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Ohio Spring baseball always seems to fly by and in 2018 that is most definitely evident with the fact we are in Columbus at beautiful Huntington Park for the State Final Four. That means the four best teams in each division will battle it out to see who is the champion.

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OHSAA DIVISION II STATE SEMIFINAL - #1 Wapakoneta vs Circleville

COLUMBUS - Even a weather delay did not affect the performance of Gage Schenk.

The Wapakoneta senior right-hander, who fanned the side in the first inning to set the tone, scattered three hits to lead the top-ranked team in Division II past Circleville 6-1 in the state semifinal game on Friday.

After permitting just an infield single through three frames, Schenk came back after a one-hour delay to retire nine straight batters on just 20 pitches before the Tigers tallied an unearned run in the seventh. Schenk fanned 10, including the final two Circleville hitters, in sending the Redskins to Saturday’s 7 p.m. championship contest.

While the senior righty was causing the Tigers’ offense fits, Wapak’s bunting game brought issues to the Circleville defense and starting pitcher Jake Mancini. Three straight bunt singles by AJ Campos, Jett Makar and Joel Roediger loaded the bases in the third setting the table for a run-scoring single by Don Goodes. After a pop out, Wyatt Moyler roped a double down the third-base line to plate two more runs and a 3-0 Wapakoneta advantage before the delay.

A bases loaded walk to Bubba Miller and a Schenk sacrifice fly made it 5-0 by inning’s finish.

The Redskins added an insurance tally in the fourth on a two-out RBI single from Moyler to plate Makar, who opened the frame with a single to left.

Brad Henry and Mancini had singles in the seventh for Circleville, which had just two baserunners prior to the frame.

HOT TAKES

Solid defense: With Circleville threatening to break a scoreless game with two on and one down in the third, Wapakoneta first baseman Brady Erb snagged a line shot that turned into an inning-ending double play. It was just part of a Redskin defense that featured two consecutive gems at short by Joel Roediger in the fifth, the second from deep in the hole.

Player of the game: In five of the seven innings, Schenk retired Circleville one-two-three, including six-pitch frames in the fourth and fifth. Of the 10 batters fanned, nine were sent back to the dugout on fastballs. The Wapak senior walked just one, that coming on a 3-2 pitch. Out of 24 batters faced, Schenk threw 16 first-pitch strikes.

Deep team: Goodes, Vorhees, Roediger and Schenk get the most ink for the Redskins and rightfully so, but it takes a great team to win 24 of 25 games. Makar and Moyler did their part and more against Circleville. Makar not only handled Schenk impressively behind the plate, but the junior catcher was 3-for-3 at the plate with a pair of runs scored. Moyler had two hits, drove in three and scored once.

Season finale: Three starting juniors give head coach Brian Bigam a starting point for the 2019 season after the Tigers reached Columbus for the first state appearance in school history. Pitching must be found to make another tournament.

What’s next?: The Redskins have equaled what the 2012 team accomplished, reaching the state finals. Now head coach Jason Brandt looks to bring home the first championship to Wapakoneta.

LINESCORE

Circleville              000 000 1 - 1 3 0

Wapakoneta         005 100 x - 6 10 1

Records: Wapakoneta 24-1, Circleville 19-11.

Winning Pitcher: Gage Schenk (7 innings, 1 run, 0 earned runs, 3 hits, 10 strikeouts, 1 walk).

Losing Pitcher: Jake Mancini (2.1 innings, 5 runs, 6 hits, 0 strikeouts, 1 walk). Other: Andrew Barnhart.

Leading Hitters: (Circleville) - Brad Henry single; Jake Mancini single; Cory Cline single. (Wapakoneta) - Don Goodes 2 singles; Wyatt Moyler 2 singles, 3 RBIs; AJ Campos 2 singles; Jett Makar 3 singles, 2 runs; Joel Roediger single.