Sun Mar 14 2010
by Michael Leonard
Sports Editor
One might think the Tallmadge baseball team would be hard-pressed to repeat last year’s record — Tallmadge went 25-4 overall and 12-2 in the Suburban League to claim another league championship.
However, Tallmadge has nine seniors on its roster this year.
And this was the class that represented Tallmadge at the 2008 Little League World Series.
Little wonder why Blue Devil head coach Kenny Linn feels good as he enters his sixth year as head coach.
“We have a great group of seniors,” Linn said. “These guys have been committed and dedicated to this sport since they were 10 to 12 years old. They’ve played a pretty good schedule the last few years. They definitely have been through some things that will help them with [a playoff] type of atmosphere.”
Linn said his expectations are the same as every year.
“The expectations always are to win the league and get to the [state] final four,” Linn said. “They know they have to take it day by day.
“I think Wadsworth is going to be our biggest challenge in the league and then Green,” Linn added. “Wadsworth’s got a couple of good pitchers and is supposed to have a good junior class.”
Linn will be aided this year by longtime assistant coaches Ben Shepherd (pitchers and catchers) and Seth Brown (outfielders), former Blue Devil J.J. Ray will serve as first base coach and head freshman coach. Derek Eddings will serve as head junior varsity coach and J.J. Topio will assist.
At the head of Tallmadge’s senior class is third baseman Paul Pakan. A four-year starter who will play for George Washington University in Washington, D.C., next year, Pakan led the Blue Devils by hitting .471 with eight home runs and 34 runs batted in last season.
“He’s just an extremely good athlete,” Linn said. “He works at it. His goal since he was in Little League was to play Division I college baseball. He’s one of those kids who’s going to succeed.”
Pakan will hit third this year, while senior shortstop A.J. Williams will likely hit fourth after going .407 with a home run and 22 RBIs last year.
Another four-year letter winner is senior Joe Cochran, who gets the nod to start at first base and likely will be Tallmadge’s No. 2 starting pitcher this spring.
Cochran has won 18 games in his first three years with the program and went 7-2 with a 3.10 earned run average last season. At the plate, Cochran hit .312 with three home runs and 21 RBIs in 2008 and will hit in the sixth position.
Seniors Pat Kilway and Andrew Powelson are battling for the starting catcher spot, as Linn said each brings something different to the team.
“Pat swings it better, while Andrew was a bit smoother behind the plate,” Linn said. “Pat has worked on his defense, though.”
Whoever loses the battle will likely be in the lineup as the designated hitter. Kilway will hit fifth for Tallmadge with Powelson in the eighth spot.
Tallmadge got a boost to its already strong senior class with the arrival of Dustin Burns, who moved to the district from Atlanta. Burns hit .328 and stole 20 bases last year with Alexander High school, the Division 4A state runner-up in Georgia. He is slated to start in right field.
“He’s had a great attitude and the kids welcomed him right way,” Linn said.
Senior Matt Keen returns to start at second base after hitting .333 last year, while senior Jake Patrick will start in left field after hitting .344 and 13 RBIs from the No. 9 slot.
Linn said senior Alex Licitre will see some spot time off the bench.
Junior Brian Kilway worked his way to become Tallmadge’s No. 1 starter last year, finishing 5-1 with a 1.20 ERA. The younger Kilway struck out 48 batters in 35 innings and is a lock to return to his No. 1 pitching slot.
Meanwhile, junior Garrett Emling after an excellent season at the plate and on the mound. Emling will start in center field after hitting .429 with 11 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. He also will return to the No. 3 pitcher/closer’s role after he went 3-0 with a 1.52 ERA last season. Linn has yet to determine whether Emling or Burns will bat in the lead-off spot.
Junior Phil Emling, Garrett’s twin brother, will see work as a relief pitcher/utility player for Tallmadge, while freshman Tucker Linder will play the same role.
Tallmadge starts its season with a bang as the Blue Devils are scheduled to play a doubleheader against Dublin Coffman and defending Division I state runner-up Cleveland St. Ignatius April 4 in Dublin. First pitch is set for 10 a.m.
“We figured we’d find out how good we are right away,” Linn said.
In the postseason, Tallmadge is set to play in the Division II Akron district, which will be played at Canal Park. The goal remains the same for Tallmadge in the postseason: Find a way past Walsh Jesuit, which has knocked Tallmadge out of the playoffs the last five seasons.
“Since I’ve been here, this will be the team that has the most experience in those big games,” Linn said. “They are very talented themselves. The last couple of years, they have played better in those games. We’ve stored it in the back of our mind. We’re trying to enjoy each and every day that we still have together.”
E-mail: mleonard@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-686-3913
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