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South Range faces state champs
Canton Cent. Cath. holds the top seed
By Greg Gulas
STRUTHERS
Defending state champion Canton Central Catholic is the team to beat when the Division III district baseball tournament gets under way on Monday at Bob Cene Park.
The other seeds are No. 2 Crestview (16-6), No. 3 Cardinal Mooney (18-8) and No. 6 South Range (16-11).
In the 4 p.m. semifinal games, Central Catholic will play South Range and Crestview will take on Cardinal Mooney.
South Range defeated St. Thomas Aquinas, 6-5, to advance from the sectional. Raiders coach Jim Hanek said the district will be a real challenge.
“Central Catholic is a very good program and their track record speaks for itself,” Hanek said. “We’ll need to play well if we expect to advance.”
On the hill, the Raiders feature Greg Dunham (4-3, 1.05 earned run average, 55 strikeouts in 46.2 innings), Travis Baxter (5-2, 2.11, 33 strikeouts) and Brandon Youngs (2-0).
At the plate, offense is provided by Dunham (.375, 30 hits, 13 RBIs), Baxter (.333, 17 RBIs), Youngs (.311, 15 RBIs) and Anthony Ritter (.294).
The Crusaders (18-5-1) are coached by Doug Miller (702 career wins) who also has led his school to state crowns in 2008 and 2011. The Crusaders previously were part of the Creston district and won regional titles at Cene Park in 1997 and 2003.
“After 35 years, I’m smart enough to realize that all of the teams are good at this point,” Miller said.
Four pitchers have combined for their wins. The workhorse is Clay Davies (6-2, 1.35 ERA, two saves, six complete games) who has struck out 51 batters in 33 innings.
Miller also relies on Dan Platek (5-1, 1.93, four complete games), Quinton Heck (4-2, 1.84, three complete games) and Jake Vance (3-0, 0.88) who has struck out 31 opposing hitters in 16 innings.
J.C. Colangelo is hitting .417 with 14 runs scored and 11 stolen bases while Heck (.352, 19 runs batted in, 15 runs) and Ray Schembechler (.317, 17 RBIs, 23 runs) also are threats.
Last season, Colangelo had a big day in Columbus. In the afternoon, he finished with a silver medal at state by finishing runner-up in the 100-yard dash. Later, he earned a state title by posting two hits, scoring a run and driving in another.
Crestview is coached by Dan Hill, who is in his second season. Earlier this season, Crestview defeated Cardinal Mooney, 8-7.
“We’ve challenged our players and upgraded our schedule with Division I and II teams, so we feel like we are prepared,” Hill said. “Cardinal Mooney plays a strong schedule as well so that win earlier in the year is meaningless on Monday.”
The Rebels feature four twirlers in Michael McDonough (6-0, 0.97), Andy Gorby (5-1, 1.30), Tyler Hurd (2-0, 2.20., 3 saves) and Dylan Dickey (1-2, 3.20).
Joel Fitzimmons (.465, 18 RBIs. two home runs, six triples), Tyler Fitzsimmons (.328, 20 runs, 12 RBIs), and Hurd (.429, 12 RBIs) are key batters.
The Cardinals turn to Jack Lynch (5-1, 2.49, team leading 34 strikeouts) and Devin Curd (5-4, 3.54 on the hill.
Lynch (.329), Curd (.276), Mike Williams (.299) and Aaron Woodberry (.279) lead at the plate.
“The strength of the Division III tournament is pitching and that’s the big reason as to why Central Catholic and Crestview are the top two seeds,” Cardinal Mooney coach Al Franceschelli said. “We feel like we’re up to the task and ready now to compete.”