PBR Spotlight Game: No. 1 (D-II) Defiance vs. Toledo Central Catholic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No. 1-ranked Defiance (26-1) was unable to get a hit against Rudnicki, but was able to score the only run of the game in the second inning thanks to a defensive miscue from TCC (14-13).

"I have been part of one of these before, it happened in the 1996 ACME state championship game when I was at Bryan," noted Defiance head coach Tom Held. "We beat Whitmer 1-0 and got no-hit. We were fortunate  tonight... when you get no-hit, there's a good chance you're not going to win.

"We were very fortunate to scratch one across," added Held. "We thought we had chances to break it open early, but again, we just couldn't get a hit. Credit Jake Rudnicki, he pitched a heck of a game. He's got great numbers so he's doing something right. Once he settled in with his off-speed, especially the change-up, he was very good."

In the second inning, unsigned senior Dom Romero reached on a walk and Lincoln Trail recruit Weston Rivers hit into a fielder's choice. With Rivers on first, unsigned senior Joe Keween drew a walk. Garrett Sierra pinch ran for Rivers at second base with Top Prospect Games participant Derek Turner up at the plate. Turner went down on strikes bringing fellow TP Games participant Austin Hancock to the plate with two outs. 

On a 3-2 count and the Bulldog runners on the go, Hancock (pictured below) hit a grounder to the TCC shortstop. However, the throw to first sailed high allowing Sierra to score what inevitably proved to be the winning run. 

With Defiance on top 1-0, Zeigler and his defense took over the game. 

TCC's had a couple scoring opportunities with the best coming in the third. A lead-off walk to Rudnicki followed by a sacrifice bunt and an error put runners on the corners. Zeigler punched out junior Ryan O'Hearn setting the stage for Defiance's junior centerfielder Jacob Green to do what he does best, flash his leather. Central Catholic's three-hole hitter Colin Kaucher hit a looping fly ball toward center, but that is Green's territory. The talented defensive star made a great break on the ball and a diving catch to preserve the lead. 

"As soon as the ball was hit I had a good read... I knew I had to make a play on it," said Green. "As soon as I started running, and especially when I left my feet, I knew it was going into my mitt."

Said Held: "Robbie got big outs today when he needed to. He got the strikeout for the second out in the third inning, and then Jacob Green makes a game-saving catch. If he misses that, game over. But Jacob has done that all season long, I would have been more surprised if he didn't catch it."

The Irish had a couple more opportunities to score, but Zeigler and the DHS defense made the plays they had to. Romero made a nice catch in left, TP Games participant Dom Gentile finished off a do-or-die, bang-bang play from third and sophomore Wes Detter closed out the game with a grab in foul territory deep in right field for the third out of the seventh.

Zeigler went the distance allowing just four hits and one walk while striking out 10. Rudnicki also went the distance throwing the no-hitter, while permitting four walks and striking out eight. 

Defiance will face No. 2 Sandusky Perkins on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the district finals.

To view scouting notes from this game, please visit the Ohio High School Scouting Blog. The blog gets updated throughout the week.