Columbus: It turns out small ball can win big trophies.
The Tallmadge Blue Devils executed several small-ball tactics to perfection en route to a dominant 4-0 victory over Dayton Chaminade Julienne and a Division II state championship Saturday at Huntington Park.
It was the first state title for the Blue Devils since 2002.
Though it was the junior class — a class consisting of six starters — that Tallmadge coach Kenny Linn insisted all year could lead his team to state, it was the lone senior who may have sparked this dream run with an emotional plea.
“I texted coach Linn the day before the season started,” senior designated hitter Josh Taylor said. “I said, ‘Ever since I was six years old, I dreamed about winning a state championship for you at Tallmadge.’ ”
From that point on, the Blue Devils (26-7) seemed determined. They bought in to the concept of small ball and sacrificing their own stats for the betterment of the team and the bigger picture.
Those sacrifices were on display in the first inning against the Eagles (24-5). Junior Phillip Glasser singled before Seth Gergely dropped a sacrifice bunt to move Glasser to second. Scott Seeker made it pay off with a two-out single up the middle to put Tallmadge ahead 1-0.
That was enough for starter Jared Burick, who set the tone and remained in control for 6⅓ innings to improve his record to 10-1. He completed a 1-2-3 first on just six pitches and only needed 74 the rest of the way. The junior allowed one runner to reach second base and faced two batters over the minimum. He struck out five and allowed two singles.
“Jared deserved that,” Linn said, noting Burick’s work ethic and passion for the game. “He looked confident and comfortable from the start and he put us on his shoulders and said, ‘You guys get me a few and I’ll go do the rest.’ ”
With Burick cruising along, Glasser stepped up again in the third inning.
The shortstop came through on a hit-and-run, lining a single to right-field to put runners on the corners for Gergely. Another sacrifice — this one a pop-up to center — scored Rich Eyre from third before Seeker delivered another clutch, two-out single up the middle, scoring Glasser and putting the Blue Devils ahead 3-0.
What better time for Seeker to come out of his recent funk than in the state tournament?
He recorded two singles and a double, scored one run and drove in two in Columbus.
“I think he just put a little too much pressure on himself after signing in February,” Linn said, referring to Seeker committing to the United States Military Academy at West Point. “But he never stopped working, and he gets up at 5 a.m. to work out and hit, so it was nice to see him come through with those big hits for us.”
With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Burick walked two batters in a row, prompting Linn to call upon Mikah McGlaughlin.
Fittingly, a dream season came down to a dream scenario.
After uncorking a wild pitch to put runners on second and third, McGlaughlin struck out David Ernst before working a two-out full count to Daniel Slaybaugh.
McGlaughlin locked up the Wittenberg recruit with a back-door curveball, triggering players in the Tallmadge dugout to pour out onto the field and join their teammates in forming a dogpile on the pitcher’s mound.
Don’t think this group of players is done just yet.
“I know for sure we will be back next year,” Burick, adorned with his gold medal, said. “We have the best defense in the state and we only lose one guy. I have no doubt in my mind.”