Toronto walking on sunshine
No. 1 Red Knights sweep season series with Oak Glen, 10-7
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TORONTO -- While many baseball teams still may be searching for their identity this season -- especially those from West Virginia -- Toronto head coach Brian Perkins already has an answer for his Red Knights.
It may sound simple, but there is a reason why they are the defending Division IV state champions and currently are ranked No. 1 in Ohio.
"We're just a team that's going to compete for the entire game," Perkins said. "These guys have proven to me every day that they just have no quit in them. We have really good leadership."
Oak Glen found that out the hard way again on Tuesday, though it was not surprised. The Golden Bears maintained two four-runs leads after two-and-a-half innings, but Toronto took advantage of 10 walks and held on for a 10-7 victory.
Behind starting pitcher Dom Bouscher, the Red Knights' defense made two mistakes in the top of the first that led to an Oak Glen 4-0 advantage.
Jered Hissam and Danny Bridges began with back-to-back singles. Hunter Patterson hit a grounder to short that could have been a double play, but the ball was dropped at second. The umpire ruled that he never had possession, loading the bases.
Nick Chaney drove a run home with a free pass. Cody Patterson grounded an RBI infield single, though he could have been thrown out. Colton Ash delivered a run-scoring ground out, while Hunter Rhoades plated one on a fielder's choice.
"We came out early and had some mistakes. Oak Glen's a good baseball team, and they capitalized on those," Perkins said. "We put ourselves in a hole, but that's a testament to our kids. They're resilient and continue to chip away and battle back."
Toronto's first run came in the bottom of the second on a Brycen Miller RBI ground out. Chaney later worked out of a bases-loaded jam.
The Bears (5-5) added a run in the third thanks to Kholton Goodlin's two-out RBI base knock for a 5-1 lead.
Then the bats came alive for the Red Knights (14-1), scoring twice in the third and batting around for five in the fourth.
Chris Parker and Will Earley delivered RBI singles in the third. As for the bottom of the fourth, Miller lined a shot to left field for a two-run single, tying the score and sending Chaney to the showers. With Hissam on in relief, Ryan Matyas produced an opposite-field RBI single, and Caleb Leasure did the same for a two-run base knock.
Toronto entered the fifth ahead, 8-5.
"We've been progressing great. The boys are getting after it and playing well together," Oak Glen coach Eric Hayden said. "I probably let this one get away from us. I got a little over aggressive. But, my guys are playing hard every day.
"Last week we had like seven games in six days, so we're grinding. I'm just a little upset with myself because I gave (Toronto) some momentum. That turned the tides."
The play Hayden is referring to occurred in the top of the fourth. With one out and Hunter Patterson at the plate, Hayden called for a hit and run. Hissam was off from second, Hunter Patterson hit a weak fly out to center and a double play ended the threat.
The Bears cut the deficit to 8-7 following one-run frames. Rhoades had an RBI single in the fifth, and Hunter Patterson did the same in the sixth.
The Red Knights got those runs back in the bottom of the sixth. With two on and two out, Bouscher blooped a two-run single to right-center.
"We constantly preach having good at-bats and plate discipline. It helped us out a lot (Tuesday with 10 free passes)," Perkins said.
"We got to see a lot of pitches throughout the game. When you do that, you're going to get used to what they're throwing."
Leasure picked up the victory in five innings of relief. He allowed two runs on six hits, walked a pair and struck out three. Bouscher gave up five runs (four earned) on five hits, two walks and punched out one in two-plus frames.
Chaney suffered the loss in 3 1/3 innings, allowing six runs on six hits, seven walks and striking out one. Hissam gave up four runs on five hits, three walks and struck out a pair.
"Nick struggled with throwing strikes, but he's been lights out for us," Hayden said. "Everybody has an off day, but he still fought. Jered came in and threw strikes, and that kept us in the game when they started hitting a little bit."
FIRST TIME AROUND
On April 15, the Red Knights bested the Bears, 15-5, following 10 runs combined between the sixth and seventh innings.
OVAC IMPLICATIONS
Oak Glen entered Tuesday fifth in the OVAC Class 4A standings, with the cutoff date for the tournament being today. Indian Creek is fourth but currently is in quarantine, so the Bears would take that spot if the Redskins are not cleared by Saturday. Whoever gets that seed will most likely travel to Weir High.
Toronto, meanwhile, will be the top seed in Class 2A and will host the 1A and 2A championships on May 7.
UP NEXT
Oak Glen: Tentatively travels to East Liverpool today.
Toronto: Tentatively hosts Madonna on Thursday.
Toronto 10, Oak Glen 7
Oak Glen 4-0-1 0-1-1 0 -- 7 11 2
Toronto 0-1-2 5-0-2 x -- 10 11 2
OAK GLEN (5-5): Chaney (LP, 3 1/3IP, 6R, 6H, 7BB, 1K), Hissam (2 2/3IP, 4R, 5H, 3BB, 2K) and Ash. Hissam S, D; Bridges S; H. Patterson S, RBI; Chaney 2S, D, RBI; C. Patterson 2S, RBI; Ash RBI; Rhoades S, 2RBIs; Goodlin S, RBI.
TORONTO (14-1): Bouscher (2IP, 5R (4ER), 5H, 2BB, 1K), Leasure (WP, 5IP, 2R, 6H, 2BB, 3K) and Earley. Bouscher D, 2RBIs; Parker 3S; Miller S, 2RBIs; Wolter 2S, RBI; Matyas S, RBI; Earley S, 2RBIs; Leasure 2S, 2RBIs.