“We worry about the things we can control,” says Wiss. “Throw strikes, play defense, and execute on offense.” (Press Pros File Photos)
The expanded tournament proved to the knowledgeable that better baseball is more predictable when it comes from fundamentals and a culture of teaching them in the the old-fashioned way. Minster and Mike Wiss proved (again) that hardly anyone does it better.
If you took the time to talk with Minster baseball coach Mike Wiss at some point he would tell you that he’s a bit of a traditionalist.
One look and you can tell. He’ a bit old-fashioned, from the Frank Sutton (Sgt. Carter) crewcut to his insistence on being on time and a commitment to doing the little things…because they help you win.
He believes in community and culture. They go hand in hand. It takes a village, in other words – kids learn from what they observe growing up. And if it works for others it wouldn’t hurt to be like them.
The Minster Bank is proud to sponsor the best in area sports coverage on Press Pros Magazine.
Wiss and his Minster Wildcats won their fourth state title in baseball on Saturday, 8-0, over a Newark Catholic team that already owned nine state titles. Beat Newark and you’ve earned it, for a long time one of the state’s best examples of community baseball culture. The Green Wave are a mirror image of Minster baseball…and Wiss knew it. He’d beaten them before, in 2011.
Publisher Sonny Fulks writes OHSAA sports and the Buckeyes for Press Pros Magazine.
In a tournament that featured some good young talent and well-played games, Wiss and Minster stood out for not only winning, but winning in predictable fashion. Given his three previous titles in 2011, ’12, and ’17…given the oft-talked about culture of Minster baseball…and given that they don’t just talk about execution, but walk the walk…it was Minster who played flawlessly to capture their fourth title in dominant fashion.
Wiss said pregame that they would need five good innings from starter Caleb Couse…and he got it. Couse responded with 7 strikeouts and just three walks…and a shutout.
Wiss said pregame that the bottom of his order – 7,8,9 – would need to be productive, and they were, going 4 for 9, and his son Drew responding with three hits in four at bats.
Wiss said pregame that if Couse could get them through five he would be comfortable in turning to James Niemeyer for the close…and Niemeyer responded, pitching two scoreless with a pair of strikeouts.
Culture…….
Knapke Kitchens and Baths sponsors area high school and Ohio State sports on Press Pros Magazine.com.
This stood out to me about the just-completed baseball title chase. Communities with a baseball culture frequently pop up at Akron, while one can also make the case for seven divisions this year – University School, Amherst, and Graham, et. al. That’s testimony for the OHSAA’s purpose of expanded opportunity.
Another observer in Akron put it this way. The additional teams were usually competitive in the past, teams that previously got beat in the district finals, or the regional round.
But culture speaks volumes when you see Walsh Jesuit, Newark Catholic, Waynedale, Berlin Hiland….and Minster.
Culture in Minster begins with Mike Wiss, who’s had an eye on his future roster since they were eight years old.
And in Minster it begins with Mike Wiss, who’s had an eye on his roster in most cases since they were eight years old. It’s not hyperbole to relate that Wiss gets more from his roster than most of his contemporaries…because he’s seen them develop and knows when to use them, as broadcaster Marty Bannister claimed during the 8-0 win in the title game with Newark Catholic.
And yet, in thirty one years as coach there’s been very little written about Mike Wiss, because he doesn’t seek the attention. And Minster might be on route 66, but not the route 66 that Nat King Cole once popularized. If Wiss was in Toledo he’d be a household name in baseball like Chris Hardman is at Ottawa Hills.
And he should be, because there’s hardly another coach in Ohio who commands two sports better – girls basketball and baseball – and whose results can be matched by a contemporary. Wiss owns three state titles in basketball and four in baseball. Others coach multiple sports, but they don’t have seven titles.
And when you watch Wiss coach baseball, you’re watching Wiss coach basketball, as well, because his attention to detail and commitment to execution is the same in both sports. He’ll tell you…we have to have limit turnovers and rebound in basketball. We need production from the bottom of our batting order in baseball.
A final point.
The debate will go on for a while as to whether there’s enough talent for seven divisions of baseball, and the question of more baseball over better baseball. You heard it in basketball…that Monroe Central (who beat Marion Local in the Div. VI Final) would have been a contender with four divisions, the same as it was with seven – perhaps one of those teams that previously got knocked out in the district final or regional round.
But you never hear Mike Wiss speak negatively, or take any opponent for granted, regardless of division, record, or strength of schedule.
“We worry about that which we can control,” he’ll say. “Throw strikes, play defense, and execute an offense. Make the other team make a play. They might make a mistake.”
In the five-run second inning Saturday, Minster made Newark Catholic play defense, which resulted in a pair of errors without the baseball ever leaving the infield. It resulted in three unearned runs, and a five-run lead in support of Caleb Couse, who did his part by throwing strikes. Wiss’s expression never changed, while he added two insurance runs in the fifth and one in the sixth. And when it was over, medals presented and the gold trophy in hand, he smiled when our Hal McCoy asked him how title #4 felt.
“Best in Ohio feels pretty damn good right now. They’re all special and I don’t put one ahead of the other. But when you have your son out there (shortstop, Andrew), it’s a little bit different.”
Well, of course!
Minster Dental proudly support area sports of all sorts on Press Pros.
And at a school the size of Minster, athletes have to be shared between football, basketball, and baseball, prompting someone to ask in the press box, “What do you work on next when you’re that small?”
You work on the culture. Minster’s outstanding amateur baseball ‘classic’ comes up in mid-July, where the high school players show up to support the 8-year-olds, and the 8-year-olds begin dreaming of playing for Minster, and Coach Wiss. And he’ll be there, clipboard in hand, watching, encouraging, making mental notes…looking for the next Doug Huber or Lou Magoto.
He’ll remind them: “Control what you can control…throw strikes, play defense, execute on offense, and have fun.”
With time they learn. Less can be more…and it wins championships!
Wilson Health proudly sponsors your favorite area sports on Press Pros Magazine.com.