A bulldog is known for its tenacity and one Olmsted Falls baseball player typified that fighting spirit more than the others in the Division I regional semifinal at Nobby's Ballpark on the campus of Case Western Reserve University on Thursday. Pitcher/infielder Cam Trefny allowed just three hits through 5 innings of work and doubled home the game-winning run in...
A bulldog is known for its tenacity and one Olmsted Falls baseball player typified that fighting spirit more than the others in the Division I regional semifinal at Nobby's Ballpark on the campus of Case Western Reserve University on Thursday.
Pitcher/infielder Cam Trefny allowed just three hits through 5 innings of work and doubled home the game-winning run in a 6-5 Bulldogs victory over Strongsville (15-11).
"I just had to throw my stuff and it worked," said Trefny. "Definitely, my curveball worked. They struggled with it early on, but late in the game, they started hitting it a little more, so I was getting nervous. We're the underdogs, so it's awesome. No one expects us to win, except us. We know we're going to win."
Trefny entered the game in the top of the second when Denton Sagerman was relieved after surrendering five runs. Of the 22 Mustangs who faced Trefny, only two made it beyond first base. He struck out three and walked three.
"Cam's a competitor," senior catcher Chaz McGrain said. "He and I have been up here since we were sophomores and we both want to do something to get remembered. On the mound, he's been lights out. Hopefully, he'll keep it up. He wants to win."
After a four-run response in the bottom of the second inning and another to even the score in the third, the Bulldogs got the lead for good in the fifth.
Cory Maddocks singled to start the rally, but was forced out on a fielder's choice. Following designated hitter Kurt Carlisle's infield single, Trefny doubled down the right-field line, which provided more than enough time for Brennen Laird to score the go-ahead run.
"We've been preaching all week: family," said Largent. "We've been doing this all year, sticking together."
Strongsville sent ten batters to the plate in the top of the second and seven of the first nine hitters reached base.
Olmsted Falls (15-17) will get to play one of two state-ranked teams in the regional final at Madison Comprehensive High School in Mansfield. Perrysburg (23-4, No. 3 in the Associated Press poll) were scheduled to play Sylvania Southview (23-3, No. 10) at Bowling Green, but the game was rained out. The game is rescheduled for today.