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Division III Team Of The Week: Rootstown

ROOTSTOWN - The Rovers of Rootstown have been dominate in the state of Ohio this spring. The Ohio Prep Baseball Report Division III Team of the Week is 18-1 in games played in Ohio, including 17 straight victories since a loss to Field. That followed up a 3-3 mark at the Myrtle Beach Ripken Experience to open the season, with losses coming to teams from Wisconsin and Kentucky as well as Fairbanks from Ohio.

“The quality of competition and the pitching we faced was beneficial,” noted head coach Keith Waesch, whose 21-4 squad is ranked eighth in the state in D-III. “Getting six games and a scrimmage in down there was huge. When we got back we struggled for a couple games but we had a meeting with the kids when we were 4-4.

“We were 20-7 two years ago and 19-3 last year with a lot of returnees. At 4-4, I asked the kids when they go in the batter’s box if they’re feeling pressure and 13 of our 15 felt they were pressing. I told them we need to have fun. The approach was to relax and enjoy the game of baseball. Don’t be overthinking it.”

The Rovers have not lost since, winning a third consecutive Portage Trail Conference title along the way. In going 10-0 in the league this year, Rootstown never trailed in any game, outscoring the opposition 107-11.

“We’re playing to our ability level, at the same time doing the little things right,” Waesch said.

A 1.75 team ERA has sparked the team.

“Our pitching has been unbelievable,” pointed out Waesch, whose squad has outscored the opposition 203-58. “Our team ERA is 1.75 and we keep stats the right way. We’ve really turned things around the last five weeks since we had that discussion after a 4-4 start.”

Seniors Ben Shank and Jacob Caruso along with sophomore Adam Beery (Video) have led the way on the mound for Rootstown. Shank is 6-1 with a 2.62 ERA, fanning 56 in 32 innings. Caruso, the 255th-ranked senior in Ohio, has a 0.92 ERA with a 6-0 record, striking out 50 in 38 innings. Beery, a left-hander ranked 20th in the state’s 2021 class, is 5-1 with a 1.64 ERA averaging two strikeouts an inning.

“We feel we have five kids that can pitch for most schools around the area,” Waesch explained. “That’s very odd for us, we’re usually looking for one good arm.

“If there’s been a surprise this year’s it’s been Jacob Caruso. He didn’t pitch until the second half of last year and for some schools he’d be their number one starter. He’s been a very capable arm for us.”

A shortstop and catcher in addition to pitching, Caruso, who is averaging .303, will play baseball collegiately at Thomas More.

Senior third baseman Matt McGrath, a Walsh commit, leads the team in batting at .442 with 36 RBIs and 28 runs scored. Thayne Ocel, a second-team all-state selection a year ago committed to Malone, has a .386 average with 26 RBIs. The senior is the 33rd-ranked 2019 catcher in Ohio.

Shank, the three-hole hitter who plays center field when not pitching, is averaging .380 with 26 RBIs and 37 runs scored while Beery, the two-hole hitter, is at .333 with 30 runs scored playing outfield when not on the mound.

“For us it’s about maintaining focus and having fun,” Waesch noted. “We’ve enjoyed the past five weeks. We told the kids while the tournament is not just another game because if you lose it’s over, we still need to treat it like it’s just another game. We need to have fun, relax and play good fundamental baseball.”

The tournament task is far from easy for Rootstown, with defending D-III state champ South Range the top seed in the district, perennial power Canton Central Catholic the two seed and Rootstown the three seed. The Rovers, which have a first-round bye, could play Columbiana Crestview in the sectional finals, a team that knocked Rootstown out of the tournament a year ago.

“We realize we’re in probably the toughest sectional/district in the state,” Waesch said. “We’ve played a very competitive schedule this year so we’ve seen a lot of good teams.”

The Rovers have played two D-I level teams, 10 D-II level teams and nine D-III level teams according to Waesch.

“Hopefully, that will help,” concluded Waesch, now in the third season of his second stint as head coach at Rootstown.