View Full Version : Springfield Kenton Ridge to Regionals (again)
Well, I heard a lot of crap at school for not starting a topic when Kenton Ridge went to the state tournament (the eventual Division II runner-up).
So, now I'll start one in case the Cougars make it again.
Kenton Ridge advanced to the regionals for the second year in a row by defeating Chaminade-Julienne 2-1 last Saturday at Fairmont High School. Kenton Ridge had only two hits in the game, both from sophomore Derek Toadvine, and both RBI singles.
Kenton Ridge has been held together this year by their pitching. After losing seniors pitchers Adam Eaton (Maimi) and Tyler Heskett (Findlay), the Cougar pitching staff had a big question mark.
Luckily, that was filled.
Freshman Luke Mamer and sophomore Jonathan McDuffie have stepped up big time for the Cougars. McDuffie has a 2.2 ERA, and Mamer has a 2.5 ERA. Add in the only other returning starting pitcher in Matt Palmer, and the Cougars have another great pitching staff.
The hitting is what has gone down this year for Kenton Ridge, but they are able to score when they have to.
So, who knows if Kenton Ridge is on another state tournament run.
Before that, the Cougars have to beat 20-10 Cincinnati McNicholas, which will not be an easy task.
The first pitch is this Thursday, May 29, at Carleton Davidson Stadium in Springfield.
GO SPRINGFIELD!!!!!
To see an article on Kenton Ridge's pitching and on Kenton Ridge's 3-2 sectional championship victory over Northwestern, visit
http://www.thespringfieldpaper.com/newspaper%20pdf%20files/The%20Springfield%20Paper%20052108%20section%20B.p df
The articles are on page 3.
GO SPRINGFIELD!!!!!
Anyone know anything about Cincinnati McNicholas? I know they face good competition in their conference, but how good are they?
Kenton Ridge should pack Carleton Davidison Stadium. They brought around 800 fans to each of the regional games last year.
GO SPRINGFIELD!!!!!
Isn't this Kenton Ridge's coach's first season?
bearcats08
05-28-08, 06:00 AM
mcnicholas is a well rounded team. They have the pitching that will lead them far and they have depth in their batting order with very solid hitters. Each year, their conference play is very tough and it gets them ready for the post season. 4 of their 10 losses are to the GCL South schools with every other loss is to a very good team except for 1 or 2 losses. Kenton Ridge beat CJ 2-1 and McNick beat CJ in regular season 18-1. The team that McNick just beat in districts was Benjamin Logan and they also beat Kenton Ridge 8-0 in regular season. Those stats dont mean much come tourny time, so all we can do is wait and see.
mcnick 3 KR 1
Isn't this Kenton Ridge's coach's first season?
Yes, this is Kenton Ridge head coach Aaron Shaffer's first season.
He replaced the "legendary" (oh, I can't even type that with a straight face) Tom Randall...
GO SPRINGFIELD!!!!!
mcnicholas is a well rounded team. They have the pitching that will lead them far and they have depth in their batting order with very solid hitters. Each year, their conference play is very tough and it gets them ready for the post season. 4 of their 10 losses are to the GCL South schools with every other loss is to a very good team except for 1 or 2 losses. Kenton Ridge beat CJ 2-1 and McNick beat CJ in regular season 18-1. The team that McNick just beat in districts was Benjamin Logan and they also beat Kenton Ridge 8-0 in regular season. Those stats dont mean much come tourny time, so all we can do is wait and see.
mcnick 3 KR 1
Based on that, McNicholas should win.
Palmer will be throwing tomorrow for the Cougars, and while he is a solid pitcher, he is probably their worst [despite being the first in the rotation (only because of his grade)].
He has a hard time throwing low and leaves pitches over the heart of the plate.
GO SPRINGFIELD!!!!!
WOW. And I mean WOW. That is the only word that describes what I felt after I watched the Kenton Ridge Cougars dominate McNicholas 11-4 at Carleton Davidison Stadium in Springfield.
Kenton Ridge went out in front 3-0 in the first inning with a Matt Palmer home run. A Jon McDuffie RBI double scored Randon McNeil for the Cougars to give Kenton Ridge 4-0 in the first inning.
