Guthrie, Watkins walk it off vs. Olentangy in thrilling tournament win
PATASKALA ― Small in stature, Watkins Memorial sophomore center fielder Aydan Guthrie has done a lot of growing up in his first varsity season.
His maturity came full circle in a Division I district second-round game against visiting Olentangy on Wednesday. Guthrie delivered a pair of two-out RBI singles, including the game winner in the bottom of the eighth inning, giving the 14th-seeded Warriors an exciting 3-2 win against the 17th-seeded Braves.
"He picked the best time to play his best game," senior first baseman Sam Johnson said after the Warriors (21-6) advanced to Tuesday's district semifinals at second seed Bishop Watterson (24-2). "I think it's the only two-hit game he's had on varsity."
Guthrie has admittedly struggled adjusting to the varsity game, but has gotten better as the season has worn on.
"I just try to stay within myself, and not try to do something I can't. I'm not a big power guy," he said. "The seniors have helped me so much, and I wanted to keep the season alive for them."
He did just that, after the left fielder dropped Trent Johnson's slicing fly ball down the left field line for a two-base error leading off the eighth. Braiden Bates' drive to center was deep enough to advance pinch runner Braden Hulse to third. After pinch hitter Logan Fitch popped out, Guthrie lined the game winner to right center on an 0-1 pitch.
"It was a curveball, and I saw it hang," Guthrie said. "I was able to barrel it up and take it backside."
Coach Donnie Schone said Guthrie had the right approach at the plate.
"He stayed inside, got something he was looking for and drove the ball the opposite way," Schone said.
Watkins, which won its eighth consecutive game, responded after the Braves (14-14) used small ball to force extra innings in the seventh. Brandon Carpenter singled, went to second on a wild pitch and took third on Tyler Moreland's sacrifice bunt. Carter Hire then squeezed him home.
"That was perfect execution," Sam Johnson said. "But we kept our composure."
The two starters, Trace Hartman for the Warriors and Olentangy's Vitaly DiBlasi, both pitched well enough to win. Hartman threw 109 pitches over seven three-hit innings, striking out nine, walking three and hitting a batter while allowing just one earned run and picking a runner off first. Ethan Pollock pitched a scoreless eighth to get the victory, stranding two runners after Watkins committed its fourth error of the game.
DiBlasi didn't give up an earned run in his six innings, throwing 115 pitches. He fanned nine and walked two. Reliever Brady Beaumont took the loss.
Olentangy took advantage of the Warriors' first error in the first inning, with Kaden Gebhardt reaching, DiBlasi walking and Beaumont ripping an RBI single to right to go up 1-0.
But Watkins clawed its way back. In the third, Ethan Ryan had an infield hit, went to second when Chase Massie walked and to third on a forceout. He scored on a wild pitch. The Warriors grabbed the lead in the fourth, as Trent Johnson was hit by a pitch and Bates reached on an error. Guthrie came through with an RBI hit to right, with pinch runner Tyler Fuchs sliding under the throw to the plate for a 2-1 lead.
"We had a lot of people step up. Trace (Hartman) was amazing, as he always is," said Sam Johnson, after he and Guthrie both went 2 for 4. "No one wanted our season to be over and everyone was focused, during warmups and throughout the game."
Schone expected a battle from Olentangy, despite its .500 record. It came against a typically demanding Ohio Capital Conference schedule.
"They're a young team with a good pitching staff," he said. "Combine that pitching with good defense, and you're going to get a close game. It was just a matter of limiting our mistakes, and we had a few. We were fortunate to come out on the good end of this one."
The Warriors know what they will be up against Tuesday. Watterson went 12-1 to win the always rugged Central Catholic League and owns victories over Licking County League-Cardinal Division co-champions Heath (5-2) and Newark Catholic (8-2).
"They're the number two seed, and I think we will have the right mentality going in," ," Schone said. "We know we can compete with anyone. They're good, and we're pretty good, too."
740-704-7973
Instagram: @dfweidig
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Guthrie, Watkins walk it off vs. Olentangy in thrilling tournament win
