Edison advances to sectional final
Sanders’ two-hit shutout, one mistake lifts Wildcats over Buckeye Trail
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RICHMOND -- The 2020-21 season has offered many lasts for Edison High School, as most of its athletic programs are saying goodbye to its home fields and courts.
Monday marked the final with the baseball squad's Division III East sectional semifinal against visiting Buckeye Trail. It was not the prettiest or the fanciest in team history, but the sixth-seeded Wildcats got the job done with a 2-0 victory.
They did not know until far after the hour-and-15-minute ballgame that it officially was their final contest at Jefferson Lake State Park.
"I haven't really thought about it. I'm sure there'll be a time to sit back and reflect," Edison head coach Mike Collopy said. "But, right now, we're just happy that we're still playing and moving on because that's the goal."
The Wildcats (14-12) advance to the sectional finals at 5 p.m. Wednesday against No. 4 seed Martins Ferry, 2-1 winners over 14th-seeded Bellaire in extra innings.
Monday's win can be summed up to great defense and incredible pitching on both sides.
Jayden Sanders tossed a two-hit shutout for the victors, while also walking none and striking out five.
Sanders allowed one-out singles to Creighton Gazda in the first inning and Jensen Helmuth in the second. After that, he retired 15 straight before plunking Garrett Burga with one away in the seventh.
"Man, he pitched his best game of the year. We also played well defensively," Collopy said.
"We faced an outstanding pitcher, and we knew going in that we would have to manufacture runs. There was nothing that we did fancy, obviously. There was a miscue that we took advantage of."
Helmuth took the complete-game defeat despite allowing just one hit, a single from Isaac Zastudil. Helmuth walked two, hit two and punched out 11. The two runs allowed were unearned.
"We knew Jensen was going to throw a good game. He did a great job commanding it," Warrior coach John Jones said. "He made the put the bat on the ball and got ahead in a lot of counts.
"One mistake can cost you. That's what happens in baseball. If you eliminate those and play a solid game, you have a great chance to win. It never fails, but I'm really proud of our kids."
That mistake occurred with two outs in the bottom of the third. Blake Connelly was hit in the back with one out, then reached third on a wild pitch and pass ball. Ian McBane walked, putting runners on the corner.
After Gage Cline struck out, Matt Parsons stepped in the box and knew he had to put the ball in play. Right before, McBane was safe at second on a delay steal, as Helmuth was thrown off guard and could not release the ball.
Parsons then grounded to short for what should have been a routine final out. Instead, the throw was wide of first baseman Garrett Burga, who made a nice snag and tagged Parsons out in time but could not hang on to the ball. Connelly and McBane scored the games only two runs. Parsons moved to second on the miscue and was stranded.
"We knew we had to put pressure on them to try to score runs. We knew it would be a low-scoring affair. Our coaches called an outstanding game," Collopy said.
Collopy added that the delay steal was by design.
The Wildcats had a chance to break the scoring column in the bottom of the second but maybe got a little too aggressive.
Zastudil singled with one away and stole second, then Sanders walked. With Joey Booth at the plate with two strikes, Collopy called a double steal. Booth struck out swinging, and Zastudil was gunned down at third to end the frame.
"I'm extremely proud of how our guys have played all year," Collopy said. "We've been in many close games. This year is just one of those years where nothing comes easy, but these guys are great to coach and have a lot of energy. They play hard and are extremely competitive."
Sanders made sure that would not come back to hurt Edison. Most of his five strikeouts came after the fourth inning.
"Our guys said he had good movement on his fastball and was getting us in trouble with that," Jones said. "We hit him decently -- you just have to find the holes. We didn't, and that's life sometimes. Hats off to that kid."
Edison 2, Buckeye Trail 0
Buckeye 0-0-0 0-0-0 0 -- 0 2 2
Edison 0-0-2 0-0-0 x -- 2 1 1
BUCKEYE TRAIL (13-12): Helmuth (LP, CG, 2R (0ER), 1H, 2BB, 11K) and Beaver. Gazda S; Helmuth S.
EDISON (14-12): Sanders (WP, CG, 0R, 2H, 0BB, 5K) and Wilson. Zastudil S.