Division I Regional Semifinals: Medina Staves Off Late Comeback Attempt By Glenoak

Canton, OH: Leading 8-4 heading into the seventh inning, it appeared as if Medina would cruise to victory. Glenoak, though, had other plans, exploding for four runs in the seventh to keep the game alive. With one out in the bottom of the inning, Alex Rosetti laced a double to the wall, scoring Zeylen Yanmaz to give the Bees a 9-8 victory. River Blomquist led the way offensively for Medina, going 2-3 with two runs scored and an RBI.

Neither team could get anything going offensively in the first, but both started to find their groove in the second. At the top of the inning, Colton McLean led off with a single and was moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, senior Gavin McCaulley hit a single to the wall that scored McLean to put the Eagles up 1-0.

In the bottom of the inning, Luka Pagura hit a lead-off single and, after two passed balls, came around to score and tie the game at 1-1 after two innings.

Bryce Broom led off the third with a walk and was followed by Kyle Moff, who hit a single. Both would come around to score on sacrifice flies to put the Eagles back on top. Not quite finished, a two-out single from Ethan Krum scored Mason Olbon to make the score 4-1.

Medina did not shy away, as they scored a run of their own in the bottom of the inning. After leading off the frame with a single, Bolmquist came around to score on a sacrifice fly to draw the Bees closer at 4-2.

Following a perfect inning on the mound from Brayden Smigel, the Bees’ offense kept rolling in the fourth. With two outs, a single from Blomquist scored Yanmaz, and a double from Brian Wuchter scored two more, putting Medina on top 5-4 after four.

The next couple of innings went quickly, with both pitchers controlling the opposing offense. In the bottom of the sixth, Wuchter drew a two-out walk for Medina. A Joe Johnson double to right scored Wuchter and, following a passed ball that scored Lincoln Briggs, Luka Pagura hit an RBI single to put Medina up 8-4.

With their backs against the wall, Glenoak came out punching in the top of the seventh. Three consecutive one-out walks loaded the bases for the Eagles, and Broom scored on a sac fly from Mason Olbon. Singles by McLean and Connor Zets scored two more, drawing Glenoak within a run at 8-7. A double by Ethan Krum would score Zets as the Eagles tied the game at 8-8.

After watching their four-run lead evaporate, Yanmaz led off the seventh with a single. Then, with one out, Alex Rosetti hit a double to the wall that scored Yanmaz and gave Medina a 9-8 victory, sending them to Thursday’s Regional Championship.

Up Next

The Bees look to keep the good times rolling when they square off with Perrysburg Thursday evening for the Regional Championship. The first pitch is scheduled for 5 pm at Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium in Canton.

Top Performers

Glenoak Eagles

Ethan Krum: 2-3 2 RBI

Connor Zets: 1-2 2 RBI R

Colton McLean: 1-2 RBI 2 R

Medina Bees

River Blomquist: 2-3 RBI 2 R

Luka Pagura: 3-4 RBI R

Brian Wuchter: 2-3 2 RBI R