Marysville’s Jake Fisher arrives safely after a headfirst slide into third not because he beat the throw, but because the ball was bobbled on the tag attempt. (Press Pros Feature Photos by Brian Bayless)
In the latest chapter of a somewhat surprising and disjointed season, third-ranked Olentangy Berlin ran its record to 19-2 with a nail-biting win against 13th-ranked Marysville.
Delaware, OH – Olentangy Berlin’s baseball season began like a scene from The Wizard of Oz.
On March 14, a tornado ripped through the school grounds tearing up everything in its wake. The outfield fence was blown away while the scoreboard, bleachers and backstop all were demolished.
The Bears played the first 16 games on the road while officials scurried to cobble together a makeshift field.
Aptus Wealth Management proudly sponsors the Buckeyes and Central Ohio sports on Press Pros.
Outfielders are backed up by a five-foot-tall orange snow fence spanning from one foul pole to the other. No distances are listed. Parked mostly in lawn chairs, fans use an app on their I-phones to keep tabs on the score and stats.
Veteran central Ohio columnist Steve Blackledge writes the OCC and sports at large for Press Pros.
None of this seems to have fazed Berlin, which ran its record to 19-2 with a wild and wacky 12-11 win over Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal Division Marysville Wednesday on its aforementioned field. The Bears came in ranked third in the latest Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association state poll while the Monarchs were 13th.
“The whole road warrior mindset has sort of motivated us this year,” Bears first baseman Ascher Dent said. “I’ve heard people poke fun of our snow fence and say we play on a Little League field. I see no difference at all. Baseball is the same game no matter where it’s played.”
Berlin’s Daniel Barreca earns a free trip to first after taking one to the gut during the game against Marysville.
The newest Olentangy school, opened in 2018, set the groundwork for success by finishing 21-8 and reaching a Division I district semifinal last spring. With six starters plus four pitchers returning, hopes were high for Berlin but few could have expected the Bears to ascend to the same echelon as Olentangy Orange and Grove City – the past two regional champions.
“This is a great group of seniors who have accepted and thrived in leadership roles since the day they stepped on to the campus,” Berlin assistant coach Corey Jordan said.
Fellow assistant coach Max Gunn said the Bears are thriving on a simplistic approach with a lineup that is balanced from top to bottom.
“We really preach putting the ball in play and making this happen,” Gunn said. “From an offensive standpoint, that happened today as we scored in bunches. But this was a very atypical performance for us on the mound. In fact, this game was nothing like most of our games this year. It was really disjointed, but we found a way.”
When you know, you know. Marysville’s Mason Springs smiles at the end of the swing after he gets every bit of the ball and sends it over left center for a home run.
Jordan and Max Gunn assumed coaching duties Wednesday while Mike Weaver – the school’s marketing teacher and DECA advisor – chaperoned a group of students to a career developmental conference in Anaheim, California. They are now 7-0 in that shared interim role through the years, but the latest win sure didn’t come easy.
Berlin (19-2, 13-1), which already had clinched the Cardinal title a week ago, capitalized on a four-run third inning and a six-run fifth to survive Marysville (16-5, 8-5).
In the top of the seventh, the Monarchs got two bases-loaded walks to cut the deficit to 12-11. Reliever Jack Showalter, who entered with a sparkling 0.66 ERA, walked four straight hitters and five overall before Jordan finally pulled the plug and inserted Nathan Broze into a bases-loaded, two-out situation.
After running the count to 3-and-2, Broze got Derek Moyer swinging to end the nearly-three-hour marathon that included a little of everything.
Facing what seemed an impossible task with bases loaded and the tying run at third, Berlin’s Nathan Broze strikes out the final batter on a 3-2 pitch.
“Yeah, it was stressful for sure, but I was ready when coach called my name,” Broze said.
Added Gunn, “I told Nathan afterwards that’s the situation you dream about from the time you starting playing Little League. Full count, bases loaded, last inning, game on the line. Man, did he step up.”
Dent socked a three-run homer in the pivotal fifth inning and Mason Quatman homered, doubled and singled in his first varsity at-bats. Although Berlin had just eight hits, every Bears starter reached base at least once and put pressure galore on the Monarchs.
“There were a lot of ups and downs in this one and it turned out to be a pretty scary game,” said Dent, an Ohio State signee who came in leading the team in batting average (.367), slugging percentage (.617) and runs scored (20). The blast well beyond the right field snow fence was his team-leading third.
“We’re playing with a lot of confidence and I feel like we’ve got the best chemistry of any team in the state. None of this is a surprise to us. We were almost there last year. I’m telling you that we’re the real deal. Our goal is nothing short of winning our last game of the season.”
Berlin came in batting .310 as a team with five pitchers equally sharing the load. Taylor Bednar leads the way at 5-0 with a 1.25 ERA and 54 strikeouts.
Polaris Pools is proud to sponsor coverage of Olentangy Schools on PressProsMagazine.com. To inquire about a beautiful Polaris Pool in your backyard, go to shearerlandscaping.com/polaris-pools/
This also has been a banner season for Marysville, which has posted its most wins since winning a district title in 2013. Three of its five defeats have come at the hands of Berlin, two by one run.
Mason Springs and leadoff hitter Tate Martino each homered for the Monarchs. Martino reached base in five of his at-bats. Gavin Betts also collected two hits and a pair of RBIs.
“We just did not play well on the defensive end today,” Marysville coach Nick Blake said. “It seemed like they turned every mistake we made into a crooked number. Our walks also led to big numbers for them. We didn’t make it difficult for them today, that’s for sure.”
Marysville walked six and hit two batters. A key throwing error on a potential third out brought home the first two runs in Berlin’s six-run fifth.
“It’s been a great season to date,” Blake said. “Our pitching and defense have been solid and if today is any indication, our offense is starting to hit stride. I’m not saying I want to play Berlin again, but I’m sure the guys would look forward to another chance at them down the road in the tournament.”
Want a greener, healthier lawn? We can help. contact Weedman USA at 614-733-3747 or go online to Weedman.com.