By Chris Check                                                                                                                              NE Regional Scout

WADSWORTH, OH- Medina traveled to No. 7 ranked Wadsworth Friday afternoon and put up quite a good effort but could not come up with the big hit, falling 4-0 to the Grizzlies.

This game provided a good pitching match-up in the form of a pair of quality junior right-handers. #4 ranked Austin Havekost started on the mound for the visiting Bees of Medina, while #45 ranked Nick Bebout toed the rubber for the home Grizzlies.

Medina started the top of the first inning with two hard hit singles by senior left fielder Eric Rapenchuk and shortstop Brian Letts, who's stolen base gave Medina runners on second and third with no outs. Bebout then bared down to get two consecutive called third strike-outs and a ground ball to second to end the inning.

Wadsworth then scored three unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning without recording a hit. Juniors Alex Laikos (catcher) and second baseman Adam Dennison both used stolen bases to pressure the Medina defense. Laikos scored on a wild pitch and Dennison scored on a passed ball. Junior first baseman Kyle Pennington walked and eventually scored on an infield error.

The game then became the pitching duel that was expected, until the fourth inning. Medina failed to take advantage of two 2-out errors and a hit when Bebout got another called third strike to end the inning. 

Wadsworth on the other hand, took advantage of a one out single by senior right fielder Greg Young. Young’s stolen base and a passed ball put Young on third base when a ground ball by senior shortstop Riley Campbell to make the score 4-0.

Medina failed to push a run across in the fifth and sixth innings after two-out extra base hits were stranded by Bebout, who remained poised throughout the contest. 

Nick Bebout went the distance for Wadsworth getting the win, giving up seven hits, striking out seven, while walking none.  Havekost got the tough loss, going five innings, giving up three hits, two earned runs, two strikeouts, and two walks.

Wadsworth (20-1), the number three seed in the district advances to play top seed and No. 1 ranked team in the state, Walsh Jesuit, Monday at 4:30 pm at Hudson High school.  Medina falls to 13-14 on the year.

PITCHING LEADERS

                          IP            R             ER           H             K             BB           HB

MEDINA

Havekost             5.0          4              2              3              2              2              2

WADSWORTH

Bebout                 7.0          0              0              7              7              0              0

 

HITTING LEADERS

MEDINA

Rapenchuk         2 H, 2B, SB

Letts                  1 H, SB

Whittaker           1 H, 3B

Minor                 1 H, 2B

WADSWORTH

Laikos               1 H, 1 R, 2 SB, 2 HB

Pennington        1 H, 1 R, 1 SB

Young                2 H, 1 R, 2 SB