by STORY BY RYAN ISLEY, SPECIAL TO KEE ON SPORTS
CANTON – Padua gave everything it had and battled up to the final out on Thursday in an OHSAA Division III baseball state semifinal, but it just wasn’t enough as the Bruins fell to Badin 5-2 at Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium.
Disaster struck for the Bruins in the bottom of the sixth with the teams tied 2-2.
Badin (29-3), ranked No. 1 in the final Division III AP poll, had runners on first and second with one out when Cade Cummins singled to centerfield to score Austin Vangen and then the big hit came two hitters later when with two outs, when Chandler Taylor hit a 2-run double to left center to make it 5-2.
Padua (25-5), the No. 10 ranked team in Division III, gave it a go in the top of the seventh, loading the bases on a single by Carter Palange, a walk by Michael Reis and single by Braylon Benson, but Badin pitcher Caleb Dreissen ended the game with a strikeout.
The Bruins got their two runs in the top of the third after Badin had taken a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second.
After Badin starting pitcher Caleb Dreissen pranced around the mound following a strikeout of Michael Reis for the second out of the inning, Braylon Benson and Michael Cangelosi had back-to-back singles to centerfield.
“That’s what we’ve done all year and all throughout the postseason, is getting those big hits, getting runners on,” Cangelosi said. “That’s helped us a lot to get through the postseason and the season in general.”
Then up stepped Padua sophomore pitcher Chase Martin, who helped his own cause with a triple to the game on left center to tie the game at 2-2.
“My team got on for me,” Martin said. “They put the pressure on and I did my job, came through, and our offense did really good against that type of pitcher today.”
Padua had its chance to take the lead and possibly control of the game in the top of the fourth inning with the game tied 2-2 when Patrick Loftus led off with a walk and Jacob Rihvalsky followed with a single to give the Bruins runners on first and second with nobody out.
But Jose Caban, who was running for Loftus, was picked off second by catcher Keegan Sawyer on a failed bunt attempt, Reed Cervenka struck out and Brayden Spellacy flew out to left to end the threat.
Martin then kept the game tied when he worked out of a jam in the bottom of the fifth as Badin had runners on first and third with one out and he induced a popup in foul territory caught by Benson at first base. Then after a walk loaded the bases with two outs, Martin got Colt Emerson to ground out to shortstop Reis on the first pitch to end the inning.
“I just trust my pitching coach, he calls the game, and he does a great job,” Martin said. “I knew my defense would back me up no matter what.”
Martin went 5 2/3 innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on six hits and five walks, striking out five.
The Bruins had their chances early against Dreissen, who went the distance and gave up two runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out nine.
Padua threatened in the first, as Reis smacked a one-out single back through the middle and Benson reached on an error to give the Bruins runners on first and second. But a great sliding play by Badin sophomore shortstop Derek Ogden cut down Reis at third on a ball hit in the hole by Michael Cangelosi for the second out and Martin chopped to third baseman Austin Vangen for the third out.
In the second, Brendan Reilly was hit by a pitch to start the inning and moved to second on a perfect sacrifice bunt by Loftus but was stranded there after a strikeout and a flyball to right field ended the inning.
Bensin had two hits for the Bruins, while Reis, Cangelosi, Martin, Palange and Rihvalsky had one each each.
Padua loses four seniors, as Reilly, Chase Bart, Ben Thomas and Jack DeGreeter all graduated earlier this spring.
“Our four seniors led us all year,” Reis said. “I don’t think there’s a team in the state that can come in with four seniors and say they’ve made it to this game, and our seniors have led the entire way.”
Reilly, Bart, Thomas and DeGreeter have set the tone for the program, and it is something the younger guys plan on carrying forward.
“These four guys came every day, led, and really showed us by example,” said Benson, a sophomore. “We’re a young team and that set a real great example for us.”
Even with the loss of the four seniors, the Bruins plan on making a return trip to the state tournament next season and they aren’t planning on playing just one game.
“Next year we’re coming for something special,” Reis said. “It’s going to hurt losing our four seniors. We love those guys. Those are our brothers, but next year we’re coming for something. We’re on a mission, and next year we’re going to win it all.”
