Martin's clutch complete game lifts Pirates to title

AKRON — Braxden Martin led and his team followed — all the way to a state championship. Martin threw a complete game in Perkins' 5-1 win Sunday over Bishop Fenwick as the Pirates clinched the first baseball title in school history at 7 17 Credit Union Stadium. "Brax was Brax — the hammer, the man, the bulldog," Perkins coach TJ Blanton said. "I told him yesterday, here's the pen. The story started 'once upon a time.' Think about back when you were 3 or 4. You can write that whole script of your story. Here's the pen to write the final line of 'Perkins, we did it. State champs. The end.' " Martin was the obvious option to start on the mound after staff aces Kash Koch and Talon Walton threw in Saturday's semifinal victory. The senior multi-sport standout took the baseball and dominated with a fastball in the high-70s and a curveball that kept Fenwick guessing. Martin walked only two batters — both in the last inning — which kept his pitch count manageable. He finished at 108 pitches, 70 for strikes. "I felt like I was in a flow state," he said. "Attacking, attacking. After the first couple innings, I knew there was a lot more baseball to play so I tried to stay level-headed. I knew the job wasn't done yet and once it was over we could celebrate." Martin struck out five and improved his season record to 4-1. He ended up throwing 36 innings this season and finished with an earned run average of 2.33. Martin's only other postseason appearance came in Perkins' 6-5 eight-inning regional final win over Marengo Highland. Martin threw three scoreless innings in relief to get the win that sent the Pirates to Akron. Pretty strong No. 3 arm. Asked what he saw Sunday from his longtime teammate, Walton didn't hesitate. "I saw a beast," he said. "I've been playing with him since I was so young. Every sport he plays, he dominates. Everything he's been through, it's amazing to see what he's been doing. This is a just a big display of what he can do." Martin, who also was a standout football player and an All-Ohio wrestler for Perkins, had 1-2-3 innings in the second and fourth against a Fenwick team that had scored 43 runs in its last five games. He cruised into the seventh and started the last inning with a 76-MPH fastball. Martin then walked two batters, perhaps feeling the magnitude of the moment. "I feel like I was trying to aim it more than I should've," he said. "I was trying to throw strikes instead of going out there being loose. Once we got the first two outs I was like, 'Oh yeah, it's over.' " Junior pitcher Josh Cummings began warming up in the seventh inning, but Blanton was ready to roll with Martin. "He was probably sore, but he wasn't coming out of the game," Blanton said. "Unless it was to the point where it was one run with the bases loaded, I wasn't gonna take him out. I told him he was staying in. I'd have to drag him off and I don't know if I can do that anymore." With two out in the top of the seventh, Fenwick pinch-hitter Grayson Williamson hit a grounder to shortstop Sam Schweinfurth, who flipped to second baseman Mason Souter for the final out. "Brax is a dog. He fights," Souter said. "We knew Brax could get it done for us. It feels great. Losing last year (3-2 loss to Mentor Lake Catholic in the championship game) was a bummer, but we knew this year, losing one senior, we had to get the job done." In the handshake line, Martin was congratulated by Fenwick players and coaches. Falcons head coach Doc Wieland pulled Martin close and there obviously was a lot of respect for the Perkins pitcher. "He said, 'gutsy performance, way to deal out there,' " Martin said. "A lot of their players said 'great job' to me. Even before the game, their starting pitcher (Carter Shouse) was like, 'best of luck today' and I said 'you too.' There was mutual respect between both of us." Martin conducted several interviews with various media outlets after the game — and after he lifted a state championship trophy. "I still can't comprehend it. It's been a long time coming," he said. "Falling short several times hurt. To be able to rewrite the story and come out on top with a ring is a blessing. It feels great."