COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Playing its way to Friday's Division I state semifinals might have been easier than the actual trip to Huntington Park for the Olmsted Falls baseball team. Coach Dan Largent, whose team stunned St. Ignatius in the district final and third-ranked Perrysburg in the regional final, thought it would be a good idea for the team to...
Olmsted Falls head coach Dan Largent, left, disputes a call with umpire Bruce Kotlinski during a semifinal game Friday at Columbus. St.Edward beat Olmsted Falls, 10-2, to advance to today's championship game vs. Cincinnati Elder.
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(Impact Action Photos)
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Playing its way to Friday's Division I state semifinals might have been easier than the actual trip to Huntington Park for the Olmsted Falls baseball team.
Coach Dan Largent, whose team stunned St. Ignatius in the district final and third-ranked Perrysburg in the regional final, thought it would be a good idea for the team to attend the school's commencement Thursday and then board a bus with the idea of arriving at the team's hotel around midnight.
All was well and good until the team's charter bus broke down before leaving Cleveland. It was midnight before the team left and it didn't arrive in town until 2:30 a.m. Largent let his players sleep until 9 a.m.
Alas, the Bulldogs fell to St. Edward, 10-2, and their season ended with a 16-18 record.
Proud papa: Indians assistant general manager/scouting John Mirabelli was in the stands to watch his sophomore son, Tommy, play second base for St. Edward. Son did papa proud with two hits, including a booming double to right field, and a sparkling defensive play in the bottom of the first to take a hit away from Cory Maddocks.
Family affairs: Tim Held is the head coach of Division I state semifinalist Archbishop Moeller. His cousin, Tom Held, is the head coach of Division II state semifinalist Defiance. Both played at Defiance College.
Tom Held's father, Melvin, threw a no-hitter for now-defunct Florence Edon in what was the "quarterfinals" in 1946. Melvin Held, 81, was in attendance Friday.
Moeller senior second baseman Kevin Thamann is the nephew of North Royalton baseball coach Jim Thamann, also a Moeller graduate.
Notable alums: Former professional baseball players Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Larkin, along with Buddy Bell and sons David and Mike Bell, played for Moeller.
First venture: The boy-girl twin children of Walsh Jesuit pitching coach John Ventura and his wife, Nikki, attended their first baseball game Friday. Mason and Khloe, born three weeks ago, were in the stands with mom and Ventura's parents, John Sr. and Josephine, for the Warriors' game against Plain City Jonathan Alder.
Taking blame: Moeller senior left fielder Max Belza made the final out in its 1-0 Division I state semifinal loss to Elder after being called out for leaving second base too early on Robby Sunderman's one-out fly ball to right field.
However, head coach Tim Held took the blame.
"He left early and it's my fault," said Held, who also doubles as third base coach. "I told him to leave."