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Poland, Defiance bring excellent pitching to Division II state championship game
COLUMBUS
The Poland baseball team hadn’t scored less than four runs in a game all season.
Thanks to the stellar pitching of Jared Burkert in a state semifinal win over Columbus Bishop Watterson on Friday, the Bulldogs didn’t need a lot of scoring to advance to today’s title game.
They may need to get comfortable winning that way.
Poland will face Defiance at 4 p.m. today for the state championship in Division II. It’s the school’s first appearance in a title game in baseball.
“This is something this team has been working for all season,” Poland senior Dom Lipari said. “It’s a great feeling.”
Poland (28-2) will likely throw pitcher Adam Knight. The senior is 9-0 and has allowed just six earned runs this season. His last start was one week ago in a regional final, an 8-4 win over Canton South.
He’ll be opposed by Michael Hendricks for Defiance (27-5).
The senior right-hander is 6-1 with a 0.88 ERA and 59 strikeouts over 552/3 innings this season. He is committed to Miami (Ohio) next season.
“He’s our big guy,” Defiance coach Tom Held said. “He’s good. He’s very good.”
Defiance assistant coaches watched some of Poland’s semifinal game Friday morning.
What they saw was Burkert throw a complete game allowing two hits, striking out eight and walking none in a 2-0 win over Watterson.
But Poland’s offense struggled to score runs against a good pitcher. Held hopes his guy can be just as effective against the Bulldogs’ potent lineup.
“I didn’t care if we played the New York Yankees in the second game,” Held joked after his team’s 8-1 win over Big Walnut in their semifinal.
“Baseball’s different. You play against the game. Field the ball, throw the ball, throw strikes and get some timely hitting and you can play against anybody.
“It’s a very simple game.”
The Poland coaching staff is going with a similar approach leading up to today’s title game.
Defiance has been in the state tournament three of the last six years and won the title in 2013.
Poland won’t have the benefit of experience, but that doesn’t mean the Bulldogs won’t be ready.
“This is a superstitious bunch,” Poland coach Rich Murray said. “We’re gonna enjoy this one for a little bit, regroup tonight, and get them ready for the game tomorrow,” he said after Friday’s semifinal win.
“Not much is going to change, because not much needs to change.”