The North Royalton Varsity Baseball team is heading back to the “Sweet 16” in the OHSAA Division One State Baseball Tournament. In an exciting District Final game on May 26, at Talty Field at Brookside Reservation, the Bears defeated Avon 5-4 in 11 innings.
North Royalton will play Kenston High School in the Regional Semi-finals at Louisville High School in Stark County on Thursday, June 2.
The Bears took advantage of a throwing error by Avon in the top half of the 11th inning to score the game winning run. With one out, Cody Miller drew a walk and stole second base. Vince Koprowski struck out, but the Avon catcher did not hang on to the ball. The throw to first base was in time to record the second out, but, while the throw was made, Miller took off for third.
The throw across the diamond to third base was wild. After sliding into third, Miller got back on his feet and raced home with what turned out to be the game winning run.
But, North Royalton still had to retire Avon in the bottom of the inning.
That turned out to be no problem for Sophomore pitcher Brady Sasse. On relief for Royalton starter junior, Jake Michalek, Sasse got the last Avon batter to look at a called third strike, giving the Bears the Brunswick District Title.
The Bears forced extra innings by scoring a run in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game at 2.
North Royalton scored twice in the 9th to take a 4-2 lead. But, Avon scored twice in the bottom of the inning to tie it up at 4-4 to set the stage for the excitement of the 11th inning.
North Royalton Baseball Coach Matt Stricker called the contest one of the most exciting games he’s been a part of in all his years in baseball.
“Cody and Vince have set the tone for our lineup all year with their speed and their instincts on the bases. It’s more than just speed on the bases, it’s getting good jumps, good reads on balls in the dirt. In the 11th inning, I trusted what we’ve done the whole year. Once you get this far, you’ve got to keep doing what you’ve been doing. I have a lot of faith in those kids.”
A couple of weeks ago, the Bears were in the midst of the lowest point of the season following back-to-back losses to Suburban League Champion Wadsworth. Since then, the Bears have strung together eight wins in a row.
“I told the boys that we set goals many weeks ago. We didn’t achieve our goal of winning the League, but I told them we still have goals on the board that we can achieve so we can’t just roll over. It feels good to be heading back to Louisville,” said Coach Stricker.
Cody Miller played a strong center field and used his speed in that 11th inning. “I was watching the catcher’s throw. I made sure he released it and didn’t pump fake me. When he threw it, I knew I was going,” he said.
Brady Sasse was down on himself after he gave up those two runs in the 9th. But, he hung in there. “I was upset, but I stayed composed. I kept throwing strikes and relied on my defense,” he said.
That he did.
Last year, North Royalton lost to Mayfield in the Regional semi-finals at Louisville. The goal this year is to go farther in the state playoffs.
By JOE JASTRZEMSKI
Contributing Writer
