put
the bunt down and it’s a lot different these days for sure,” said
Fraser.
Now, with the meat of their conference schedule remaining, things are
going to get tougher for the Lady Eagles.
Fraser says they need to continue to get better, especially on
defense. “I think defensively
we are really going to get tested with Carey coming up and Mohawk and
Bucyrus, we have Riverdale coming up and Ridgedale all of the games we have
coming up we are definitely going to be defensively tested, so I think we
really need to zone in and tune in to our defense and make plays when they
need to be made,” she told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “We get
up in a game and it is easy to relax on defense and have an error here or
there, so we really need to focus in and make the plays 100 percent when we
need to make them.” Published 4/09/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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South
Central off to A Solid Start
South Central has won four of its first six games this season and
shares the lead in the Firelands Conference.
They beat New London (10-0) and (19-7) in conference games on Monday
and Tuesday. They are in an
early tie for first place in the conference with Norwalk St. Paul and
Plymouth, who also swept their opening two games this week in conference
play.
Mike Perry is in his first year as the Trojans head coach and he says
they are starting to swing the bats pretty well after a slow start.
“I think it has been our bats and our approach at the plate.
When we started out early with our non conference stuff we were
pressing really bad and swinging at bad pitches, but they have really
settled things down in the batter’s box, making better decisions and
actually having a game plan when they are stepping up there to the plate,”
said Perry.
Perry says when you are new coach a lot of what you during the
preseason and early in the regular season is get to know the kids and vise
versa they get to know you. “With
this being my first year here they had to get to know me.
I had to get to know them. Karl
Ferber, my sophomore third basemen, first basemen, I was lucky enough to
coach him in fall ball and travel, but a lot of these kids didn’t know me
walking through the door, so it took a little time for us to get used to
each other,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “I think one
the big challenges they face getting back into high school mode is you are
representing your school and that is important to me and they had to figure
out my value system and how important it is for them to wear that uniform
with pride because that’s what I’m all about them being proud of their
school and representing it the right way.”
South Central will host Norwayne of the Wayne County Athletic League
in a non-conference game Friday, weather permitting.
They return to Firelands Conference action on Monday and Tuesday
against Mapleton.
Junior Sam Seidel has already committed to Bowling Green and his off
to a great start this season.
Perry says he is focused on improving as a player and that shows.
“Sam is a fantastic player, he never seems to have a bad at bat.
He never gives anything away on the field.
If you get him out, he makes you earn it.
He is always looking to get better.
When your best players are your hardest workers you know you are in
pretty good shape. No one is
going to work harder at getting better at the game of baseball,” he said. Published 4/09/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Lexington
Boys’ Tennis Strong Again
Lexington is historically the top tennis team in North Central Ohio
and this season is no different.
There are rated by the Ohio Tennis Coaches Association as one of the
best squads in the Northwest district in division II, tennis has only two
divisions as compared to sports like basketball or baseball that have four
or football that has seven.
Hall of Fame coach Ron Schaub says they have lofty goals.
“Our kids are really looking forward to playing this year.
We have goals of going to state and we are really excited.
We don’t have any seniors, but we have a couple of juniors that are
really strong like Tommy Secrist, we have Ryan Mercurio, who has played a
lot, we have Ross Drilik, who has played a lot.
We have guys like Carter Earick, Kevin Matney, we have some good
sophomores like Joseph Litao. We
have got some really good freshmen in Karl Etzel and Ethan Ramey,” said
Schaub.
Having freshmen that play at a high level is not uncommon for the
Minutemen, in fact Secrist and Mercurio were one step away from making it to
the state in doubles two years ago.
Schaub says many of these kids start playing at a very young age.
“Some of those kids get started when they are really young, like in
first grade and stuff, so by the time they get to the ninth grade they may
not be physically developed, but their games are pretty good and that is the
way it is with Ethan Ramey and Karl Etzel right now.
Those kids are pretty developed,” he told Swankonsports.com,
“They have played in a lot of USTA tournaments and in the summer.
Those kids are good players and even thought they may not be quite as
strong as they will be their senior year, I have high hopes for those guys.
Tennis is not such a physical sport, it is more a skilled sport.”
It is important to understand in tennis there are two postseason
tournaments. The Ohio High
School Athletic Association runs an individual tournament that has singles
and doubles play and the coaches association has a team tournament, which is
like regular season play where there are three singles matches and two
doubles with a point awarded for a win in each category.
Schaub says by the time they get to tournament play, which in the
team tournament is only three weeks away, they will now where they stand.
