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Division I Team Of The Week: Week 7 - Miamisburg

MIAMISBURG - Jonathan Wade has had some difficulties in his first year as head coach at Miamisburg. While things have gone well on the field, Wade is in charge of the program due to the passing of former mentor Steve Kurtz.

“This past year has been really emotional for all involved,” related Wade, a JV coach the past seven seasons, who has the Vikings off to a 20-3 start after a 3-2 win over Lebanon on Monday. “The kids were really devastated as you can imagine, so I would say their resilience and ability to adapt to massive change due to tragedy has been really surprising.

“On the other hand, they were expected to be really good with nine seniors on the roster and seven being returning players with experience last year, so winning was an expectation,” added Wade, whose Vikings are the Prep Baseball Report Division I Team of the Week. “I will say this group has taken on everything thrown at them in a way that has been very rewarding as a coach. They have bought into what our staff is trying to establish with great attitudes and the willingness to put the team before themselves.”

This past week Miamisburg recorded a 1-0 win over St. Xavier, a 4-3 victory over Springboro and a 6-1 triumph over Middletown while a game with Franklin was suspended due to weather.

“I would have to say that every single player has contributed in one way or another and we have gotten really good pitching out of our guys,” Wade said about what has stood out this season with his squad.

There was also clutch play this week, with Brock Vaughn hitting a three-run homer to tie the game with Springboro in the top of the seventh before Ardin Mitchell came through with the game-winning RBI. Blaine Wynk threw three shutout innings against Middletown and now has 38 Ks in 22.2 innings without allowing an earned run. Wynck also leads the GWOC with a .483 average, while producing eight extra-base hits and 19 RBIs.

“He has been crucial to our success this year both offensively and on the mound,” Wade said of the senior.

Another senior, Mason McElroy, is 6-1 with three shutouts and 46 Ks to lead the way on the mound along with Wynk, who is 4-0 with four saves. Teagan Williams, a junior, is 4-0 with a save and 20 strikeouts while also hitting .431 with 19 RBIs.

Sam Boardwine, a senior committed to the College of Charleston in West Virginia, is averaging .365 with 16 stolen bases and 17 walks. Junior catcher Nathan Ennist has also been valuable with a .321 average to go along with a .983 fielding percentage, throwing out or picking off nine baserunners.

The team batting average is .303 with seven players hitting home runs heading into tournament play on Thursday against the winner of Clayton, Northmont and Piqua.

“I think like every game during the season you have to approach it one game at a time and don't take any team lightly,” Wade said. “Obviously we need to continue to get great pitching, play really solid defense making every routine play and maybe one or two exceptional plays when they are presented. Then follow those things up with some timely hits. That is kind of how our season has played out.

“I also feel like we have had a lot of close games that were not won until late in the game. I think winning several really tight ball games and being in the position where we have had to come back from being down late is going to be helpful for confidence in our players. They have battled every game. Even in the three losses we had the tying run or go-ahead run on base in our last at-bat.”

No matter the outcome, it has been a year to remember for Wade.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has reached out or offered words of condolences with the passing of Steve,” Wade concluded. “I know several teams did some things to honor him including Northmont's football team wearing decals with his initials, and just this last week Middletown wore Royal Blue wraps to honor him. I am sure I am missing some schools so I apologize if this is the case.

“Several coaches were at his service and showed for different events we had to honor him. To me, that is what stands out about this past year and season. I was also notified at our tournament draw that the MVBCA has put together some scholarship money for Kurtzy's kids to go toward their education. That was really cool to hear.”

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