Among Spencer Aukerman’s most cherished baseball memories date to when he played for the 11-and-under Medina Stars. Aukerman was the go-to reliever, often twisting batters into the dirt with a sick curveball he was permitted to unleash competitively for the first time.
Ask anyone who faced the 6-foot-1, 215-pounder this spring and they’ll confirm that little has changed.
RON SCHWANE PHOTO ILLUSTRATION
Medina senior Spencer Aukerman is the 2016 Gazette MVP for baseball.
Using lessons learned along the way to tirelessly hone his skills, Aukerman’s reward was a senior season most competitors would crave: Being the ace for a league-title-contending team.
Considering how the level-headed Aukerman performed, he absolutely deserved to be Gazette MVP.
“He was like a pay-per-view type of fighter every time he went out on the mound,” Bees coach Nick Kaplack said. “Most pitchers are ‘Tuesday Night Fights’ on USA Network. Spencer was on pay-per-view — and he won.
“Spencer fought the real opponents. He’s not a paper champ.”
Other than a sub-1.00 WHIP, Aukerman’s statistics don’t jump off the page. He entered this season 4-3 with a 2.68 ERA in 44⅓ career innings as a No. 3/Saturday starter or reliever.
Those numbers improved, as the right-hander was 6-1 with a 1.88 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 481⁄3 innings. Very good, to be sure, but nothing that will be listed in the state record book.
However, context proves why baseball stats are often the most misleading in all of high school sports.
Gazette MVPs
Spencer Aukerman (M) 2016
Nick Bebout (W) /
Riley Campbell (W) 2015
Nick Bebout (W) 2014
Luke Raley (H) 2013
Brandon Kutrubs (Bru) 2012
Scott Sency (M) 2011
Logan Goehler (M) 2010
Josh West (Buc) 2009
Kyle VonDuyke (M) 2008
Ben Klafczynski (H) 2007
Kevin Henry (Bru) 2006
Tyler Nagel (M) 2005
Pete Rippee (M) 2004
Brian Ensign (BR) 2003
Drew Saylor (W) 2002
Drew Saylor (W) 2001
Josh Gaub (Bru) 2000
Mark Herman (Bru) 1999
Adam Moos (M) 1998
Mark Ritz (M) 1997
Darian Miskewycz (Bru) 1996
Tony Johnson (Bru) 1995
Rob Gillingham (Bru) 1994
Dave Ritz (M) 1993
Matt Miller (W) 1992
Jon Schuck (BR) 1991
Brian Bauman (W) 1990
Guy DeMutis (Bru) 1989
Jim MacLellan (Bru) 1988
Deron Hofstetter (W) 1987
Alex Hiller (M) 1986
Cary McConnell (Bru) 1985
Joe Tenhunfeld (Bru) 1984
Bill Gearhart (W) 1983
Randy Bishop (C) 1982
Marc Hoffman (W) 1981
Joe Dickinson (W) 1980
Steve Detwiler (C) 1979
Mike Houska (H) 1978
Aukerman didn’t inflate them against cupcakes. He carried his team against state-ranked opponents.
He beat Division I state semifinalist and Greater Cleveland Conference champion Solon (24-5) — twice.
He beat 24-4 Olentangy Liberty with a complete game (The Patriots were sixth in the final Prep Baseball Report D-I state poll).
He beat Elyria with six innings of shutout relief and three days later beat Solon 2-1.
He beat archrival Brunswick in a must-win GCC game with 12 strikeouts.
His only loss was to regional qualifier Massillon Jackson, PBR’s top-ranked D-I team.
Oh, and let’s not forget he threw a five-inning no-hitter against Wheeling (Ill.) in the season opener.
How’s that for clutch?
“I like the big-pressure situations with the game on the line and whether you make the right pitch or not,” Aukerman said.
The Bees were fortunate Aukerman refused to let them die in the GCC race.
All three of his regular-season GCC wins came with Medina trailing Solon by at least one game in the standings. Better yet, all three came after a Bees GCC loss.
Aukerman’s heroics set up the put-up-or-shut-up moment: A GCC Tournament semifinal against the Comets. The starters were Aukerman and Alabama recruit Nate Altstadt. A loss meant Medina was officially eliminated.
Staked to an early 3-0 lead, Aukerman buckled down, using his sweeping curveball to get ahead in counts and strand runners in scoring position in each of the first five innings. He ran out of gas in the seventh, but Cade Pipoly got the save and Medina won 5-4.
The Bees lost the tournament title game to Mentor — they would have tied Solon for the overall championship with a win — but through no fault of Aukerman.
“Obviously (Solon) made it to the final four. They’re a great team,” Aukerman said. “I knew my team had my back. I didn’t worry about (Solon). I just tried to pitch my game.
“Going against a great pitcher like (Altstadt), I was more excited because he’s going to Alabama. I tried to stay within myself and pitch the game I was pitching all year.”
That Solon game was the last hurrah for Aukerman and the Bees, who were upset by Hoban in the Barberton Division I Sectional finals. Aukerman was pulled after five innings and with a one-run lead.
Aukerman will now play for Baldwin Wallace, which two years ago reached the 2014 D-III College World Series. He will major in biology while continuing to improve his fastball, curveball, slider and changeup.
What Aukerman can no longer develop is Kaplack’s admiration. It’s maxed out.
“Apples to apples, he deserves this honor 10-fold,” Kaplack said. “It makes everything worthwhile to have a kid that plays like that, has this kind of success and yet not have the arrogance. He still has that in-it-for-the-team mentality.
“It’s refreshing.”
And inspiring, too.