'We are not done yet': Walsh Jesuit baseball wins regional, OHSAA state semifinal next
OBERLIN — Senior Drew Erdmann pitched a five-inning no-hitter Friday to lead Walsh Jesuit to a 10-0 win over University School in a Division I baseball regional semifinal at Oberlin College’s Dill Field.
Erdmann struck out four, walked two and hit one as Walsh (26-3) won a run rule-shortened game and advanced to a state semifinal at Canal Park next week.
Friday's game with temperatures in the high 80s was completed in 78 minutes.
Erdmann’s performance came after he pitched a five-inning perfect game last week in a 10-0 district championship win over Louisville.
“My pitches were on,” Erdmann said with a smile.
Walsh first-year head coach Joe Bowers was thrilled with what he saw.
"Drew has been amazing all year," Bowers said. "... The perfect game last week and the no-hitter this week, I don't know if that has ever been done before."
Erdmann celebrated each outing, exchanging high-five and hugs with his teammates. He also received an ice bucket full of water on his head and shoulders from Walsh senior catcher Mason Eckelman each time.
“It kind of hurt this time, but it felt great,” Erdmann said. “I was hot at the end of the game. I was like, ‘Man, I want this game over. Let’s go to state and let’s go win.’ We are not done yet.”
With Erdmann and senior Ryan Piech in the rotation, Walsh has not allowed a run this postseason.
Piech threw a four-hitter in Thursday’s 1-0 regional semifinal win over Wadsworth and worked six scoreless innings last week in a 9-0 district semifinal win over Austintown Fitch.
“It is unbelievable what he is doing right now,” Piech said of Erdmann. “I have never seen anything like it and I don’t think anybody else has seen anything like it. It is very impressive.”
Not to be outdone, Walsh’s batters pounded out 11 hits in four innings, and the Warriors put the Preppers away with eight runs in the fourth inning.
"We kind of adjusted to the way they were trying to pitch us, kind of slow and away," Bowers said. "That really helped. We were barking at them for two innings to adjust to what they were throwing at us. ... We started hitting the ball everywhere."
Walsh’s big fourth inning featured eight hits — singles by seniors Zachary Halligan, Matthew Serdinak, Justin Bremner, Joey Canzoni and Mason Eckelman and doubles by seniors Raul Gamez, Topher Salek and Halligan.
“We saw the ball really well,” Covas said of the fourth inning. “Everyone got hot at that point.”
Bremner singled in Halligan, Gamez doubled in Serdinak and Salek doubled in Bremner and Gamez off US starting pitcher Aaron Moss.
Preppers coach Rob McNerney lifted Moss and called on reliever Matthew McMahon. Walsh responded with four more runs as Eckelman singled in Salek and senior Alejandro Covas and Halligan doubled in Canzoni and Eckelman, respectively.
“Finding the gaps and finding our pitch to smack is what we want to do best,” Halligan said. “Today, we found that and the energy in the dugout was great.”
Erdmann did not allow a base runner in the first three innings as he worked with a 2-0 lead.
Walsh scored twice in the first after three hits to open the inning. Covas hit a double, Canzoni singled and Eckelman singled in Covas. Canzoni crossed the plate when Halligan hit into a fielder’s choice.
“Our hitters stepped it up,” Erdmann said. “Getting an early lead for me is great. … We were getting hits left and right. It starts with the energy on the bench.”
Walsh’s defense was also clicking as it turned two double plays. Senior second baseman John Simecek, shortstop Canzoni and first baseman Halligan turned a 6-4-3 double play in the fourth, and Simecek and Halligan combined on a 4-3 double play.
“John Simecek, great job at second base,” Erdmann said. “He was hurt earlier this year and was playing DH. He has stepped it up at second base for the playoffs.”
Canzoni said the mood in the dugout is always positive.
“Props to Ryan and Drew,” Canzoni said. “Mason is calling a great game behind the plate and John played phenomenal at second. We have a very good collective mesh between everyone. Ryan and Drew have been pitching lights out. Hats off to them.”
Walsh players celebrated the victory on the field with their coaches and family members. Plenty of pictures were taken, and Eckelman was all smiles posing for photos with his family, including his dog, Maggie, and his younger brother, Bo.
“Drew was super consistent, like last week,” Eckelman said. “When he is on, he is on. He is going to spot up his fastball, he is going to locate his slider and he is going to use every pitch with full confidence. ... This was a really smooth game of pitch and catch between us.”
Walsh Jesuit seeks fifth baseball state championship
Walsh will enter Akron seeking two tournament wins to earn its fifth state championship in baseball.
Walsh won Division II state championships in 1999, 2004, 2006 and 2008 under former coach Chris Kaczmar, who was in attendance at both regional games as a spectator.
Kaczmar was also the lead voice in the dugout when Walsh was a Division II state runner-up in 2009 and 2010 and a Division I state semifinalist in 2021.
Walsh's first state tournament appearance in baseball came in 1989 under former coach Steve Grescovich, who was in the dugout as an assistant coach Friday. He has been a mainstay in the dugout as an assistant for over 25 years.
Michael Beaven can be reached at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Drew Erdmann pitches no-hitter to lead Walsh to OHSAA regional title
