Prep Baseball Report

PBR Spotlight Game: Division III State Semifinals No. 14 Hamilton Badin vs. No. 9 Bloom-Carroll



Dylan Hefflinger
PBR Senior Writer and Northwest scout

COLUMBUS - A wild Division III state semifinals clash between No. 9 Bloom-Carroll and No. 14 Hamilton Badin ensued as the Bulldogs score three in the final two innings for a 3-2 victory to advance to the state championship game against defending state champ Wheelersburg.

Badin jumped on top in the first as senior catcher Noah Henson roped a one out double to deep right field. After a groundout and a walk to junior Zack Gray, sophomore second baseman Alex Holdenbach laced a single just past the outstretched arms of Bloom-Carroll first baseman Mitch Lambert to put the Rams up 1-0.

The game remained 1-0 in favor of Badin through the next four innings until Bloom-Carroll broke through to score two runs in the bottom of the sixth. 

Senior lead-off hitter Levi Fetherolf ripped a one out single to right, moving to second on a single by senior second baseman Blake Smith. A walk to talented junior catcher Jarrett Peters loaded the bases. 

After a strikeout, the stage was set got freshman designated hitter Seth Paszke. The lefty delivered in the clutch, roping a two-run single to put the Bulldogs on top 2-1. 

However, Badin answered in the top of the seventh.

Senior Nick Browning laced a double to left-center to leadoff the frame. Senior catcher Noah Henson sacrificed Browning to third on a perfectly placed bunt. TJ Nitchting (UNC Charlotte recruit) ripped a ground ball to Smith, but the second baseman was playing to deep to throw Browning out at home, as the throw was late to Peters at the plate.

Nitchting timed the pitchers move and stole second, before Gray was intentionally walked. Nitchting then stole third to put runners on the corners with one out. 

With the infield in, Holderbach hit a grounder that Nitchting tried to score from third on. Nitchting was dead to his rights at home, so he got in a run down, but the runners were unable to move up. 

With runners on first and second, relief pitcher Jake Newton (Marietta college recruit) got Reid Maus to ground harmlessly back to himself to record the final out with the score deadlocked at 2-2.

Bloom-Carroll was not keen on going to extras. 

A lead-off walk to sophomore rightfielder Roger Danison started the frame. Lambert tried to sacrifice Danison to second on a bunt, but Danison was forced out at second. After a strikeout, Fetherolf walked to put the game-winning run on second. 

Badin head coach Brion Treadway decided to put in Nitchting to relieve the Rams starter Michael Davis and get the final out and take the Rams to extras, but Smith and the Bulldogs had a different idea. 

Smith laced a walk-off single to left to score Lambert (pictured), advancing the Bulldogs to the state championship game for the second time in school history (1974, runner-up).
Game winning run

















Bloom-Carroll celebrating

Bloom-Carroll sophomore pitcher Corey Stanley kept the Bulldogs in the game as he went six innings, allowing just one run on seven hits and one walk. The righty kept the Rams off-balance all game as he mixed his pitches well, while spotting down in the zone. 

Badin's Davis went 6.2 innings allowing three runs on just four hits (three in the sixth). The righty walked four while striking out six. Davis sat 80-82 with the fastball while mixing in a 70 mph curve.

LINESCORE

Hamilton Badin    100 000 1 - 2 8 1

Bloom-Carroll       000 002 1 - 3 5 2

Records: Bloom-Carooll 26-5, Hamilton Badin 23-8.

Winning pitcher: Jake Newton (1 inning, 1 run, 1 hit, 0 strikeouts, 1 walk). Other: Corey Stanley (6 innings, 1 run, 7 hits, 1 strikeout, 1 walk).

Losing pitcher: Michael Davis (6.2 innings, 3 runs, 4 hits, 6 strikeouts, 4 walks). Other: TJ Nitchting.

Leading hitters: (Badin, 8 hits) - Nick Browning double; Noah Henson double. (Bloom-Carroll, 5 hits) - Blake Smith 2 singles.

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