Senecas squander chances in 6-4 state semifinal loss

AKRON – Leaving eight runners in scoring position and committing four errors in the field were not the right recipe for success in a state semifinal baseball game.After a tough 6-4 loss to Newark Catholic Thursday at Canal Park in Akron in a Division VII state semifinal, Calvert was left saying to itself: "What could've been?"The Senecas (27-4) executed their game plan at the plate like they have all season long – making the pitcher work – as Green Wave (22-9) starter Owen Przymierski was up to 64 pitches after just two innings. Calvert led 3-0 after two innings, but then couldn't find any more runs until an RBI double from Blake Coleman in the sixth.Working the count and getting guys on was great, but the Senecas didn't make Newark Catholic pay."That's the game of baseball. You have to come through with guys on base and we didn't do it today. We've done it a lot this season, but not today," Calvert coach Matt Coleman said. "On the defensive side of things, they got the big hit, so hats off to them."The preparation was there, but we simply just didn't get it done. It wasn't in the cards. I thought all three of our pitchers competed today, but maybe didn't compete enough in the zone, but yeah, I joked with Blake a little bit as I felt like he was (Eddie) Harris from "Major League" because he's been battling an injury all season and he just wanted to be out there one last time. He started losing some velocity, but did throw everything he had at them today. Just wasn't enough."After a scoreless first inning, Calvert put some pressure on the Green Wave in the top of the second. Connor Moyer drew a walk – his first of four walks in the game – and then after two outs, Jacob Kidwell and Cash Lee drew consecutive walks to load the bases. Then Logan Ritzler hit a towering popup to second base, which dropped because the second baseman lost the ball in the sun, which it scored two runs. Then Coleman laid down a perfect bunt as he beat the throw to first, scoring the third run of the inning, but the Senecas did leave the bases loaded. That started an unfortunate trend.In the top of the third, it looked like Calvert would add on to the run total, but left runners on third and second to end the inning.Instead of growing a lead, Newark Catholic took got two runs of its own in the bottom of the third as Alex Nagel doubled to right field, Miller Hutchison had an infield single, Nagel then scored on a throw to second base on a steal and then the Green Wave added a second run as Malone Hutchison lined an RBI single to left.In the fourth, Calvert had the bases loaded again, but left them all stranded as relief pitcher Miller Hutchison got a huge strikeout to end the threat.The fifth is when things went a bit awry for the Senecas. With one out and runners on third and second, coach Coleman decided to intentionally walk Hal Gillespie to load the bases, giving the Senecas an option of a force out at any base. A tough grounder hit between the mound and the shortstop caused mayhem as the throw to second pulled the second baseman off the bag, and then the throw to first got by Cameron Moyer, allowing two runs to score. Then leadoff batter Mikey Hess put Newark Catholic ahead 5-3 with an RBI single up the middle.The Senecas did have a response as Ritzler laid down a bunt for a single and the Coleman drove him in with his RBI double down the left field line. But once again, the Senecas left runners on third and second. Even though the Senecas made Przymierski and Hutchison work on the hill, they did combine for 15 strikeouts, including three in the final inning. A lot of them were looking."Yeah had some guys in some big-time spots and we didn't get it done," coach Coleman said. "Their pitchers executed when they needed to and you kind of just tip your hat. We really got to their starter, their all-Ohio pitcher and knocked him out, but then Hutchison came in and was ready to go, hitting spots and we didn't execute when we needed to."Ironically, that was the same home plate umpire we had two years ago, so we knew (the strike zone) would be wide, but we had to foul some of those pitches off or stay alive there."The Senecas lose only one player to graduation, but it's a big loss as Coleman has been a mainstay in the lineup and on the pitching mound for years. "I'm really proud of the person he's become off the field, more so than anything. He's a good kid, and hopefully Tucker (Coleman) follows suit," coach Coleman on his son's final game for the Senecas. "It was special to be able to coach with my brother, my nephew and a bunch of guys that worked hard. Not just about the Coleman family, but I start to get a bit emotional thinking that that was his final high school game. If he's this type of person throughout his life … we did alright as his parents."