On the move: Heath baseball races off to another district championship
LEWIS CENTER ― Connor Corbett sprinted home to start the game, Riley Baum sped around the bases for a three-run triple, and just like that, Heath left its narrow escape against Pleasant in the rear view mirror.
"We were too loose in our first tournament game and too tight in the last one," said Baum, who had four RBIs Thursday as the top-seeded Bulldogs overpowered No. 3 seed West Jefferson 9-0 for a repeat Division III district championship at Olentangy Orange. "We just had to find that medium ground, be happy and go out and play Bulldog baseball," he said.
Heath (24-2), which plays Cincinnati Country Day (20-7) at 5 p.m. Thursday in the regional semifinals at Wright State, scraped out a 2-1 win Tuesday against 13th seed Pleasant and had just one hit through four innings Thursday against the Rough Riders (18-7) and ace left-hander Brett Bogenrife. But they staked senior right-hander Wyatt Binckley to a quick 2-0 lead with small ball before the offense finally took off.
"For four straight weeks there, it seemed like we were playing every day, whenever the weather permitted," coach Tom Warren said. "Then all of a sudden we weren't seeing live pitching. You just can't simulate game speed in batting practice, and we weren't being patient at the plate. But we were patient today (the Bulldogs drew nine walks) and you could see things coming back into place, like we were hitting in the middle of the season."
Corbett reached on an error to start the first inning and Tannar Patterson was hit by a pitch. On a double steal, the catcher threw the ball past third and Corbett scooted home. Then with two out Baum beat out a chopper to second and Heath led 2-0.
"It gave us some energy, putting a number on the board, and it kept the defense more relaxed," Baum said. "It was confidence from everyone today, on every single play."
Indeed, the Bulldogs played errorless baseball behind Binckley, with shortstop Kaden Green and third baseman Jaiden Dansby flawlessly fielding short hops on the turf and Green diving up the middle to take away another hit. The appreciative Binckley threw a one-hitter, striking out five, walking two and hitting a batter, while throwing 71 of his 104 pitches for strikes.
"The curveball was probably my number one pitch, locating it in the right spot, and I was able to work my fastball around the zone," Binckley said. "Part of my motivation was knowing I had the defense behind me. It was impactful, giving me a lot of confidence and comfort there."
Said Baum: "Wyatt threw amazing. He did what Binckley does, which is throw hard, get it in the right spot and keep the hitters off balance with the curve."
Warren said getting the early runs was important.
"It proved to be more than enough," he said. "He threw lights-out. We did not know what to expect. He had not been in this situation (pitching in a district final), but he obviously handled it really well. He was in control the whole game."
Errors and walks killed West Jefferson, and Heath finally pounced in the fifth when Patterson got on via another miscue with one out, and Hayden Woodward and Green walked to load the bases. Baum quickly emptied them, roping a shot into the left-center field gap, and when he scored on Dansby's sacrifice fly the Bulldogs were in command at 6-0.
"I'm grateful that coach called timeout right before that," Baum said. "It gave me a chance to catch my breath, and he told me just to do what I had done all year. I just wanted to put the ball in play, saw it up in the zone, and went backside with it. (Assistant) coach (Austin) Morrow has been working with me, telling me to go backside and use my speed."
The Bulldogs knocked out Bogenrife and added on in the sixth against reliever Ethan Switalski as Paul Gould doubled and scored on Woodward's double and Patterson walked and eventually scored for the third time on a wild pitch.
Heath is two wins away from a return trip to the state semifinals. Cincinnati Fairfield Christian (22-4) takes on Brookville (21-8) in the other Sweet 16 game at 2 p.m. Thursday, with the winners returning at 5 p.m. the next day to determine who advances to Akron's Canal Park.
"I'm excited," Binckley said. "These are all my brothers now. We're having fun and everyone is bringing more energy."
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: On the move: Heath baseball races off to another district championship
