(Press Pros Feature Photos By Julie McMaken Wright)
A stumbling start and a hot Minster pitcher were more than Russia could overcome. The Raiders’ season comes to a close in the Division VII semi-final at Akron’s Canal Park.
Akron, OH. — When Louis Magoto dresses, he puts both arms through his sweater at the same time, puts both legs in his pants at the same time and puts on both shoes at the same time.
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Magoto wastes no time and no effort and is as efficient on baseball mounds as a metronome.
The Russia baseball team experienced Magoto up close and highly personally Thursday afternoon in the OHSAA DVII baseball semifinal game.
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Magoto pitches for Minster and doesn’t so much pitch as enjoy a hot afternoon with no place to go and no hurry to get there.
And he did what he usually does, pitch a complete-game victory, this time a six-hit victory over Russia, 5-3.
It was Magoto’s 10th complete game this season and it carried the Wildcats into the first Division VII state championship game.
The OHSAA expanded the baseball divisions from four to seven this year and Minster, under the 31-year tenure of Mike Wiss, goes after its fourth state title.
Minster gave Magoto a quick 3-0 lead. . .well, Russia aided and abetted the three-run first inning with a couple of errors that included a botched rundown between second and third.
Error
Two runs scored on the misfired rundown and Russia didn’t learn. Minster hadn’t scored since the rundown messiness and it was 3-1 in the seventh.
And they did it again. Another rundown between second and third and two more runs.
Scoring runs early in the game is big on Wiss’s playbook and game plans. While compiling a 25-6 record, Minster has scored 94 runs in the first four innings, 33 in the first inning.
“The three in the first were big,” said Wiss. “The first inning went 1-2-3 after we went up 3-0. We attacked the baseball really well in the first inning.”
Leadoff hitter Dylan Heitkamp drew a full-count walk from Russia starter Braylon Cordonnier. Reese Beair singled and Minster had two on with no outs.
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Cordonnier retired the next two and nearly escaped unscathed. But Ian Homan singled and Russia engaged Beair in a rundown.
They threw the ball away and both Heitkamp and Beair scored. Homan scored on third baseman Zeb Schulze’s throwing error.
One of four Russia errors that helped stake Minster to a 5-1 lead.
“We have scored runs in the first inning and it’s something we talk about,” said Wiss. “Playing with the lead. Having the lead after three innings.”
Done, done and done.
“After that, we talk about playing with the lead, first man on base in each inning and we talk about have a good battery and a quality start.”
That’s where Magoto fits the pattern. He is 9-2 with 10 complete games, including a no-hitter against Montpelier in the regional final, 3-0, to send Minster to the state semifinals.
“This one ranks right up there, higher, than any other game I’ve pitched, just to say I was part of getting Minster to the state finals is just amazing.”
Minster and Russia are 11.2 miles apart, but traveled 191 miles to settle their differences in Canal Park.
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But because it was Russia, Magoto said it was above-and-beyond.
“Yeah, for sure, just because we’re so close and it’s too nice to go home after all that’s happening and having bragging rights, especially to a couple of friends I have on their team.”
Minster fans get excited as the end draws near…a 5-3 win over Russia and advancing to the title game.
About the rapidity of his work, as if he was avoiding snakes on the mound, Magoto said, “It’s been a new thing for me this year. It just helps me get into a better rhythm so I can get people out faster. Once I’m in a rhythm it’s a lot easier.”
And when he is in rhythm, he pumps strikes with the efficiency of a Lamborghini, consistently putting hitters behind in the count.
Errors and missed opportunities proved to be more than the Raiders could overcome.
“Yeah, for sure, that’s the biggest thing I like to think about,” he said. “Trying to get the first-pitch strikes. It’s a lot easier once you get 0-and-1.”
Forced to guard that 3-0 lead with the grip of ice tongs, he stood his ground.
He issued his first walk with one out in the fifth, then followed it with another walk to wobble in the danger zone.
A stolen base and a fielder’s choice scored a run to make it 3-1, but he struck out Vince Borchers with two outs.
Then he gave up back-to-back hits to open the sixth and then said, “No more, no more.” He struck out the side.
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“The seventh, I wasn’t too worried,” he said, showing it by his 1-2-3 strikeouts. “In the sixth when those first two people got on, I was more nervous.
“But I thought, ‘One pitch at a time, get one out at a time. . .do not try to overthink or think about the future. Just stay in the moment.’”
The entire episode was in the moment for Wiss, who won his 550th career game at Minster.
Kevin Phlipot rallies the troops after the Raiders’ slow start in the first.
And while he is most appreciative of all his players, Magoto was The Man of the Day. Again.
“What a great way. . .he pitched the district final, the regional final (no-hitter) and the state semifinals,” said Wiss. “And he gave up four runs in those three games. And two weeks from now, Louis enrolls at West Point.”
He’ll try to make Army’s baseball team as a walk-on and he is odds-on to make it.
Minster’s tough assignment in Saturday’s final is Newark Catholic, pursuing its 10th state championship, a title the Green Wave last won in 2015.
Newark Catholic spotted No. 1-ranked Tiffin Calvert a 3-0 lead in the second inning of Thursday’s first semifinal, then scored two in the third, three in the fifth and one in the sixth to win, 6-4.
Green Wave relief pitch Miller Hutchison, pitching with a dark hoodie dangling down his back in the 85-degree heat, pitched the final 3 2/3 innings and the baseball was a mere rumor to Tiffin Calvert batters.
Hutchison faced 15 batters and struck out 10.
The Green Wave is 21-9 and won its first two tournament games 25-0 and 19-0.
Tiffin Calvert shot itself in its spikes by committing four errors and issuing eight walks.
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