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Waynedale's Hudson Barkman pops up. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
Waynedale's Colin McGlothlin hits a two strike, two out flare to right to drive in Waynedale's first two run. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
Triway catcher Josh Stoner flags down a throw from right field as Waynedale's Cam Miller scores. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
Waynedale's second baseman Hudson Barkman play the hope on a ground ball. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
Triway third baseman Aiden Snell tracks down a ground ball. Heading toward third is Waynedale's Jordan Miller. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
Triway's Aiden Snell pops up. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
Triway shortstop Chase Walter field's a ground ball as Waynedale's Brandon Steiner heads to second. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
Triway's Jalen Hackett takes a throw for an out at third base. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
Waynedale shortstop Brandon Steiner and lef fielder Cam Miller battle the sun while tracking down a fly ball. Miller made the play on the ball. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
Triway's Chase Walter tries to beat the throw to first, to no avail. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
Triway right fielder Luke Starr tracks down a fly ball for the out. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
Triway third baseman Aiden Snell goes to first on a fielders choice for the out. Passing behind on the play is Waynedale's Brandon Steiner. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
Waynedale left fielder Cam Miller makes a nice play on a long fly ball off the bat of Triway's Luke Starr. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
Waynedale's Cam Troyer dives safely back to first base on a pickoff attempt. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
Waynedale left fielder Hayden Barkman fires the ball back into the infield after a base hit by the Titan's. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
Triway's Braylen MIller and Aiden Snell try to flag down an infield hit. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
Triway pitcher Grady Hershberger delivers to the plate. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
Waynedale pitcher Jordan Miller. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
Waynedale first baseman Logan Troyer takes a throw for an out. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
Triway's Joey Yacapraro awaits the pitch. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
Waynedale's Brandon Steiner in all smiles coming off the field after making a nice play from his shortstop position. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
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Gallery: Triway at Waynedale Baseball
Waynedale's Logan Troyer squares to bunt. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
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Gallery: Triway at Waynedale Baseball
Waynedale's Logan Troyer squares to bunt. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
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Gallery: Triway at Waynedale Baseball
Triway's Josh Stoner rips a single in the first inning. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
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Gallery: Triway at Waynedale Baseball
Triway's Braylen Miller fires a pitch to home plate. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
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Gallery: Triway at Waynedale Baseball
Waynedale shortstop Brandon Steiner and Triway's Josh Stoner. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
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Gallery: Triway at Waynedale Baseball
Waynedale's Hudson Barkman pops up. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
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Gallery: Triway at Waynedale Baseball
Waynedale's Colin McGlothlin hits a two strike, two out flare to right to drive in Waynedale's first two run. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
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Gallery: Triway at Waynedale Baseball
Triway catcher Josh Stoner flags down a throw from right field as Waynedale's Cam Miller scores. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
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Gallery: Triway at Waynedale Baseball
Waynedale's second baseman Hudson Barkman play the hope on a ground ball. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
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Gallery: Triway at Waynedale Baseball
Triway third baseman Aiden Snell tracks down a ground ball. Heading toward third is Waynedale's Jordan Miller. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
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Gallery: Triway at Waynedale Baseball
Triway's Aiden Snell pops up. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
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Gallery: Triway at Waynedale Baseball
Triway shortstop Chase Walter field's a ground ball as Waynedale's Brandon Steiner heads to second. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
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Gallery: Triway at Waynedale Baseball
Triway's Jalen Hackett takes a throw for an out at third base. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
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Gallery: Triway at Waynedale Baseball
Waynedale shortstop Brandon Steiner and lef fielder Cam Miller battle the sun while tracking down a fly ball. Miller made the play on the ball. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
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Gallery: Triway at Waynedale Baseball
Triway's Chase Walter tries to beat the throw to first, to no avail. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
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Gallery: Triway at Waynedale Baseball
Triway right fielder Luke Starr tracks down a fly ball for the out. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
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Gallery: Triway at Waynedale Baseball
Triway third baseman Aiden Snell goes to first on a fielders choice for the out. Passing behind on the play is Waynedale's Brandon Steiner. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
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Gallery: Triway at Waynedale Baseball
Waynedale left fielder Cam Miller makes a nice play on a long fly ball off the bat of Triway's Luke Starr. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
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Gallery: Triway at Waynedale Baseball
Waynedale's Cam Troyer dives safely back to first base on a pickoff attempt. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
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Gallery: Triway at Waynedale Baseball
Waynedale left fielder Hayden Barkman fires the ball back into the infield after a base hit by the Titan's. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
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Gallery: Triway at Waynedale Baseball
Triway's Braylen MIller and Aiden Snell try to flag down an infield hit. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
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Gallery: Triway at Waynedale Baseball
Triway pitcher Grady Hershberger delivers to the plate. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
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Gallery: Triway at Waynedale Baseball
Waynedale pitcher Jordan Miller. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
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Gallery: Triway at Waynedale Baseball
Waynedale first baseman Logan Troyer takes a throw for an out. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
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Gallery: Triway at Waynedale Baseball
Triway's Joey Yacapraro awaits the pitch. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
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Wooster Daily Record Baseball Power Rankings - Waynedale in early top spot
Waynedale's Brandon Steiner in all smiles coming off the field after making a nice play from his shortstop position. The Bears beat the Titans 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Waynedale.
