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Regional baseball: Waterford vs. South Webster for spot in Elite Eight

Photo courtesy of Alex Hawley Waterford’s Isaac Huffman, right, dives back to second base during a Division IV district final baseball game against Eastern last week in Chillicothe.

On the same day that Waterford High won the school’s second Ohio Division IV District baseball championship in as many years, South Webster claimed its first berth in the Sweet 16.

Now, the top-seeded Wildcats (23-6) and No. 4-seeded Jeeps will see who advances to the Elite 8 first when they square off in a regional semifinal at Beavers Field in Lancaster Thursday at 5 p.m. The winner is scheduled to return to the same venue Friday to face either No. 1-ranked Toronto or Danville in a regional final. At stake there will be a berth in the Final 4 of the OHSAA state tournament at Huntington Park in Columbus June 1-3.

A year ago, Waterford played and lost a close 2-0 decision to eventual state champion Newark Catholic at Beavers Field. So, the Cats are chomping at the bit to get another crack at the Elite 8.

“Back to Lancaster,” said WHS skipper Doug Huffman after the Wildcats downed Eastern, 9-3, in a district final at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe on May 17. “You know, this team is making a lot of history, and I don’t want them to get complacent. I want them to keep striving for more.

“We talk about state championships, now. I think you have to have starting point. We haven’t done it, but we talk about TVC (Tri-Valley Conference), sectional, district, regional and state. I mean. it’s one game at a time, and just try to achieve all your goals. To me, if you’re not playing for that, let’s hang our cleats up and go home.”

Following Waterford’s district title win, South Webster defeated third-seeded Notre Dame, 7-2, to set the stage for Thursday’s regional semi showdown. The Jeeps had an opportunity to view the Cats, and they have to be impressed with the green and white’s sticks.

Waterford had as many hits and runs against Eastern, a TVC opponent that it beat three times this spring. Prior to that, in a district semi on May 15, the Wildcats had 13 hits in an 11-1 mercy win against Whiteoak.

“We’ve got a deep line-up,” said WHS senior catcher Isaac Huffman. “Everybody’s got their way of hitting and getting the job done. And we’re glad that everybody’s on board.”

Huffman, the leadoff batter and a left-handed swinger, had three singles and scored three runs versus the Eagles.

“That’s what my job is to see some pitches and just try to get on base,” he said.

Huffman and senior Jordan Welch (CF), the second batter in the order, are very good at reaching base. Welch had two hits and scored twice in the district final.

“Those two are near .600 on base,” Doug Huffman said. “Jordan’s walked 30 or 31 times. He’s got a good eye.”

The left-handed-swinging Welch, also a standout golfer and basketball player, didn’t play baseball last year.

“I think he kind of seen what we did a little bit,” the Waterford head coach said. “I really think he can play college baseball. He’s just one of those kids, who’s really infectious. I mean, he sits out a year and comes back. Everybody can see that he belongs.”

After Welch in the order, look for Braden Bellville (P/3b), Clay Hayes (P/SS), Riley Burns (1b), Bryce Hilverding (3b/SS), Brock Hayes (DH), Tyler McCutcheon (LF), and Noah Huffman (2b).

And, all of these Cats can swing the bat.

“A lot of times, hitting is contagious, but that might not always be there,” Doug Huffman said. “To me, It’s more offensive execution, like well-executed hit-and-runs. Unless you just go out there and hit five line drives in a row then everybody starts feeding on it.

“Eastern battled us, and I think they were trying with the shift…is it going to get in his (Isaac Huffman) head. Well, Isaac just hit the ball hard right out through shortstop, and that was possibly a 6-3 putout there.”

The Eagles also put a shift on the right-handed-swinging Hilverding, who lined out to the first-baseman in one at-bat, but also had an RBI single to center.

“They (Eagles) were kind of standing in the right spot on the line drives that we hit,” Doug Huffman said.

Last year, right-handed-throwing Clay Hayes pitched well against Newark Catholic. He also threw a one-hitter in five innings of work against Whiteoak.

In the district final, righty Bellville hurled a 7-inning complete game win against Eastern.

Both Bellville and Hayes will be well-rested, going into the regional tourney.

“We’ll try to make a decision on pitching and where we go,” Huffman said.

On Monday, Waterford played Marietta High, also a regional participant, in an exhibition game at Don Schaly Stadium.

Meanwhile, Ryan McClintic-coached South Webster also has options on the hill. Senior Bradley Gee pitched and beat the state-ranked Green Bobcats, 6-3, in a district semi, while seniors’ Trevor Coriell and Shane Zimmerman sealed the deal versus Notre Dame in the final.

Some other Jeep players to keep an eye on will be catcher Alek Blevins, third baseman Jacob Ruth, Gabe Ruth, Blake Fulk, Matthew Shonkwiler, and Troy Boggs.

Note: Waterford and South Webster had one common opponent on the diamond this season: Trimble. And, the Wildcats and Jeeps both mercied the Tomcats.

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