43
Delay didn’t faze state-bound Flashes
By Brian Dzenis
MASSILLON
Champion had some delayed gratification on Saturday. The team had two sit for two hours in Massillon before playing for a Division III regional title, but when it was time to go, the Golden Flashes were ready.
Sophomore Andrew Russell fired a two-hit shutout against Chippewa for a 2-0 victory. The win sends the Flashes to Columbus for the first time since 2005.
“It’s an amazing feeling. Coming here as a freshman, it’s a goal we’ve always had.” Champion catcher Michael Turner said. “At the beginning of the season, we all talked about a state championship and now that we’ve got here, it’s amazing.”
The game was pushed from a 10 a.m. start to noon. Champion coach Rick Yauger had no issue with the delay itself, but how and when the message was delivered.
“We didn’t want to make an issue of it to our kids, because there’s no excuses.” Yauger said. “If you come here and get beat, that’s the game, but I think it’s something that needs to be addressed. We had to get on the bus at 7:30 a.m. for a 10 a.m. game. When we pull in here, we don’t know what’s going on and we get told the game is at noon.
“We had to get [the players] reset and refocus and maybe it isn’t much or people don’t think much of it, but as a head coach, it’s a lot to ask of these young men.”
The team rented a hospitality room at a Hampton Inn and had a light brunch at a nearby Bob Evans to pass the time.
Russell mixed up his fastball and curve — two very distinct pitches to the naked eye — to keep the Chipps off balance.
“I noticed that they were starting to catch up on the fastball, so I knew I had to switch it up and change it up in the count,” Russell said. “I just needed to keep the ball low and the defense would be there for me and they were.”
Russell struck out five, walked two and hit a batter while earning the win.
“Our scouting report said to mix it up on them early.” Turner said. “Their lineup is really, really good, so we tried to mix it up and we did everything we could to get outs.”
Turner, a Kent State commit, drove in his team’s first run in the top of the first. Chippewa pitcher Trent Harrell walked the first two batters he faced before Turner stepped in and drove the ball to left field. Teammate Aaron Williams drove in Turner in the top of the third. The Flashes had four hits for the whole contest.
“They still counted,” Yauger said.
Champion lost, 5-4, in 10 innings to Frankfort Adena in the 2005 state semifinals. Yauger was an assistant coach with the team when the Flashes fell to Garfield, 8-2, in a 2009 regional final.
“My son was on the 2009 team that lost.” Yauger said. “I’ve touched base with him down in Fort Bragg — he’s in the Army — and it’s going to be special for him. He’s still a big supporter of the program.”
Harrell gave up two runs on four hits, four walks and two strikeouts. Champion will play Bellville Clear Fork at 10 a.m. on Thursday at Huntington Park in Columbus.
“It’s awesome knowing that I helped the team get to that spot. It’s unbelievable,” Russell said. “I can’t be any more thankful to the coaches and teammates who got me here.”