APPLE CREEK − Things seemed to be going along smoothly enough for Waynedale starting pitcher Jordan Miller through four scoreless innings, that is until Hiland started threatening, as the Hawks put two runners on the corner with zero outs.
Waynedale then made a pitching change in the top of the fifth inning up two runs. In came Brayden Steiner.
After Hiland was able to score on a bulk, Steiner got two batters out on flyouts and struck out the third to get out of the inning.
In a rare regular season matchup between two defending state champions, Waynedale (9-2) was able to hold off Hiland (7-3) for the 5-3 home win and get back at the Hawks for their 9-3 road loss last season.
Waynedale head coach Lucas Daugherty explained the decision to take Miller out, while he was throwing well.
"It's something we as a coaching staff discussed briefly the inning before. Just out of respect for Hiland, we know what type of program they are. If they see a pitcher three times, that third time they see the same guy, maybe that's the time to mix up looks. That was the time to go to Brayden, who we trust. It wasn't anything necessarily that Jordan did wrong. It's one of those things where we wanted to be proactive and not leave him in too long."
Steiner talked about pitching that key fifth inning and being able to help the Golden Bears hold a 2-1 lead.
"It was very important and it gave us momentum going into the next inning," said Steiner. "I definitely wanted to focus on throwing strikes. I knew my defense would work behind me if anything was put into play. I was really trying to rely on my two-seam and if I could throw it in the zone, they would roll over."
Miller (4 IP, 6 hits, 1 ER, 4 Ks, 1 walk) earned the win but Steiner got the save, as he pitched the last three innings. Even in the seventh and final inning with Waynedale up 5-1, the Hawks put some pressure on the Golden Bears, as they loaded the bases with zero outs.
Steiner had to work through another jam.
Hiland's Mike Miller (RBI single) and Jonah Yoder (sac fly) drove in runs but Steiner worked through it to secure the victory.
"I knew I had to throw strikes," Steiner said, who threw three innings, gave up two earned runs and one hit, walked two and struck out four batters. "My curveball wasn't working the best. I was leaning a little bit high and out of the zone but once again I had to come back to the two-seam."
Said Daugherty, "He's got a really good fastball. It's high velocity level and it's got some life and movement on it. We just told him, 'Go after them. Fill up the zone with your fastball and try to make them catch up to that.' He stayed aggressive even in those later innings when he got in trouble. Credit to Hiland. They got a couple of hits there to get runners in but fortunately, we also added 2-3 runs in the game to give ourselves a little bit of cushion."
That little bit of cushion by Waynedale came in the sixth inning where they scored three runs that included runs drove in by Logan Troyer and Hudson Barkman, who connected on a solo home run to left field in the second inning. Cameron Miller's RBI double put Waynedale in the early lead in the bottom of the first inning.
For Hiland, they had three innings (first, third, fifth) where they left multiple runners on base and scored just once (on a bulk) and the three defensive errors the Hawks committed, left extra runners on base for Waynedale.
"We needed to be clean on defense and limit them on extra bases. Unfortunately, we didn't execute on that level," said Hiland head coach Chris Dages. "We had our opportunities to score but we just couldn't get it to fall. We needed to do a better job at adjusting at the plate during in-game situations. Waynedale is a good program and both of their pitcher threw good today. That's the kind of stuff we expect to see in the tournament, so it's good to learn from it."
After the game, Dages and Daugherty talked shortly about the significance of having two schools in the same area who are defending state champions meeting throughout the season.
"It's a great opportunity to get both our programs on the field and see where we're at during the season," Dages said. "These guys, they all know each other. We're close to each other. Both communities are similar and supportive. It's very nice to have a quality program near you can call up if they need a game or if we need a game."
"Just having a neighboring school like Hiland and the way they do things with baseball," Daugherty said. "We aspire to be right there with them. I always respected how they played the game."
