The Wadsworth baseball team believes it has sacrificed too much to allow its season to end tonight in the loaded Hudson Division I District semifinals.
Fourth-seeded Brecksville (21-5) will try everything to take down the top-seeded Grizzlies (26-0), with the winner to battle No. 2 Walsh Jesuit (23-3) or No. 3 Hudson (22-6) for the title Wednesday afternoon.
Wadsworth is the only undefeated team in Ohio, but the Grizzlies know they can’t overlook their future Suburban League National Division foe.
“Everyone knows we have some unfinished business on the team,” shortstop Riley Campbell said. “We’re not playing for ourselves right now. We’re playing for the team.”
Brecksville is led by Walsh recruit Anthony Krokos and Baldwin Wallace pledges Taylor Cave and Dan Cody. The latter pitched a complete game in a 4-3 win over Medina in the sectional finals and also owns a no-hitter this season.
The Grizzlies chief concern, however, is left-hander Jackson Gilbride, who struck out 12 in a 7-0 sectional semifinal triumph over Cuyahoga Falls.
While Wadsworth is unaware whether the Bees will start Gilbride or Cody, the Grizzlies had a unique opportunity to face a standout southpaw Monday following a 10-0 win over Chippewa.
That involved stepping into the box against Grizzlies junior varsity coach Jeff Shenker, a 2011 National Christian College Athletic Association All-American for Malone who fired at least 50 pitches in a simulated game-style session.
“There’s no special game plan,” Campbell said. “You’ve got to have good, quality at-bats.”
Common opponents between the Wadsworth and Brecksville, who scrimmaged in the winter, are few and generally can be disregarded because non-league games almost always feature No. 3-5 starters.
But for the record: The Grizzlies defeated North Royalton 13-2, while the Bees split a doubleheader. Brecksville also beat Nordonia 9-0, while the Grizzlies swept the Knights 3-2 and 6-4 in Suburban League play.
Wadsworth counters with ace Nick Bebout (8-0, 1.02 ERA) and a lineup featuring Campbell (.418, 36 runs, 27 stolen bases, Toledo recruit), Jared Houser (.357, 23, 12), Craig Palidar (.329, 28 RBIs), Kyle Pennington (.333, 20 RBIs, Baldwin Wallace), Adam Dennison (.377, Wheeling Jesuit) and Dylan Palidar (.400, 27 RBIs).
The time has come to separate the men from the boys.
“The kids know what’s at stake,” coach Greg Pickard said. “We know whoever we see is going to be a heck of an opponent. The coaches’ poll came out (Monday), and the four teams left are all in the top 13.
“Brecksville we know is a real tough team. They play a really tough schedule against really good pitchers.”
Contact Albert Grindle at (330) 721-4043 or agrindle@medina-gazette.com.
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