Kenton Ridge went on to add three more runs to their total after McNicohals added one in their half of the second inning. That made the score 7-1, and that was basicially all she wrote.
The Cougar bats came alive, as they tore apart any pitcher McNicholas threw at them.
Kenton Ridge starter Matt Palmer held strong for the Cougars, giving up one run and four hits in four innings.
"We've been struggling in the first couple of innings in the hitting category," Kenton Ridge head coach Aaron Shaffer said after the game. "Tonight, we did. Those four runs in the first took pressure off of Matt [Palmer] and he settled down and did a good job."
Kenton Ridge now plays in the regional final tomorrow at Carleton Davidison Stadium in Springfield. The first pitch is at 2:00.
GO SPRINGFIELD!!!!!
And I guess I should mention that they will play Columbus DeSales, who won 2-1 earlier in the day in a game that last 1 and a half hours.
GO SPRINGFIELD!!!!!
KENTON RIDGE REGIONAL CHAMPS; RETURN TO STATE
SPRINGFIELD— And I thought the final scene of Hoosiers was special. It is, in it's own right, but after seeing the Kenton Ridge players storm the field after a 17-7 victory to earn the Cougars a regional championship, it pales in comparison. The Kenton Ridge Cougars put on a show last Friday, May 30 at Carleton Davidson Stadium in Springfield. The Cougars (21-6) annihilated Columbus St. Francis DeSales (28-3) 17-7 in five innings. With the win, the Cougars earned the right for the second season in a row of Division II Springfield Regional Champions. In addition to that, Kenton Ridge also earned it's second straight trip to the OHSAA State Championship.
Kenton Ridge went to work early.
Zach Jones first scored for Kenton Ridge on a Tyler Rinker single. Matt Palmer and Randon McNeil both added RBI singles in the inning to give Kenton Ridge an early 3-0 lead.
But then DeSales took their turn at the plate.
A Thomas Gentile sacrifice bunt scored Ryan Curl from third base, as DeSales had cut Kenton Ridge's lead to 3-1 before Kenton Ridge even recorded an out. DeSales scored three more runs in the inning, as they rocked Kenton Ridge starter Luke Mamer. Kenton Ridge brought in sophomore pitcher Jon McDuffie, and McDuffie recorded the final out of the inning to limit DeSales' damage.
The hitting continued, but McDuffie gave up only one run in the next three innings. During that time, Kenton Ridge built up an 8-5 lead.
The Cougars then sealed the deal in the fifth inning.
Tyler Rinker singled to score Zach Jones to start Kenton Ridge's scoring in the inning off. After DeSales walked in another run, Jon McDuffie hit a double that scored three more runs for Kenton Ridge. Kenton Ridge went on to score four more runs in the inning. When it was all finished, the Cougars had scored nine runs off of seven hits in the inning, giving Kenton Ridge a 17-5 lead.
St Francis DeSales went on to score two runs in their half of the fifth inning, but it was too little, too late for DeSales.
"Man, we came out and swung the bats today," Kenton Ridge head coach Aaron Shaffer said jubilantly after the victory. "It was hard when DeSales came right out and scored four runs, but I told my guys that we needed to keep hitting and scoring, and they stepped up to the challenge. We kept adding on a little bit each inning, and it payed off."
Shaffer also acknowledged that Jon McDuffie was a big part of the victory.
"Jon came in a kept us in it," Shaffer said. "What happened to Mamer, especially in big games like these, happens sometimes. Luckily, Jon [McDuffie] did a nice job. He struggled early, but once he got his control, we were set."
"It was hard at first," McDuffie admitted later. "After I had a bad inning, they told me to take it easy and get some water in me. I did that, and I settled down in the next inning. I was able to get in my zone and keep my pitches low. Our defense did the rest."
Kenton Ridge is now one of the final four teams left in Division II. The Cougars will now move on to play Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit in a state semi-final game. The game is this Thursday, June 5, at Cooper Stadium in Columbus. The first pitch is scheduled for 10:00 a.m.
Kenton Ridge- 17 16 3
DeSales- 7 12 2
(5 innings)
Kenton Ridge- Mamer, McDuffie (1), Martinez (5), and Rinker. DeSales- Parise, Gentile (2), Sherman (5), Flint (5), and Clark.
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