“Saturday, we play Columbus Academy and Wellington School out of
Columbus, one is ranked one in the state and the other is ranked four in the
state. We also play Massillon
Jackson, who is top ten in division I, we play Upper Arlington, we play
Olentangy, we are playing Toledo St. Francis.
We will be well tested,” he said. Published 4/09/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Mt.
Vernon Demolishes Mansfield Senior
On Wednesday at Arlin Field it looked like men against boys as Mt.
Vernon, the Ohio Cardinal Conference leader, drilled Mansfield Senior (17-0)
in an “OCC” game.
The game was never in question, frankly, as Owynn Gleason started the
game with a double and scored on a sacrifice fly and the Jackets never
trailed. They batted around in
top of the second inning, scoring five times, highlighted by RBI hits by
Gleason and Marcus Bradley. The
third inning was a like a bad rerun for the Tygers as Mt. Vernon batted
around again, this time scoring seven more runs.
Bradley, Konner Daugherity, Zach Mullins, Logan Trace and Caden
Rowland all drove in runs with hits. Meanwhile,
Bradley, who started the game for the Jackets struck out seven of 10 batters
he faced. It was (14-0) Mt.
Vernon after three.
Although, they ended up winning Tuesday (15-5), Mt. Vernon coach Nate
Hunt says it was a better effort by them on Wednesday.
“Playing Mansfield Senior, they came to Mt. Vernon Tuesday ready to
go and I think our guys were kind of not ready and it is a lesson learned
for the season for the team. We
have a good group of kids. So, I
told them I want to challenge them. I
don’t even care if you get down 3-0, you have to get your pitch and get
your swing and get ready to go and I think we have taken pride in that in
the past and we kind of took a step back and it was a lesson learned,”
said Hunt.
With five errors and five strikeouts looking, Mansfield Senior looked
confused at times and coach J.R. Davis was disappointed in their effort.
“The biggest thing is I see so much potential in these guys and
just coming out and laying an egg and not caring that is the biggest
thing,” he told Swankonsports.com after the game, “I think these guys
can change Mansfield and the way we are viewed.
Obviously, Mt. Vernon is very good and I knew that coming in.
I knew it was going to be tough, but (Tuesday) we started out 5-0
against them. We can compete
with teams, but we have to believe it. Now,
we just have to change that mentality every day that we get down a couple of
runs and it’s over.”
Mansfield Senior (0-6,0-2) plays Crestline on Friday and meets
Madison in their “OCC” series next week.
Mt. Vernon showed gap power on Wednesday as Gleason, Daugherity,
Ethan Laslo and Carter Carpenter all had doubles.
Tyger pitchers also walked eight batters, but Hunt says they were
able to stay patient. “It
really shows the difference between a good hitter and a great hitter.
If you can go 3-0 and say I am still looking for my fastball, or not
even the fastball, I’m looking for something off speed and try and take it
that way, it truly shows the difference between a good and a great
hitter,” he said.
Mt. Vernon (6-1,4-0) leads Wooster and West Holmes by game in the
conference standings. They play
Wooster, probably the preseason favorite in the conference, on Tuesday and
Wednesday of next week.
Hunt says it is a great opportunity for them.
“I think the cliché thing would be to just focus on what is next.
Conference wise we have put ourselves in a good position.
Wooster is a good baseball team.
I was just telling the guys, if you don’t wake up next Tuesday just
ready to go, goose bumps the entire day for the opportunity that you get,
because not everybody gets it. Wake
up ready to go on that day because what a time to be in Mt. Vernon, what a
time for baseball. We have said
it before, you know how easily it can be taken away.
So, now you are in the driver’s seat to say this is our conference
to take and let’s take it,” said Hunt. Published 4/08/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Madison
Belts West Holmes Again
Madison beat West Holmes for the second time in as many days (13-4)
at Madison on Wednesday afternoon in Ohio Cardinal Conference play.
They Lady Rams had beaten them (14-5) at West Holmes on Tuesday.
After losing twice to rival Lexington last week, coach Tim Niswander
says they headed in the right direction.
“We are getting better. Obviously,
we are a lot better than we were a week ago at this time and hopefully we
continue to improve. Bailey
Lyons, our number one pitcher, is back.
She is starting to feel much, much better.
That obviously doesn’t hurt. It
took her a little bit to get back in the grove, but I think we are starting
to see that now. The bats have
come alive, we have hit the ball really well the last couple of days,” he
said.
