SHINGLEHOUSE — Almost exactly 51 weeks to the day, Oswayo Valley finally achieved a measure of redemption.
One year after seeing their perfect season come to an end at the hands of DuBois Central Catholic, the Green Wave (17-2) defeated the Cardinals (13-5) 2-1 on Friday in the D-9 Class A baseball quarterfinals.
Oswayo Valley won 22 straight games to start the 2016 season, only to see its dreams of perfection come to an abrupt end when the Green Wave were shocked by DCC in the 2016 D-9 title game — by the score of 2-1.
OV coach Brad Buchholz confirmed that last year’s loss was still fresh in the memory, while also acknowledging the quality of this year’s Cardinals squad as well.
“They’re young, but they’re really good,” he said. “They’ve got a Division I-level catcher behind the plate [Brandon Walker]. They’re always good and this game was no different. They’re as good as they were last year.”
While the final score didn’t feature many runs, both sides had plenty of chances in their first chances at the plate.
DuBois CC was able to load the bases in the top of the first inning, but Green Wave starter Garren Black came up with a pair of enormous strikeouts to get out of the frame unscathed.
Buchholz noted how crucial it was for the junior southpaw to escape the inning and get into a rhythm.
“It was huge,” Buchholz said about Black posting a zero in the first inning. “He obviously struggled a little bit in that first inning. But he found his groove the rest of the way.”
The Green Wave had a chance at some first inning-runs as well, getting runners on second and third thanks to back-to-back singles from Garret Babcock and Black with one out.
But DCC starter Thomas Grecco also notched a pair of ‘Ks’ to get out of his own jam.
Black and Grecco would go back-and-forth throughout the game, posting nearly identical final totals: seven innings pitched, eight strikeouts, and just one walk apiece. The only (slight) difference between the two was in hits allowed; OV notched six hits, while DCC finished with five.
With both starters performing so well, the game would be decided by the smallest of margins. Last year, it was the Cardinals who won the little battles. This year, it was OV’s turn.
In the bottom of the third, the Green Wave loaded the bases thanks to a pair of singles from Gage Babcock and Grant West as well as an intentional walk.
Jacob Karr’s RBI single in the ensuing at-bat won’t be one that will last long in the memory. The ball didn’t even make it out of the infield. But you won’t find any OV fans complaining.
Oswayo Valley added another run in the frame on a passed ball.
“I don’t even know how many hits we had but obviously it wasn’t that many,” Buchholz said. “But we were aggressive on the bases. We took advantage of a couple little mistakes that they made.
“But that’s exactly what they did to us last year,” he added. “They took advantage of a little mistake that we made and they came out on top. That’s the way it’s going to be the rest of the way. You’re going to have to win these one-run games.”
DuBois CC turned it into a one-run game in the top of the fifth inning.
After Justin Miknis got on base with a well-hit double, he quickly came around to score on an errant throw to first base.
The Cardinals were still down 2-1 heading into the top of the seventh. After a groundout to second, Austen Cogley (2-for-3) came up with an infield single.
With the tying run on first, Miknis came to the plate and sent a rocket to deep center field that looked for all the world that it might break the game wide open. Fortunately for Oswayo Valley, the catch was made, and a routine grounder to third on the very next pitch sealed the deal.
“Our emphasis all year has been pitch well and play defense,” Buchholz said. “You get the key hit when you can, but if you pitch well and play defense, you’re going to be in every game.”
Oswayo Valley will try to carry that focus into the district semifinals against Elk Catholic, which defeated Otto-Eldred, 12-2, on Friday. The semifinal matchup will be played sometime this coming week, with a specific date and time yet to be announced.
At SHINGLEHOUSE
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DuBois CC 000 010 0 1 5 0
Oswayo Valley 002 000 X 2 6 2
Thomas Grecco (8 SO, 1 BB), and Brandon Walker
Garren Black (8 SO, 1 BB), and Jacob Karr
