Redskin baseball wins sectional title
The latest chapter in this rivalry was a thriller.
Wapakoneta edged visiting St. Marys 2-0 in a Division II baseball sectional final on Friday evening.
With the win, the Redskins improve to 17-4 and move on to next week’s district semifinal at Bluffton.
They will face another WBL foe in that contest, taking on Celina. The Bulldogs
shut out Lexington 7-0 on Friday.
For the Redskins, senior Braeden Goulet out-dueled Ty Kiehl of St. Marys.
Both hurlers went the distance. Goulet gave up just one hit
and three walks, while ringing up 14 strikeouts.
Kiehl surrendered two hits and three walks. He had seven
strikeouts in his six innings.
Wapakoneta got a run in the third, then added the insurance
in its final at-bat.
Taylor Echols and Landon Brandt had
the two hits for the Redskins, with
Brandt’s driving in the run in the sixth.
Wapakoneta manager Jason Brandt said, “(Goulet)’s fastball was dominant. He was able to throw changeups in key situations. He’s been our number 1 (pitcher) for four years.”
Brandt added that getting the second run
helped “give us a lot more breathing room.”
As for Celina, he expects a tough matchup as the first game was played in very
poor weather conditions, and both teams
are playing better. Wapakoneta won the regular-season meeting with Celina 4-3.
Cole Koenig was the lone Roughrider to
connect for his club. Kiehl, Greg Felver and Trey Leatherman drew walks.
Riders manager Adam Graves said, “We knew coming in we would have to have our ‘A’ game. We hit a couple balls really
hard. We had some
opportunities, but just didn’t take advantage.”
He praised the efforts by both pitchers.
Looking back on the year, he said that the team did well at times and struggled at others, but there were bright spots as the
squad looks to the future. St. Marys ends
the season with a record of 7-16.
Echols got the Redskins’ first hit with one out in the bottom of the first. He advanced on a groundout, then was left at second as Greg Jolly struck out.
Kiehl walked to lead off the second. Goulet got a popup to third
and a strikeout. Kiehl then stole second before Joey Caldwell went down swinging.
Kiehl struck out the side in the bottom of the second, and Goulet did the same in the top of the third.
In the Redskins third, Kaden Siefring reached on an error,
and was able to get to
second base. He was moved over with a sac
bunt by Grant Bauer, then another sacrifice (this one a fly ball) allowed him to put the
hosts ahead. Echols grounded out to close
the inning.
during her introductory news conference in Washington. “I never thought I would play in the WNBA until I got the offer from the Mystics. This is going to be the best experience I’ve had, for sure.”
Mystics coach and general manager Mike Thibault said the
5-foot-4 guard had been on his radar for
several years, but he knew he wasn’t going to be able to lure her away from the Japanese national team until after the Olympics.
That performance he said “confirmed what we already thought, that she could perform on the big stage.”
The four rookies are averaging just over 15
minutes and four points a game, led by Gardner who has
played an average of 26.5 minutes and averaged 9.3 points in the
Sky’s three games. That includes a 14-point effort in her debut against the Liberty.
Bringing in older rookies, especially those who have played
oversees has a lot of advantages, their coaches say.
Sky coach James Wade, who lives in Europe during the offseason, said a big factor for him in deciding to bring in Krajisnik and Gardner was the ability to watch them play against top WNBA talent overseas,
something he can’t do when scouting college players.
“They pretty much know who they are right now, and that’s
something,” he said. “They don’t really have to prove themselves
as much to people and don’t feel like they have to prove themselves. I think when you come into this
league at a young age, you’re trying to find out who you are and
so sometimes that can get in the way of team concepts.”
Sun coach Curt Miller said its also
nice not to have to worry about teaching
his older rookie the little details that go with being a pro, such as taking care of your own nutrition and showing up on time.
“We’re excited about (Anderson’s) poise and her ability to lead and I think it’s a fun
story that she’s a rookie in her 30s and has finally made this league,” he said. “But she’s going to have to scratch and claw and fight to continue to
keep her role to stay in this league now that she’s finally made it. “She can’t let down.”
It’s not a luxury that any of the older rookies can afford.