Potent Poland lineup too much for NDCL; Chagrin Falls is next

Potent Poland lineup too much

for NDCL; Chagrin Falls is next

By BRIAN DZENIS

sports@vindy.com

HUDSON

After Poland got its first hit, it was apparent the Bulldogs were going to have a big day at the plate.

Twelve hits later, Poland secured its second straight Divison II regional final appearance with a 8-2 win over Chardon Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin.

“Not to be cocky, but I knew we would win the whole time. I think we all did,” Bulldogs first baseman Pad O’Shaughnessy said. “We all wanted it.”

Centerfielder Eric White and O’Shaughnessy provided the one-two punch. White collected three hits and scored three runs, all of which came from the first-baseman’s bat. White opened the game with a triple and O’Shaughnessy scored him with a sacrifice fly.

“That was awesome. It got the momentum on our side and I could get him in,” O’Shaughnessy said. “I think that brought all of it to us.”

Two words sum up what got OPoland this far: Everybody hits. It wasn’t just the aforementioned Bulldogs. Tony Chiaro, Jared Burkert, Dan Klase and Matt Baker each had two hits. Nick Petrolla hit a two-run double in the third inning. Burkert and O’Shaughnessy had a triple and a double, respectively.

“I feel like one through nine, we’re one of the best lineups in Ohio,” White said. “We’re probably the deepest lineup you’ll find.”

Coach Rich Murray said the mystery element of who the big hitter is for the Bulldogs on a given day has served his side well.

“We learned how to win a couple years ago and now we just find out ways to do it,” Murray said. “I don’t know how all the time, but we find ways to win.”

Klase, the Bulldogs’ starter, got the win by giving up two runs on four hits and six walks through five innings of work. He had a shaky second inning where he had two outs with a runner at first and that third out proved troublesome.

He walked the Lions’ Samuel Perovsek, then two passed balls scored Nicholas Mann. He gave up two more walks and an RBI single before closing out the second.

NDCL stranded nine baserunners, with five of those in scoring position.

“[Klase] started throwing strikes and we played good defense behind him,” Murray said. “You don’t have to strike everybody out.”

Klase singled to reach first in the third. Then he managed to escape a rundown to get to second before Burkert’s triple tied the game. Back-to-back three run innings chased NDCL starter Corbin Walnsch and proved to be enough for the win.

The Bulldogs have come to like the Ballpark at Hudson now that it’s seen back-to-back years of regional success.

“We love coming up here, I especially love coming here,” White said. “We love these win or go home games because we play our best.”

Poland will face Chagrin Falls in the final. The Tigers beat Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary 11-5. First pitch is at 5 p.m. today.

“Coach told us they’re a good team and we’re ready to go,” O’Shaughnessy said. “We don’t really care about who is in our way. We just want to play.”