The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Highland edges Mentor in semifinal
Highland scores go-ahead runs in sixth inning
CANTON » Before Mentor headed south for its Division I Canton regional semifinal against Medina Highland May 24, coach Jeff Haase remarked on how similar the Cardinals were to Medina Highland.
Haase’s foresight was validated when each team scored a run in the first, had identical line scores after five innings and were tied headed into the game’s final two innings. But the Hornets separated themselves in the sixth, and didn’t need a hit to sustain their postseason.
A throwing error, two wild pitches and a sacrifice fly lifted Medina Highland to a 3-1 win over Mentor at Thurman Munson Stadium.
“I don’t think we gave it away, necessarily, today,” Haase said. “What happened today was we just didn’t execute defensively and we just didn’t get that big hit.”
Billy Keller, Highland’s seventh hitter, walked to begin the sixth. Andrew Shaw followed with a bunt between Mentor’s pitcher and third baseman. A split-second hesitation resulted in a wild throw to move Keller and Shaw to
second and third.
Keller scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch. Sam Zeleznik’s sacrifice fly, caught by a leaping Will LaGanke in center field, added an insurance run.
The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the first. LaGanke led off with a single, stole second and scored on a wild pitch.
Medina Highland answered in the home first on Bryce Budzinski’s RBI double. On the mound, Budzinski prevented Mentor from adding any runs.
The Cardinals put a runner on base in every inning. Mentor left the bases loaded in the third and stranded men in scoring position from the third inning through the sixth.
“I just think, today, we just didn’t get the big hit when we needed the big hit,” Haase said. “Their guy kept us off-balance and when we needed to make a play, we didn’t make a play today.”
Senior Squire Chapman struck out five in 4 1/3 innings for Mentor. Chapman kept the Cardinals in the game as he left the bases loaded in the first and stranded runners at second and third to end the third.
Budzinski allowed a run and seven hits in his complete game effort. Budzinski struck out seven in a performance Highland coach Jay Grissom is used to seeing from the senior righthander.
“That’s what he’s done for three years for us,” Grissom said. “He just battles and battles and battles, he is a gamer.”
After the graduation of shortstop Nick Smith, first baseman Matt Detering, catcher Tom Noll and center fielder Nathan Birtley, Mentor overcame a 4-6 start to defend its Euclid District title. The Cardinals’ senior class of LaGanke, Zelina, Chapman, Matt Adkins, Bryan Case, Riley Grieco, Alex Edwards, Bryan Fleischhauer, Justin Richmond and Michael Megery helped Mentor return to Canton.
Underclassmen like junior pitcher Justin Wilson, junior first baseman Matt Sabin, freshman catcher Eric Coode and sophomore third baseman Andrew Witte added to the effort.
Development from new and familiar faces made Mentor’s 2018 regional team exceptional to Haase.
“Our kids learned a lot this year,” Haase said. “They grew up as the season went on. What it means to me is they just battled. We’re not the most talented team, we’re not the most gifted team but they play good baseball. That’s what I really enjoy about those guys.”