Bailey comes up aces for Champion

By Chuck Housteau

MASSILLON — Scott Bailey was a surprise starter for Champion High in the Division III regional semifinal baseball game against Garfield Hts. Trinity on Friday.

The senior’s performance was no surprise, however, as he tossed a three-hitter to lead Champion to the championship game with a 7-2 victory at Ducky Schroeder Stadium.

Champion (18-8) will face Garrettsville Garfield today at 2 p.m with a trip to Columbus on the line.

Sophomore Colton Greathouse was the scheduled starter for the Flashes on Thursday when rain washed out the contest.

Greathouse told Champion coach Tim Cope his arm was sore as the team loaded the bus on Friday. Bailey then got the nod.

“Coach said you’re on the hill today,” Bailey said. “Of course the nerves set in, my stomach was in knots, but I live for this. I loved it.

“So I stepped up and I was ready for it by the time we got here.”

Cope said Bailey’s effort couldn’t have come at a better time.

“I went with my senior,” Cope said. “He couldn’t have picked a better time to pitch his best game of the season.”

Bailey got a lot of help from his offense and despite a defense that wasn’t always very flashy in the field, it was good enough to make some big plays to bail Bailey out of a couple tough jams.

Champion had 11 hits, including two from Bailey, while the defense committed five errors.

“It wasn’t a very pretty game,” said Cope. “But we made some very good defensive plays when we needed to.”

Champion jumped all over Trinity in the second inning thanks to four errors by the Trojans.

The Flashes loaded the bases with one out after three straight Trinity errors.

Bobby Stroup brought home the first two runs with a double to left field before David Palm chased home Shane Brown with a base hit.

Tommy Stroup closed out the scoring with a single that scored Palm and Champion had a 5-0 lead.

Trinity got two runs back after four Champion errors in the bottom of the second before the Flashes defense settled down and played outstanding the rest of the game.

Trinity (17-8) loaded the bases in the fourth inning against Bailey with one out but Champion got an inning ending double play on a ball hit to third baseman Shane Brown.

Brown threw home to get the first out and catcher Ricky Yauger threw to first to complete the double play.

“That was a huge play,” Cope said. “We couldn’t ask for a better outcome there. That was kind of an inning killer for Trinity.”

Champion got two insurance runs off Trinity starter Pat Sinko in the sixth inning on a two-run single by Billy Yartz that drove in Brent Barbe and Brown.

As for today’s starting pitcher in the championship game, Cope said he is taking a wait-and-see approach.

“I don’t know what we will do. We’ll worry about that [today],” Cope said. “We’ll throw the whole house if we have to.”