Like a lot of schools, Madison is dealing with a lot of kids that
have not played very much high school softball before this year, if any.
Niswander says they are kind of learning on the run.
“Things are not all bad, but there is still a lot to work on
though. My assistant coach Tim
Carper described it (Wednesday) and it was the words I have been looking for
that I really couldn’t really put my finger on with this group.
He said it’s immaturity. When
you hear that word, you think of kids being goofy and things like that and
it is not that at all. They are
just not grown up and they don’t understand things and we are trying to
fast track that process and get them up to speed.
It has taken some time, but we are getting there and the results are
starting to show a little bit. Hopefully,
we can take that this weekend into Clyde, to Clear Fork Monday and Senior
High Tuesday and Wednesday and hopefully we can keep things rolling a little
bit,” said Niswander.
With not having a season last year, Niswander says the younger
players on this team missed more than just time on the field, but also the
chance to learn about the sport from those that had experienced it.
“I only have two seniors on my team, but when they were freshmen,
we won a district title and went to the regionals and we had kids like
Mackenzie Mullins and Morgan Russell and Egypt Murphy were on that team and
they got an opportunity to be around those kids all of time.
The class above them was the team last year that didn’t get their
senior year and there were two division one players on there, so they have
experienced a lot of different players that they have played with.
They have seen things, both good and bad.
They understand when we talk to them about certain things that we
need to see about their approach and what they should be thinking about on
every pitch on offense and defense. They
understand what those things are like and what those kids did.
They were around them and got to see those things and were part of
that. It is information that is
just invaluable that we can’t teach it is something they picked up by
being around those group of kids,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday
night, “Well, I have three sophomores and three freshmen that are starting
that have never played with anybody, so it is all new to them.
That is something I always thought was important, but I didn’t
realize how important it was and those two seniors that I have been able to
experience softball with all of the kids that they have had big successes in
our program and have gone on to college and had success is just something
this group has missed and it is irreplaceable.
It is something they will never get to experience, but hopefully they
have picked things up well enough that they can pass that knowledge on to
groups that are coming behind them.” Published 4/08/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Colonel
Crawford Takes Apart Upper
Colonel Crawford kept its share of the Northern 10 Athletic
Conference lead as they torched Upper Sandusky (14-1) in a conference game
on Wednesday at Upper.
The Eagles, Wynford, Mohawk and Seneca East are all unbeaten early in
the season.
Colonel Crawford (6-0,4-0) plays Carey on Friday in their next
“N10” contest.
On Wednesday, Cade Hamilton got the start for the Eagles and coach
Dan Gorbett says he was in command. “Cade
Hamilton has really made some big jumps from the mound.
He was outstanding (Wednesday), four hits and two of them were
infield hits, he had eight strikeouts in four innings.
We brought in Jake Hoffman to pitch the fifth inning.
He had all of his pitches and I think he had one walk, so really
happy with is performance,” he said.
When they got in the batter’s box, Gorbett says they have had the
best game hitting the ball they have had all spring.
“Offensively, early in the season, we were leaving a lot of guys on
base and (Wednesday) we were getting key hits, sac flies real good
discipline at the plate, we had a lot of walks.
With two strikes, we were fouling off those borderline pitches and we
would get ball four. Offensively,
this was as good as we have looked all year.
One through nine we were making things happen,” said Gorbett.
Gorbett has said all season that this team is capable to breaking out
offensively and he says that is clearly starting to happen.
“I could see the confidence is their eyes when they come up to home
plate a little bit more relaxed. I
kept telling them hitting is contagious, once we start going, we will be
fine and that’s what has happened the last two games,” he told
Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night, “We actually went down 4-2 and then
we came back with like seven rungs in the next inning.
That was the first time we were down all year and I was glad to see
how we responded. We didn’t
like it and went up there and hit the ball and scored seven runs.”
Crawford also plays two against Mohawk next week and Gorbett says
they have to continue to hit the ball like they did on Wednesday.
“I think we have been counting on our pitching and our defense has
been solid. It is hard to put
into words, we didn’t have that grit and desire of let’s go get it when
it came to scoring runs and offense. I
think we have turned the corner there. Hopefully,
we can stay hot as (Wednesday) we really looked good,” he said. Published 4/08/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Northmor
Rallies Past Centerburg
Down by six runs early Northmor recovered to beat Centerburg (14-9)
in a Knox Morrow Athletic Conference game on Wednesday evening.
