Mon Mar 15 2010
by Michael Leonard
Sports Editor
There’s nothing like a sweep of the defending Division I state champion to boost the morale of a team.
The Tallmadge baseball team pulled off a sweep of defending Division I state champion Lakewood St. Edward April 11, as the Blue Devils won 9-6 at home and 12-6 at Kent State University’s Schoonover Stadium later in the day.
Tallmadge followed the sweep with a 6-3 win at Barberton April 13.
Rain forced home games with Barberton April 14 and Highland April 15 to be postponed to April 16 and 17, respectively.
Results from the rescheduled games were not available at press time.
With the wins, Tallmadge’s record improved to 5-2 overall and 2-0 in the Suburban League.
Tallmadge head coach Kenny Linn held nothing back in the doubleheader with the Eagles.
He chose to throw his top two pitchers — junior Brian Kilway and senior Joe Cochran — during the doubleheader.
Tallmadge’s two aces responded with solid performances. Kilway struck out nine Eagles and scattered six hits as he improved to 2-1 on the season.
Meanwhile, Cochran struck out 10 Eagles in his start, while allowing only four hits. Cochran also banged out four hits in the doubleheader, including going 2-of-4 with three runs batted in during game two.
Third baseman Paul Pakan had a big day at the plate as he finished the doubleheader going 4-of-7 with six RBIs and five runs scored.
All told, Tallmadge’s offense banged out 24 hits, including nine for extra bases, in the doubleheader against one of the better pitching staffs in Ohio. Every Blue Devil batter managed at least one hit in the sweep.
Having thrown his top two pitchers over the weekend, Linn turned to freshman Tucker Linder to start there game April 13. The 6-foot-4 freshman looked poised in his first varsity start and got the win despite rainy conditions.
“I actually like the rain,” Linder said. “It gave me a better grip on the ball.”
Linder made only one mistake in the ballgame. Leading off the fourth inning, Linder hung a slider to Barberton catcher Mike Lee. Lee, who had four homers in a game earlier this season, belted the ball over the left-field fence for a solo home run.
Beyond that, Linder was in complete control, allowing only five hits and one walk in six innings of work, while striking out seven Magics.
On offense, Barberton’s Josh Porter held the Blue Devils in check early. According to Linn, the southpaw presented a big change of pace.
“He was throwing in the low 70s with a lot of [off-speed pitches],” Linn said.
Tallmadge broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth.
Pakan walked to start the inning, followed by a flyout from Cochran. Catcher Pat Kilway then ripped a double down the right-field line. Second baseman Matt Keen then hit a roller to third, but the Magic first baseman dropped the ball, allowing Pakan to score.
After shortstop A.J. Williams walked to load the bases, an infield single from designated hitter Andrew Powelson made it 2-0.
Lee’s home run cut the lead to 2-1, but Tallmadge broke the game open with four runs in the fifth — all of which came with two outs.
Pakan singled to start the rally, followed by an infield single from Cochran. Pat Kilway then singled to left to score Pakan and went to second on the throw.
Keen then belted a two-run single, stole second and came home when Williams hit a seeing-eye RBI single between third and short.
Tallmadge seemed safe until the bottom of the seventh, when the Magics made things interesting against closer Phil Emling.
A passed ball, a single and two walks brought home one run, while a fielder’s choice by center fielder Jacob North cut it to 6-3.
Emling took no chances with Lee, walking him to loaded the bases with two outs. He then got second baseman Dylan Beam to fly out to deep center field to end the game.
The Blue Devils earned a 7-3 win over Suburban League rival Highland April 9 in Medina. Matt Keen got the win on the mound. He finished with 10 strikeouts. He also had a two-out bases-clearing double in the sixth.
Tallmadge plays a Suburban League home-and-home series at Cloverleaf April 20 and at home with the Colts April 20 at 4:30 p.m.
The Blue Devils are scheduled to play St. Henry (Ken.) at The Ballpark at Hudson April 24 at 7 p.m., followed by a doubleheader at Kent State University April 25 against Cincinnati LaSalle (1 p.m.) and Cincinnati Elder (3:30 p.m.).
Players will be wearing pink T-shirts and wristbands in Hudson and Kent State and money is expected to be raised for cancer awareness.
E-mail: mleonard@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-686-3913
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