Raised expectations led Gahanna to state
Preseason goals for Gahanna have been rather cut and dried during Jim Campolo’s 17 years as coach.
“No. 1 is to win 20 games, No. 2 is to win our league and No. 3 is to do well in the tournament,” he said.
But after the Lions were ousted in regional play the past four seasons, Campolo was hastened to amend the credo. To “do well” wasn’t quite enough.
“We redefined that last part to mean getting out of the district and regional, and not just settling for getting there,” Campolo said. “This year, we tried to raise the bar a little higher and take the next step. These kids really felt like they deserved a trip to Akron.”
For the third time under Campolo and fifth overall, Gahanna (25-5) punched its ticket to Firestone Park for the state tournament.
The Lions will take on Elyria ( 20- 4) at 10 a. m. today, intent on bringing the program its first title.
“We had opportunities each of those years but let it slip away,” Campolo said. “Seriously, it’s not always about how good you are, but how lucky you are. I’d like to think we made some of our own good luck this time around.”
Typical of most Campolo teams, Gahanna boasts a prolific offense averaging more than eight runs.
Division II
Jonathan Alder coach Dave McGrew laughed when asked if reaching the state seemed like a reasonable goal heading into the 2017 season.
“Never, never,” he said. “We graduated seven seniors and that included four fouryear starters. I thought we maybe could compete for the district based on our tradition and the way we’re fundamentally driven, but not much further.”
Alder (22-4) will face defending state champion Lakewood (30-1) in all-Central District state semifinal at 3 p.m. Friday.
Lakewood knows it has an ace in the hole in three-time first-team all-Ohioan Courtney Vierstra, who is 25-0 with a 0.23 ERA and 254 strikeouts in 153 innings pitched.
The Lancers have backed her by outscoring opponents 73-2 in five postseason games.
Also representing
Cardington (25-4) and Danville ( 28- 2) give the Central District a record five teams in the tournament.
Making its first state tournament, Cardington — which averages 11.5 runs — will face Wheelersburg ( 24- 2) at 10 a. m. Friday. Wheelersburg has been unscored upon in the postseason and has 22 shutouts.
Danville returns for the first time since 2008, when it won the Division IV title. The Blue Devils will face Mid-Buckeye Conference rival Lucas ( 22- 6) at 3 p. m. today in a semifinal. Danville won both regularseason meetings.