On the strength of two home runs by Joe Tepper, the Trojans took and
(8-2) lead after just an inning and half, but the Golden Knights were
resilient and fought back right away with a six spot to take a (9-8) lead.
Grant Bentley doubled in two runs, two more scored on walks and two
more on fielder’s choices.
Coach Buck Workman says his kids didn’t hang their heads and kept
fighting, something that has defined this team so far this this spring.
“We were down 3-0 in the first and tied it up and went down 8-2 in
the second and came back and took a 9-8 lead.
That is one thing about our guys is I don’t think they are ever
going to quit on us. They are
always going to give you quality at bats and try and get us back in the
game. We got into a little bit
of a hole there early and kept digging out,” said Workman.
The Golden Knights (5-1,1-1) put it away with a five spot in the
bottom of the fifth, highlighted by RBI hits by Bentley and Andrew Armrose.
Drew Hammond pitched five and third innings of two hit relief to get
the win for Northmor giving up no earned runs.
Workman says this team has shown they can battle adversity and be
successful. “We started out
really nice, 4-0, and then we had that little slip up there on Monday to
Centerburg when we didn’t play really good defense, we didn’t throw as
many strikes as we have been throwing, he hit a few batters and put
ourselves in a bind, and lost 11-6, but the way they bounced back
(Wednesday) was good to see,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win,
“You have to have that short memory. It
is not like football where you have to wait a week.
We only had to wait two days to get out there and get on the horse.
With what Centerburg did to us early in this game, my kids had every
opportunity to say this isn’t working out and we will pack it in, but they
did not do that and I was ecstatic about the way they bounced back.”
Northmor hosts Mt. Gilead in their next conference game on Friday.
Workman says they don’t have a lot of experience this year, but he
believes they have a good mix of talent.
“I think we have a pretty good mix.
When we say young, I think we mean young in terms of varsity
experience. We are starting a
lot of juniors and a couple of seniors, but we have a couple of freshmen
that have been carrying a heavy amount of the load on the mound.
So, it is nice to have that mix.
I think the combination is just boating well for us right now,” he
said. Published 4/08/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Wynford
Rips Buckeye Central
Wynford scored seven times in the seventh inning and belted Buckeye
Central (18-2) in Northern 10 Athletic Conference action on Wednesday
afternoon.
They share first place in the conference with Colonel Crawford, who
beat Upper Sandusky (14-1) on Thursday and Seneca East, who downed Carey
(4-1) for their second straight win, and Mohawk, who beat Ridgedale (15-4)
on Tuesday.
Spencer Miller was outstanding for the Royals as he went the distance
allowing only five hits and his defense had only two errors.
Coach Tom Smith says the Royals are really hitting on all cylinders.
“We are really pleased starting 4-0 in the league.
Freshman Spencer Miller threw a compete game and was excellent,” he
said.
Eight of the nine starters had at least one hit against Buckeye.
The bottom two in the order really stood out as number eight hitter
shortstop Dylon Robinson had two hits, including a double and three RBI and
ninth place hitter sophomore Sam Collene added two hits, also including and
double, and drove in five runs.
Smith says they are seeing the ball well.
“We are hitting the ball one through nine right now.
We don’t have anybody that is not putting the ball in play.
I think we only had three strikeouts on the day.
We are putting the ball in play and good things happen when you do
that,” said Smith.
Wynford (4-2,4-0) plays at Bucyrus (2-2,2-1) on Friday in an
“N10” game, the Redmen beat Ridgedale (6-1) on Wednesday.
Smith they are doing a lot of things well, but it’s not like they
are perfect either. “We have
trouble chasing down foul balls down the sidelines and behind the backstop.
We made a couple of plays (Wednesday).
We have some things to work on with defense there.
We are still struggling with pitching depth right now,” he said. Published 4/08/21 © Swankonsports.com For baseball and softball scores Go to our scoreboard at |
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Lady
Colts Get Huge Win Over River Valley
Hallie Gottfried belted two home runs driving in all three runs and
Ashtynn Roberts scatted five hits and allowed one unearned run as Clear Fork
beat River Valley (3-1) Tuesday afternoon in a game between anticipated
contenders in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference.
After giving up an unearned run in the first inning, Hallie smoked
one over the centerfield fence to give the Lady Colts a (2-1) lead.
She added some insurance with a solo shot in the fifth.
River Valley had won six of its first seven games and coach Jeff
Gottfried says the win was huge for them.
He says they did a lot of things well.
