'We're trying to keep this thing rolling': Waynedale earns second straight state berth

MASSILLON — It hasn't been easy all year for Waynedale.

The defending Division III state champions began the year with a loss. The Golden Bears split the Wayne County Athletic League title with two other teams (Dalton and Norwayne). A little more than a week ago, they were down to their final three outs of the season, trailing Beachwood by two runs heading into the seventh inning.

So, what happened at Massillon Washington's Carl "Ducky" Schroeder Field on Friday was a bit of a shock, even if the Bears fully expected to win.

Waynedale roared out to a big lead and kept pouring it on during a 14-1 five-inning victory over South Range in the Div. III regional finals, becoming the first baseball program in Wayne County history to earn state berths in back-to-back seasons.

"I know early on we had a couple hiccups, a couple bumps in the road, but we stuck together," Waynedale senior Trey Barkman said. "Our coaches did a really good job of keeping our team together. We trust each other and we knew in the end, it's all going to be worth it. We're trying to keep this thing rolling."

The Bears move on to face Ottawa Hills in the Div. III state semifinals Friday, June 9 at 4 p.m. at Canal Park in Akron. Heath and Harrison Central play in the other semifinal at 7 p.m. in what looks to be a wide-open field.

After coming agonizingly close to seeing their season end in district play, the Bears never had to break a mental sweat during regional play, no matter how hot the temperature was on the field. A day after scoring six runs in the first inning on its way to an 8-2 win over Independence in the regional semifinals, Waynedale scored four in the first against South Range, batting through the entire order before the Raiders could swing the bat.

Timmy Short drove in Dylan Raber and Connor Gatti on a line drive up the middle to start the scoring, and to start what ended up as a monster day for the senior third baseman. Short went 3-for-3 with five RBIs and two doubles, drawing a walk and scoring twice. Jayden Schlabach and Gavin Spitler drove in runs later in the inning to make it 4-0.

There was plenty more offense to come, but starting pitcher Otto Solorzano didn't need anything more than the cushion the offense gave him in the first inning. The junior lefty, who improved his record to 5-0 in championship final games (district, regional or state), didn't give up a baserunner until the fourth inning, and was his usual unflappable self on the mound, striking out the side in the first inning to set the tone for a day that came up all Waynedale.

"When Otto's pitching, it's a good day for all of us," Barkman said. "He threw a heck of a game."

Solorzano struck out 10 and walked one and allowed one hit while pitching all five innings. The lone run he surrendered was unearned.

And the Bears never stopped, tacking on two more runs in the third inning before blowing the doors off, scoring eight runs on eight hits in a fourth inning that ended any sliver of comeback hopes for South Range.

Short and Barkman led the way during Waynedale's 15-hit day against five different South Range pitchers, going for three hits apiece. Schlabach and Spitler had two-hit games and four more Bears had at least one hit. After some periods of struggling at the plate this year, there wasn't much more Waynedale could have done Friday to improve offensively.

"I can still remember — and I'm sure many of my teammates can — those hard practices early in the year when we're just in cage, just reps and reps and reps and reps," Barkman said. "We did our part, and we just have to trust our work and trust our craft."

While the senior group of Barkman, Gatti, Raber and Short — all four of whom were everyday players for the Bears in 2022 — have been the leaders on and off the field during Waynedale's playoff run, some of the less experienced guys stepping up has taken the Bears to a new level.

Tristan Franks has filled in the big shoes left by Josiah Raber from last season at catcher. Raber's hitting and play behind the plate was a huge factor in Waynedale winning the state title — he scored the game-winning run in the state title game — but Franks has quickly become one of the Bears' most reliable players as a sophomore.

"He's the hardest worker I know," Barkman said. "He's constantly getting reps. He's a kid that will just do anything. It's a tough task telling him to catch a righty that (throws) hard and a lefty that has tough movement. He makes it look easy and he does a really good job."

Spitler, who wasn't on the team last year, has brought consistency at first base while being the team "goofball," bringing levity to a sport that can be mentally taxing.

"On the bench, he always had the energy up," Short said. "He keeps us engaged and makes sure we're loose and having fun."

Schlabach, who drove in a combined five runs over the two regional games, has emerged as one of the top bats in Waynedale's order as a sophomore as well.

There was a point in the season when another state championship didn't seem so likely. Now, the Bears head back to Akron as the team to beat, aiming to become of the few programs to win two state titles in a row.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Baseball: Waynedale clinches second straight state berth