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Turner’s clutch hit lifts Flashes into title game
By BRAD EMERINE
COLUMBUS
Although Bellville was making its second consecutive appearance in the Division III state baseball tournament and third in eight seasons, Champion coach Rick Yauger said he would pit his team’s mettle and leadership against any other team in the state.
The Golden Flashes showed their poise despite leaving nine runners on base in a tight semifinal with the Colts on Thursday morning in Huntington Park. Senior Michael Turner came up with the clutch hit to back standout southpaw pitcher Drake Batcho in Champion’s 2-1 victory.
Saturday at 10 a.m., Champion (26-3) will play Berlin Hiland for the state crown.
“We battled all game and it was one of those games where you felt we were dominating everywhere except the scoreboard because we didn’t get that one timely hit until the seventh,” Yauger said. “But with the potential winning run on second base, we had the guy we would want to have up there in Michael.
“But we also had a pinch-hit single to begin the inning and all of the guys just showed their poise, Yauger said. “This group is so resilient and so loose. You would’ve never guessed they were playing to reach the championship game for the first time in program history.”
Champion, which was making its third state tournament appearance, lost in state semifinals in 2005 and 1971.
Hiland advanced to the final with a 2-1 win over Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy in eight innings to improve to 31-0. The Hawks finished first in the final state coaches poll and the Flashes were second.
Noah Gradishar led off the top of the seventh with a pinch-hit single to right field for Champion and Justin Taninecz re-entered the game to run. Kyle Forrest drew a one-out walk to end the pitching day for Colts’ starter Mitch Dulin.
Turner greeted reliever Jarod Smith, smacking his full-count submarine-style offering to left field. Yauger initially held Taninecz rounding third base, but left fielder A.J. Blubaugh bobbled and dropped the ball and Taninecz scored without a throw to the plate.
“I had one thing in mind in that situation and it was to just put a solid swing on the ball and hit it hard wherever the pitch was,” Turner said. “I had a few chances earlier in the game and didn’t come through and I knew my team needed me bad right then and there.”
In the bottom of the seventh, Batcho locked up a solid performance, retiring the side in order for the third time in the final four innings.
He retired 12 of the final 13 batters he faced. He allowed four hits and three walks, struck out nine and received help from his defense as the Flashes turned a pair of ground-ball double plays.
“Once I got the first pitch for a strike in the seventh, it was just take a deep breath and continue to play the game,” said Batcho, who doubled and scored Champion’s first run on a single by junior shortstop Andrew Russell in the second inning. “We had some trouble hitting with runners on base, but I knew sooner or later we’d push across another run.
“I had confidence in my teammates. If they gave me a second run, that’s all it was going to take today.”
Turner was 2-for-4 and Russell was 2-for-3. Forrest also doubled, as Champion had nine hits and received three walks.
Clear Fork scored its run in the third inning when Hunter Boyer’s two-out single to center scored Hunter Auck, who had a leadoff single.