“River Valley is always a solid program, solid team, their pitcher
handled us well, fortunately we had one kid that saw the ball pretty well
and believed in herself. We had
solid pitching,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “Defensively,
made a couple of mistakes, but the pitcher got stronger when that happened
and that is what we have been trying to focus on and not allow one mistake
turn into two and she did a nice job battling.”
Coach Gottfried says his daughter’s home run in the first took a
little pressure off his inexperienced team.
“We gave up a run in the top of the first, an unearned run, and we
got on base with the first batter with an error on their third baseman and
Hallie followed a nice rip to centerfield to give us a lead.
It helped us relax a little bit.
Sometimes you can press if you give up a run you shouldn’t early
on. It is a seven inning game
and we knew at 2-1 that wasn’t going to be enough and fortunately we got
another run late on another home run by Hallie,” said Gottfried.
Renee Anders had two hits and Reghan Barker a single for the Lady
Colts (3-2,1-0) on Tuesday.
Roberts was outstanding for Clear Fork in going the distance,
striking out eight. Her defense
backed her up in making only one error after the first inning.
Gottfried says this was clearly Roberts best performance of the
season so far in showing what she is capable of.
“Ashtynn has pitched five games for us this year and this was her
best outing, no doubt about it. She
was in command hitting her spots and mixing speeds well enough to keep them
off balance. Just moving the
ball in and out and keeping the ball down, so she got ground balls.
In our field here, the ball has a tendency to fly.
If you get some ground balls you give yourself a chance,” he said. Published 4/07/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Clear
Fork Blasts River Valley in “MOAC” Opener
Clear Fork never trailed in overwhelming River Valley (13-3) in six
innings in a Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference game on Tuesday evening at
American Legion Field in Bellville.
Coach Joe Staab feels it was the Colts (2-3,1-0) best performance of
the season so far. “(Tuesday)
we felt like we put it all together in a lot of phases of baseball.
We pitched it to contact and played defense behind good pitching.
We hit the ball hard and ran the bases hard.
We brought the game to them and good things happened and it swung in
our favor,” said Staab.
In first inning Kaleb Hollar was hit by a pitch, stole a base and
scored on an error. Clear Fork
scored four runs on three hits in the bottom of the third to make it (5-0)
after three. River Valley looked
like they might make it interesting in the fourth when they scored three
times on five hits and stranded runners on second and third.
Hollar would have none of that as he hit the first pitch of the
bottom of the fourth over the leftfield fence for a solo homer and that led
to Colts sending 12 guys to plate and scoring six times to make it (11-3)
and things were never in question after that.
Staab says they were able to hit the ball consistently hard all day.
“I think we did a good job of getting the next base hit and that is
kind of what we saw (Tuesday) was how the hitting was contagious with our
guys,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “We had a guy come up
and hit the ball hard and get on base, even if there was an error, and the
next guy was hungry to do the same. Hopefully,
that is getting something clicking with these boys to want to play together
and play to win.”
Colts had eight hits, including three by senior rightfielder Ben
Blubaugh and two by junior shortstop Jared Scott.
River Valley (0-4,0-3) did not help itself with seven errors on the
day, many in clutch situations.
Starter Kaden Riddle and relivers Luke Drockton and Luke Schlosser
scattered seven hits, five coming in one inning.
Staab says they aren’t overpowering, but they can throw multiple
pitches for strikes. “I think
in different years compared to this year.
We don’t have the power pitching that we have had in the past with
guys that that could throw pretty hard.
We have guys that can throw more pitches for strikes and if we are
playing defense behind them, they will be successful,” he said.
The rematch is Wednesday at River Valley and Staab says they have to
come out focused. “Coach Mark
Lind, our assistant coach and pitching coach, said the hardest thing to do
after you run rule a team is to come out and win, so we have to make sure we
bring a focus because we know they are not going to take it lightly and they
are going to bring it. So, we
have to make sure we are focused to play the game like we haven’t played
them yet,” said Staab. Published 4/07/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Hillsdale
Rallies to Beat Dalton
In a battle between contenders in the Wayne County Athletic League,
Hillsdale scored eight runs in the final two innings to win (10-7) at Dalton
on Tuesday evening.
The big blow was a three run home run by Ty Williams to give the
Falcons (7-0,3-0) in the lead in the top of the seventh.
Coach Jason Snow says this was a tremendous win for his team,
especially in the fashion that it happened.
“It was a great experience for our kids.
We fell behind 6-2 going to the sixth inning.
Our pitchers battled and we hung in.
