The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
High school baseball tournament capsules
No. 15 Fostoria at No. 2 Vermilion
What: Division II Heidelberg District sectional semifinal When: 5 p.m., May 10 Where: Vermilion High School, 1250 Sandford St., Vermilion
For the record: Vermlion’s shot to redeem last season’s disappointing sectional final loss starts now . ... At 18-3, the Sailors have made a splash in their first season in the SBC, and senior Nik Barkdull has emerged as one of the area’s top pitchers . ... Vermilion has a deep bench and a reliable pitching staff, and there’s nothing stopping the Sailors from running the bottom half of the Heidelberg bracket and making a play for a district championship. First though, Vermilion needs to take care of business in a game it should absolutely win. McNees’ pick: Vermilion
No. 8 Beachwood at No. 1 Elyria Catholic
What: Division III Lakewood District sectional final When: 4:30 p.m., May 10 Where: Elyria Catholic High School, 725 Gulf Road, Elyria For the record: Elyria Catholic has been itching for the postseason to begin since losing a tough regional final to Apple Creek Waynedale last season . ... The Panthers have all the pieces in place and should easily contend for a district title, if not getting all the way back to the regional finals, starting with a win over Beachwood. McNees’ pick: Elyria Catholic
No. 5 Gilmour at No. 4 Lutheran West
What: Division III Lakewood District sectional final When: 4:30 p.m., May 10 Where: Lutheran West High School, 3850 Linden Road, Rocky River For the record: Lutheran West will need every bit of its home-field advantage in what could easily be the day’s best game . ... On paper, the Longhorns’ 14-2 record looks promising, but don’t forget this is a Lutheran West team that lost to a five-win Brookside team just a few weeks ago. ... Gilmour lost, 13-12, to Firelands May 8 — a Firelands team that beat the Longhorns, 9-1 — and that alone is enough to cast a bit of doubt on Lutheran West’s district chances. McNees’ pick: Gilmour
No. 6 Wellington at No. 3 Kirtland
What: Division III Lakewood District sectional final When: 4:30 p.m., May 10
Where: Kirtland High School, 9150 Chillicothe Road, Kirtland
For the record: Wellington has proven this season that it’s not a team to be counted out . ... The Dukes have a win over Elyria Catholic on their resume and have put up some big numbers this season . ... Though a 10-9 win over No. 11 Independence isn’t exactly convincing, Wellington’s ability to score clutch runs could be the difference in this sectional final. McNees’ pick: Wellington
No. 9 Columbia at No. 8 Central Christian
What: Division IV Medina District sectional semifinal When: 4:30 p.m., May 10 Where: Central Christian High School, 3970 Kidron Road, Kidron For the record: At 7-9, Columbia hasn’t found much consistency this season, but has a talented roster that can put together a win when playing up to its potential. ... The Raiders have faced Keystone, Lutheran West, Holy Name and Parma this season, just to name a few, and that competition will help come the postseason. ... Only time will tell if Columbia can win on the big stage, though.
McNees’ pick: Central Christian
No. 12 Open Door at No. 5 Mogadore
What: Division IV Medina District sectional semifinal When: 4:30 p.m., May 10 Where: Mogadore High School, 130 S. Cleveland Avenue, Mogadore For the record: Unfortunately, Open Door is simply outmatched in this game . ... As with much of the early low seed-high seed games, this one is all about not letting it get out of hand early, and if Open Door can do that, there’s no reason the Patriots can’t walk away with a respectable outcome.
McNees’ pick: Mogadore McNees’ record: 10-1