For the second week in a row…senior Mason Smith came in to nail down a critical win against an unbeaten team in league play. (Press Pros Feature Photos by Julie McMaken Wright)
Benefiting from a five-run first inning, Coldwater held on to remain unbeaten in MAC play with a Tuesday 8-4 win over Versailles.
Versailles, OH – A statement of fact. In Division V, Coldwater is a very good baseball team…and took another opportunity to make their case with Tuesday’s 8-4 win over host Versailles.
The Cavaliers scored five runs in the first inning off Versailles starter Ross Francis, then held on through a determined Versailles challenge – 3 runs in the first and 1 in the fourth – adding on in the top of the seventh to secure their 8-4 win.
Another statement of fact. Versailles, in Division V, is also a very good high school baseball team…for the way the Tigers came back in the bottom of the first to score three runs, for the fact of excellent relief pitching by Chase Monnin for 5.2 innings to keep the Tigers in the game, and for the fact of simply not giving up after such a discouraging start.
All that said, it was the matchup of conference unbeatens (each 3-0) and another stern conference test for Coldwater after beating St. Henry last week in a game where they had to show their tool box to win.
Versailles starter Ross Francis simply didn’t have his best stuff, or his best command Tuesday, surrendering five runs in the first on three hits, aided by two hit batsmen and a walk. In fact, he didn’t survive the first when after 4o-plus pitches coach Brad Koopman brought reliever Chase Monnin on with two outs in the first to retire the final out.
And in the bottom of the first Versailles took advantage of a one-out Coldwater error, a single, a walk, and a two-out double by catcher Matt Subler to cut the deficit to 5-3 to fuel the hopes for a comeback. And in high school baseball, a two run lead with six innings to play is hardly formidable.
Versailles reliever Chase Monnin held Coldwater scoreless for 5.2 innings, on four hits.
But Coldwater starter Aaron Kaup did his best to make it formidable, allowing another Versailles run in the third by Sam Deland while scattering six hits into the fourth inning before being taken down for Mason Smith, the bullpen hero of last week’s win over St. Henry. Smith retired the final out with the bases loaded, denying Versailles the tying run…5-4, Coldwater.
From that point on Smith and Chase Monnin (5.2 innings) hooked up in an impressive exhibit of how to give your team a chance. Monnin allowed no runs on four hits through the sixth, while Smith matched him with no runs on no hits with a pair of walks.
With the score still 5-4 entering the top of the seventh, it proved Monnin’s undoing. With one out he loaded the bases through an infield error, a hit and a walk. Brad Koopman decided it was time for a change and summoned Ian Bergman to try and get out of the inning unscathed. Leadoff man Braxton Tayler greeted Bergman with a base hit to center, scoring two runs, and subsequently another walk and base hit by Mason Welsch scored Taylor with the concluding run.
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Smith opened the bottom of the seventh by allowing back-to-back singles by Versailles’ Ross Francis and Jace Watren, but settled down to strike out Chase Monnin, then end. the game on a slick 5-4-3 double play.
Coldwater improved to 9-1, and 4-0 in MAC play with 8 runs on 9 hits…Versailles dropped to 8-4, and 3-1 in MAC play with 4 runs on 8 hits.
Versailles lost a potential scoring opportunity in this rundown in the third inning…Chase Monnin is tagged by Cavs’ Carson Homan for the third out.
“We showed some good character and strong leadership by this team,” said Coldwater coach Cory Klenke. “The eight seniors we have showed a lot of maturity with five runs in the first after two outs. And definitely in big games it’s hard to play with a lead like that, to keep the guys into it, not get comfortable, and we talk about it a lot. So it was good to be rewarded with a win at the end.”
At roughly the halfway point of the season, already, Coldwater has yet to play Marion Local and Minster, but what they’ve shown against previously unbeatens (in league play), St. Henry and now Versailles, is nothing less than that which you need in high school baseball to be a threat – a starting arm that can get you five innings, enough offense to get you a lead, and that second arm out of the bullpen to nail things down. And at this level, the latter is usually the toughest to claim.
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But in two consecutive weeks senior Mason Smith has been just that – five-plus innings to get the win against St. Henry, and 3-plus innings to nail down the save Tuesday against Versailles.
“Aaron Kaup did what we ask of him, and we know we have to play good defense behind him,” added Klenke. “He’s not a high-strikeout guy and we could have played better behind him. But Mason came in and threw they way he can once again…you know that’s a senior who just wants the ball.”
So they’re winning, and they’re winning against good teams.
“It’s tough to win in the MAC,” said Klenke. “We faced a great pitcher in Clune (St. Henry) last week and we faced to good pitchers tonight. Three good pitchers, a pair of left-handers, and three different styles, so it’s been good to see our hitters make the adjustment.”
What remains to be seen is how with the rest of their schedule make the adjustment against Coldwater?
They are…a very good baseball team.
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