We got a big three spot in the sixth inning and ended up putting five
on the board with Ty Williams hitting a three run homer in the seventh to
give us the lead and man our kids were fired up,” he told
Swankonsports.com on Tuesday night, “Just a lot of young kids hadn’t
been in those situations yet and early on we struggled with it.
We struggled throwing strikes and didn’t make a few plays and heads
wend down a little bit early in the game.
Whether we win that game or not when we battled back to 6-5 that was
a positive, but to get over the top was just huge for our kids at this
point.”
Ethan Goodwin, Caden Fickes and Mark Abel all had two hits for the
Falcons.
Dalton (3-2,2-1) led (5-0) after two innings, but Hillsdale
wouldn’t go away.
Snow says it was a great learning experience for his young team.
“With a lot of those kids you almost take a year off with not
playing last year. We had one
senior on the field, four sophomores, four juniors and a freshman.
They haven’t been in this spot before.
There is a big difference on the JV level or playing club ball and
all of that. Dalton was fired
up, they got off to a big early lead. It
was a big game for both of us to try and get that first one before we play
(Wednesday). I don’t want to
say take the pressure off because we need to try and get two of them, but
going in (Wednesday) is little easier with that win rather than coming in in
a must win situation after losing the first game,” he said.
Williams is the only senior on the ballclub that played in the state
final four in 2019 and Snow they are going to lean on him a little bit.
“He had a couple of rough at bats early in the game.
We left some runners on. In
the seventh, we set the table for him. Our
nine hitter Jax Rogers got a base hit to start that ninth inning.
We got an infield hit from our leadoff hitter (Ethan Goodwin), just a
hustle play, to make it first and second.
He got one and it was a big spot for him and that is what we expect
from him. We expect big hits.
He is our lone returner who has been in this before.
We got two more runs, we added on behind him and picked up some big
hits. It really kind of got our
kids going and relaxing a little more in saying we can do this.
Hopefully, we will feed on that down the road and to know we can make
plays. We are always in the game
with our bats right now,” said Snow. Published 4/07/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
Saturday |
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Shelby
Gets Needed Win
Shelby got the win they needed to have to stay in the Mid-Ohio
Athletic Conference race as they doubled up Marion Pleasant (14-7) on the
road in a conference game on Tuesday evening.
The Whippets scored 11 runs in the first three innings, including six
in the third. It was the third
time this season they have scored at least six runs in an inning in a league
game.
Coach Jon Amicone says it was a huge win for them.
“We made our bead and we had to lay in it.
We have an uphill battle to climb.
It was good to get that first step.
Now, it’s about us trying to piece wins together when playing those
league teams. The was a big step
because it was the first step for us,” he said.
Shelby (4-2,1-2) had 14 hits on the day, four of them by Marshall
Shepherd, the starting pitcher, and three by leadoff hitter Blaine Bowman,
who had two doubles and scored four runs.
Shepherd drove in four runs. He
also went five innings to get the win, giving up eight hits and striking out
nine. He threw 95 pitches, 63
for strikes, which was better than his outing last week against Ontario.
Amicone says they are getting in good counts at the plate and driving
the ball. “We did a really
nice job of having production at the plate.
We are having good approaches, the mental side of the game, we are
hitting fastballs in fastball counts and that is what we are trying to
preach and talk to our guys about,” he said.
Shelby made three errors on the day and Amicone says that was a step
in the right direction. “The
bottom line is you have to be able to field the baseball.
We are not doing that at a very good rate right now and there are
things we need to continue to work on. The
biggest difference (Tuesday) night was we didn’t let it snowball,” he
told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday night, “We had an error in the first
inning and against Ontario it just kind of snowballed from there.
(Tuesday) night I was really proud of our guys to fight back after
that error let in a few runs and showed a little more resolve.
It showed me that they are willing to fight back a little bit.”
You have to be able to play bad hops on high school fields and
Amicone says you have to have solid mechanics.
“I think if you take the right mechanics of a ground ball and get a
good read on it that should kind of take that out of it.
Ontario always has a beautiful baseball field and we take pride in
our field too. I thought we did
a better job (Tuesday) of the mechanics of taking ground balls, taking them
off the left eye and having good glove angles.
Those little intricacies that not a lot of people talk about.
Our guys did a really nice job of that approach of doing the little
things to field the ball properly,” said Amicone. Published 4/07/21 © Swankonsports.com Click the listen line to hear our live shows “Out of Bounds” 10 to midnight on Friday “Sports Saturday” 10 AM to 1 PM on
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