Binette's emergence strengthens Perkins batting order

Quentin Binette was in a slump. When he stepped to the plate to pinch-hit in a game versus Edison on May 10, the big senior was just 4-for-34 on the season. He was out of the Perkins lineup five times since late April and he needed a pick-me-up. Binette delivered a run-scoring single in a 5-0 win against the Chargers and hasn't looked back. He has 13 hits in the Pirates' last 11 games, including a clutch 4-for-4 performance that helped Perkins rally for a 6-5 win over Marengo Highland in a Division IV regional championship game last week. "He struggled early in the season, but he's been on fire," Perkins coach TJ Blanton said. "He's leading the team in hitting the last 15 games. That's been a huge catalyst for the success we've had." Binette's hot streak raised his batting average from .118 to .267. His on-base percentage is .328. Binette always had it in him. He batted .304 last year and led the Pirates with 31 runs batted in. He had a hit in the state championship game — a 3-2 loss to Mentor Lake Catholic. So what changed? "Hitting with my dad (Marques) and having talks with Blanton and coach Christian (Walton), just knowing they trust me," said Binette this week. "I was up here at 7 in the morning hitting with my dad." Binette, who wants to play baseball in college, is one of six seniors who will suit up for Perkins this weekend. The Pirates play Youngstown Cardinal Mooney at 10 a.m. Saturday in Akron in a state semifinal. The Pirates took a 4-0 lead in the regional final before falling behind 5-4 after five innings. Win or lose, the end of high school baseball is closing in. "The last game, when we had to go through that tough stretch, that's when the realization hit me," Binette said. "Now it's day by day, grinding everything out and trying to extend the season." Binette, who has been in the lineup as a designated hitter and first baseman, is the grandson of Roger E. Binette, an Erie County Common Pleas Court judge. "He tells me, 'reap what you sow,' " Binette said. "That's his biggest quote." Good eats The Perkins baseball team is eating right this week. The players have been hosted by the Sandusky Bay Pancake House and made an appearance at Buffalo Wild Wings for a team fundraiser Thursday night. The team will depart for Akron on Friday from Sam Schweinfurth's graduation party at Strickfaden Park. "We're gonna go to Sam's and get a free meal, so that'll be nice," Pirates senior Kash Koch said. The public is invited to the 6 p.m. sendoff. The team will travel to Akron via charter bus, which is being sponsored by VFW Post 2529 and athletic booster Ed Hartung. "A lot of these guys played VFW baseball growing up, so we're seeing that come full circle," Blanton said. "I think they're gonna have some of the veterans out there greeting us before we leave. To have that community support is awesome." The Perkins football and basketball teams have taken charter buses to state-level events the past two years. Koch was on the Pirates' boys basketball team that played in the final four earlier this year. "It's sweet going down on a charter bus," he said. "It's another cool experience." Role models Blanton, who is in his fifth season as Perkins' head coach, understands the impact varsity players have on little kids. His young son Baylor can always be found on the field before and after games. "These are things that kids are going to remember if they go watch the game in Akron," Blanton said. "They'll remember seeing that stadium and it gives them something to strive for — 'hey that could be us someday.' " Blanton vividly remembers attending big games with his father when he was a child. "I remember when I was 9 or 10 going to the Perkins football state final (in 1999)," he said. "I was a St. Mary's kid. I remember my dad taking me to St. Mary's 1990 (state championship game). I might've been 2. "(SMCC star) Rod Scott didn't shake my hand at halftime so I cried the whole third quarter. After the game my dad told him and he ended up giving me his practice jersey. Still have it; I gotta get that back to him, actually." Scouting strategy Blanton and his coaching staff are trying to learn whatever they can about Cardinal Mooney, which is 24-3 and was ranked No. 2 in the final Div. IV state coaches poll. Watching video on social media can provide some insight on any opponent. "It helps to see what we have," Blanton said. "We know their velocities, what know kind of pitches they throw, we know their arm slots. We can time their delivery from video, which helped us last year. "It's good and bad — we didn't really have a PBR (Prep Baseball Report) guy around here this year so we don't have a lot of video on us. You can see a lot just watching video." Coach Martin Senior third baseman/relief pitcher Braxden Martin, who had a hit in last year's state semifinal and final, says the Pirates have to play loose. "We're fortunate to have been in this position already," he said. "It's a new year, so we can't look at the past anymore. We have to be excited for this game and have fun." Martin plans to attend classes at BGSU Firelands in the fall and help his older brother Brayden coach football. Brayden Martin will be in his first season in charge of Danbury's 8-man football team.