ROMM PHOTOGRAPHY
Senior Seth Curtis enjoyed a 4-for-4 day at the plate and the host Green Bulldogs rolled Wooster 9-0 in a Division I sectional championship game on Wednesday.
HUDSON, Ohio -- One inning told the story of Wednesday's Hudson Div. I Sectional championship game matching Wadsworth and Hudson baseball teams.
The Explorers won that inning and they won the game 8-2.
Hudson had a 1-0 lead at the start of the fourth inning. Hudson senior pitcher Zac Edwards had allowed only one hit through the first three frames.
Wadsworth's Garrett Cutting led off the top of the fourth with a walk, then Nick Messam laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Cutting to second. But Edwards' throw to first basemen Mike Campbell was in the dirt and skipped away. Edwards was charged with an error putting runners at first and second. It was an opportunity for Wadsworth to tie the game, or take the lead.
That’s when Edwards stepped up.
He fanned Brandon Palidar for the first out, then induced a ground ball to second off the bat of Aden Campbell. Slick fielding by Hudson second basemen Jimmy Benchek got the ball to shortstop Nate Shaw. That allowed Shaw to nail Campbell by a half-step at first to complete the double play.
Edwards knew he had dodged a bullet.
“It’s great when I can go out there, locate and get ground balls, because I know my defense can get outs," he said.
You didn’t know it at the time, but Mr. Momentum had just shifted sides.
In the bottom of the fourth, Hudson batted around and scored six runs.
The Explorers started their big inning with back-to-back singles by junior Matt Lewandowski and Mike Campbell. A sacrifice bunt by senior Wyatt Andrasik put runners at second and third. Junior C.J. Tosino crushed a Josh Sovine fastball to the gap in left-center. Wadsworth center fielder Alex Bloom ran a long way for the fly, but couldn’t hang onto it for an error. Lewandowski scored on the play, making it 2-0 with Campbell taking third.
Back-to-back singles by juniors David Nelson and Will Stribney made it 4-0.
Wadsworth coach Brian Madigan went to the bullpen and brought in relief pitcher Jim Stover, but it didn’t matter to Hudson. Benchek, Matt Ramsey and Shaw followed with singles and when the dust had settled, the Explorers had a 7-0 lead.
None of those five straight singles was hit very hard. They just found a gap, or someplace where a Wadsworth defender wasn’t.
Hudson coach Chuck Schilling says that has been his team's calling card all season.
“It’s been our thing this year -- hitting the ball, finding the gaps, bunting, bunting with two runners on," he said. "We try to put some pressure on the defense."
Hudson added a run in the sixth. Wadsworth avoided the shutout by scoring two runs in the seventh.
Edwards admitted he had some nerves starting a game in the tournament.
“But once I threw the first pitch, I was fine," he said.
Edwards left the game with two outs in the seventh. Eric Kuczek finished up.
Hudson has another big game Thursday playing at Solon. A win will give the Explorers the Northeast Ohio Conference River Division title.
“We haven’t won a conference title in forever," Schilling said. "It was one of our preseason goals."
Actually, the last league championship in baseball for Hudson was 2005 in the final year of the Western Reserve Conference.
In other Division I & II sectional games:
Medina 7, Firestone 1
MEDINA, Ohio – A five-run sixth inning sealed the deal as the host Bees (16-7) defeated the Falcons (14-10) to win a Hudson Division I Sectional crown.
HEAR RAY HORNER'S REPORT FROM MEDINA, Click HERE
COMPLETE HUDSON DIV. I BRACKET, Click HERE
Nordonia 5, Twinsburg 2
TWINSBURG, Ohio – The visiting Knights (14-10) scored three runs in the first inning and made it stand up in upsetting the Tigers (13-5) in a Hudson Division I Sectional title game. Twinsburg hurt itself greatly with four errors.
Revere 13, Buckeye 4
BATH TWP., Ohio – The host Minutemen (10-10) scored 11 runs in the fourth through sixth innings to break open a tight game and roll to a win over the Bucks (5-6) in this Lorain Division II Sectional opener.
COMPLETE LORAIN DIV. II BRACKET, Click HERE
Green 9, Wooster 0
GREEN, Ohio – Junior Mark Zimmerman tossed a two-hitter and struck out seven in helping lead the host Bulldogs to a Canton Division I Sectional championship game victory over the Generals.
Senior Seth Curtis was 4-for-4 at the plate with two doubles and two RBI. Senior Joe Ferrell was 3-for-3 with three RBI. Junior Bryce Miller hit his third home run of the season.
Canton Division I: GlenOak 8, Barberton 0
COMPLETE CANTON DIV. I BRACKET, Click HERE
Woodridge 21, North 0
CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio – Four pitchers combined to throw a no-hitter and the Bulldogs (12-8) scored 12 runs in the first inning to win in an Akron Division II Sectional opener.
Pepper Pike Orange 6, Streetsboro 3
STREETSBORO, Ohio – The host Rockets (9-11) committed seven errors and allowed the Lions (3-8) to score four runs in the first inning in being upset in an Akron Division II Sectional opener.
COMPLETE AKRON DIV. II BRACKET, Click HERE
In other regular season games:
Walsh Jesuit 10, Chagrin Falls 0
CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio – The Warriors (17-2) scored six runs in the third inning and Mark Mittiga tossed a five-hit shutout at the Tigers (16-7).
Garfield Heights Trinity 10, Archbishop Hoban 9
GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio – The host Knights (11-7) scored a run in the bottom of the seventh, but it wasn’t quite enough in this loss to the Trojans (11-9).
Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy 7, Massillon Tuslaw 6
CUYAHOFA FALLS, Ohio – The host Royals (10-11) scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to go ahead on their way to a Principals Athletic Conference upset of the state-ranked Mustangs (20-6).
Mogadore 9, Rootstown 4
MOGADORE, Ohio – Trailing 3-0 before they had ever had a chance to bat, the Wildcats (8-7, 4-6) came back to breeze past the Rovers (7-7, 6-4) in a Portage Trail Conference County game.