Huskies advance, sneak past Panthers, 6-4
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CADIZ -- Harrison Central is moving on.
Coach Mike Valesko's seventh-seeded and gritty Huskies took a bite out of Buckeye Local Monday afternoon, 6-4, at Mazeroski Field in Sally Buffalo Park.
Harrison Central improves to 12-15 and will face third-seeded Ridgewood Wednesday at West Lafayette in a Division III sectional final. The Generals advanced by disposing of West Muskingum.
Buckeye Local, under the direction first-year coach Jefferey Patrick, ended the campaign with a 3-18 mark. The Panthers, however, competed quite well and displayed much improvement from the onset of the season.
The two teams battled to a 2-2 standoff after four innings. The game turned the way of Harrison Central in the fifth inning as the hosts plated four runs in the frame.
With one out, Caden Jurosko drew a base on balls. After a strikeout, senior standout Kobe Mitchell also walked. Starting pitcher Caleb Blawut delivered an RBI single. Trevor Carman followed with a double, plating two more Huskies. Sam Santille capped the uprising with a single, knocking in the fourth run, making it a 6-2 count.
Buckeye made matters interesting, responding with two runs in the sixth. Junior dandy Corey Olinski opened with a single. Gavyn Romanyak and Hayden Taylor followed with singles. Nick Sipes recorded an RBI on a fielder's choice before Alan Burkett produced another single.
"We knew it was going to be a tough game. They played us well early in the season," Valesko said. "We told our kids all week that it was going to be a battle ... and it was a battle to the end.
"We kept stressing to our kids that we can't be looking ahead. We said we can't worry about Ridgewood until we take care of business against Buckeye. I give Buckeye credit. They played a very good game. They have really improved."
Blawut earned the mound win. He struck out four and walked one before giving way to Trace Rutter in the sixth. He fanned one and didn't issue a walk in earning the save.
"Caleb did a nice job. He threw a lot of pitches," Valesko said. "Trace throws a lot of strikes. So, at that point (up 6-2), we were trading runs for outs."
Ethan McHugh was the Buckeye Local starter, taking the loss despite pitching well. He struck out five and walked two before handing the ball to sophomore Trey Hoover in the sixth. Hoover was sharp in his two innings of work, striking out one and walking none.
"I thought this was one of the better games we have played all year," Patrick said. "We pitched well and fielded clean. We didn't commit an error, and that has been a problem for us.
"There are no moral victories, especially in the post season. But I am very proud of our effort. Our record might not show it, but we have improved a great deal from day one."
Buckeye drew first blood with a run in the first inning. Senior Tyler Donahue walked and later scored on an RBI single from Matt Scott.
Harrison Central responded immediately.
With two outs in the first inning, sophomore Treston Nemeth singled. Mitchell made it a 2-1 Huskie advantage by blasting a home run over the leftfield fence.
The Panthers tied the issue at 2-2 with a run in the fourth frame. Hoover singled and scored on an Olinski double.
"This was a great game. I think tournament baseball is so exciting. It is also very exhausting," Valesko said. "Every game is one-and-done. We know Ridgewood is a quality team, but we look forward to the challenge."
Buckeye had eight hits on the day. Olinski, Romanyak and Hayden Taylor all had two hits for the Panthers. They stranded six runners.
Harrison rapped out nine hits on the day. Blawut and Santille each had two safeties for the winners. The Huskies also left six runners on the bags.
Harrison Central 6, Buckeye Local 4
Buckeye 100 102 0 -- 4 8 0
Harrison 200 040 x -- 6 9 3
BATTERIES: McHugh (lp 5K,2BB), Hoover (6) (1K, 0BB) and Scott. Olinski S, D, RBI, Taylor 2S; Romanyak 2S; Hoover S, Scott S, RBI.
Blawut (wp 4K, 1BB), Rutter (6) (1K, 0BB) and Nemeth. Mitchell HR, 2RBI; Nemeth S; Blawut 2S, RBI; Carman D, 2RBI; Santille 2S, RBI; Albaugh S; Rutter S.