Cardinal Mooney’s historic postseason run ends in state semis against Sandusky Perkins
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AKRON -- There were just too many missed opportunities for the Cardinal Mooney baseball team on Saturday.
The Cardinals' defense committed six errors, leading to five unearned runs in a 12-7 loss to Sandusky Perkins in a Division IV state semifinal at 7 17 Credit Union Park in Akron.
"It took us a while to get settled," Cardinal Mooney head coach Ed Reese said. "We had all the confidence in our guys, but you know, nerves here. ... First time here at states. That's what happens when high school boys are on a big stage."
While things didn't go well in the field, there was early success at the plate.
Ben Oddis got the scoring started with a two-run single in the top of the first inning. Taco Verocco added a bloop single to center, scoring Oddis and putting the Cardinals ahead 3-0.
Two walks and a fielding error loaded the bases for the Pirates to start the home half of the first.
A tapper to first base by Kash Koch led to the first out, but it also put the Pirates on the board. Then a second fielding error cut the Mooney lead to 3-2, and a throwing error on a double steal allowed the tying run to score.
A fourth error in the inning put the Pirates ahead 4-3.
With one out in the top of the second, Andrew Bushey lined a triple into the right-field corner. Johnny Brenner followed with an RBI single to right to tie the game. After a walk by Oddis, it was time for Perkins to give up a run on an error. Vince Gentile hit a grounder to first base, but it got under the fielder's glove and into right field, allowing Brenner to score.
Ryan Reese drew a walk to load the bases, and Mooney extended its lead to 6-4 when Verocco got his second RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly to center.
Bushey reached on a two-out infield single, Brenner walked and Oddis got on after a third Perkins error in the third inning. Gentile beat out an infield single, and Bushey scored to push Mooney's lead to 7-4.
After the rough first inning, Oddis kept the Pirates off the board until the fourth.
A walk and two infield singles loaded the bases for Perkins with nobody out.
A third infield single by Bruce Davie plated a run, and a ball from Talon Walton went off Bushey's glove on a diving attempt. The ball trickled into left field, resulting in a three-run double and put the Pirates ahead 8-7.
Jacob Gugliotta relieved Oddis still with nobody out and a runner at third base. Carter Koch dropped a successful safety squeeze and reached when no one covered first.
An RBI double to right by Braxden Martin extended the Pirates' lead to 10-7, capping the scoring on a six-run fourth.
After another throwing error, Davie drove the runner in with a triple to the warning track in right. Then Carter Koch pushed the Pirates' edge to 12-7 with an RBI on a hit and run.
"We compete for 21 outs, a whole seven innings," Ed Reese said. "I'm very proud of how we competed."
Oddis took the loss after going three innings on the mound. He gave up nine runs -- six were earned -- on six hits and three walks.
Walton picked up the win after throwing four scoreless innings of relief for the Pirates. He allowed two hits and a walk, while also striking out four.
The loss brought the Cardinals' season to an end, but it was a memorable run.
Mooney won another district title and claimed the team's first regional title in program history. The Cardinals finished the year with a 24-4 record.
"Obviously today didn't go how we wanted it to go," Ed Reese said. "This senior group, when you go back four years ago, won maybe nine, 10 games. ... Turned the program around. We're very, very proud of that."