Perkins, Keller knock off Norwalk for district title

FREMONT — Ben Keller will never forget Monday. And the Perkins senior baseball standout has the scars to prove it. The starting pitcher for the Pirates in Monday's Division II district championship game vs. Norwalk, it was on the base paths that it appeared Keller may have been knocked out of the game. But after surviving a collision at home plate with Norwalk catcher Sam Battles — one that left him cut open and bloodied — Keller stayed in the game and threw five scoreless and exhausting innings as the Pirates claimed a 6-2 win at Fremont Ross High School. With the win, Perkins (18-8) advanced to Thursday's 5 p.m. regional semifinal against defending state champion Akron Hoban (20-9) at Carter Park in Bowling Green. Keller had led off the second inning with a single, and was attempting to score on a double by teammate Zach Rickard. The throw came to the plate, but it was high. As Battles leaped to catch the ball, Keller caught his knee on his face above his left eye. He was safe on the play, but weary. The game was stopped as Keller was treated. "I saw that he was on the plate, and I knew I had to slide toward the back," Keller said. "I think it was his shin guard that clipped me when he jumped, I really don't know. "I was shocked, because I really didn't know what had happened. Then I saw the blood on my hands and realized it was from me." Keller stayed in the game, but it wasn't easy for him. The Truckers (19-8) had nine baserunners against him in five innings, but each time, he got out of the jams. He allowed six hits and walked three with three strikeouts. "It's just mental and physical toughness," Keller said. "I didn't want to come out of this game. It meant so much to me and my teammates. I just had to stay in." After Norwalk starter Kelton Chapin got a strikeout for the second out in the second, the Pirates scored a second run on a throwing error for a 2-0 lead. The Truckers had Rickard hung up between third and home, but an errant throw allowed him to score. After a single by Kaden Troike, the Pirates then made it 3-0 on an RBI single by Braylon Collier. Norwalk head coach Wes Douglas then made the move to go to Buddy Baker in relief of Chapin to limit the damage. In the top of the fourth, Rickard walked and stole second. He scored on an RBI double by Sam Oddo for a 4-0 lead. After Troike walked, Collier reached on an error that allowed Rickard to score for a 5-0 advantage. Perkins added one more run in the top of the sixth. Oddo and Troike each singled, and an RBI fielder's choice by Collier made it 6-0. On the other side, the Truckers had runners on base in all seven innings, but the best chance was possibly in the first inning. Caleb Sommers and Ian Minor each singled with one out to put runners at the corners, bringing up cleanup hitter Eli Obringer. But on a bunt attempt, Obringer popped the ball to Keller, who then threw to first and doubled up Minor to end the scoring threat. After the game, both coaches knew it was likely the game's biggest turning point. "A couple little things early didn't go our way, stuff that usually does," Douglas said. "If I could go back, I'd give Eli a swing or two there maybe and see what happens. He's swinging the bat pretty well for us. "But it is what it is, then we had their guy hung up and didn't get that out (in the second inning) But then they earned the rest of those runs for the most part." Said Perkins head coach T.J. Blanton, "That first inning was huge getting that double play on that bunt attempt. That was the momentum changer there, because then we came back and scored three runs. "Those are big plays in baseball. You hear in football how five or six plays make the difference. In baseball, it can be four or five pitches that make the difference — and that was definitely one of them." In the third inning, Norwalk's Griffin Peiples walked and Battles singled to start the frame. But Keller induced a foul popout, struck out a batter and got a flyout to again keep the Truckers off the scoreboard. The Truckers then led off the fourth with two runners, a single by Bray Malson and a walk by Chapin. But again, Keller induced an infield pop fly, a fielder's choice out and a strikeout. With two outs in the fifth, Minor walked and Obringer singled — but Keller ended his day with a popout off the bat of Malson to end the inning. Once again, the Truckers led off the sixth with a single by Chapin and a walk by Fox. This time, Perkins reliever Landon Kim got two shallow fly outs. Then after a walk to load the bases, Kim ended the inning with a called third strike to get out of the jam. Norwalk finally broke through in the seventh — but it had stranded 12 runners through the first six innings. Obringer hit a one-out double — his 100th career hit in three seasons. Malson followed with an RBI double to score him and make it 6-1. Chapin walked, and a passed ball put runners at second and third with one out. Fox grounded out for the second out, allowing the run to score (6-2). But with a runner at third, the Truckers came one batter shy of bringing the tying run to the plate, as a ground ball out to third ended the game. "We didn't get the big hit when we needed it, and some of them were weak outs with guys on base," Douglas said. "We did square up a couple, but hit it right at them. Perkins is playing well. "Keller beat us at their place, and we didn't score off him in 12 innings, so give him credit," he added. "He battled again today despite not having his best stuff." Blanton talked about the gutsy effort by Keller. "Absolutely just full heart effort from Ben," he said. "Most kids wouldn't have came back out with what he has, and I'm sure he's going to have to get some stitches. It's a pretty nasty gash. "But it was a bulldog mentality, he wasn't coming out of the game and he got us through five innings, just like he always does. Pitch count came into play there, we felt confident in him finishing, but we had to look ahead, too." Perkins overcame a key injury this season to Luke Walton and had transfer John Zwiesler for only half the season, but the Pirates added another district title to their trophy case. "It's awesome for the kids, obviously," Blanton said. "I know from the outside in, not a lot of people gave us a chance once a few guys went down, but we believed. We lost some big games that didn't work out in our favor matchup-wise. "But we knew when we got to the tournament that we had the roster to get through. It's a testament to the kids. We're looking forward to going to play again. We didn't want to be done." The Truckers end the season with 19 wins, and the program's fourth district runners-up finish under Douglas — who announced his retirement after 26 years (25 seasons) following the loss. The 1979 NHS graduate coached his alma mater to 425 wins in 25 seasons with six league championships and 11 sectional titles. "It's been a good run, and 26 years is a long time," he said. "I'm at peace with it and have thought about it for a long time. The kids have known for a while and my coaches, who I will miss a lot, as well. I was hoping to extend it another week, but it didn't happen. These kids have nothing to be ashamed off." Added Blanton of Douglas, "To win that many games is a testament to not only being a great coach, but putting in the time. You have to be committed to win for that long. They have a great program and I'm sure it will continue because of what he built there. But congrats to Wes on his career. When you win that much, it says something." Perkins 030 201 0 — 6 10 0Norwalk 000 000 2 — 2 10 2 WP: Keller; LP: Chapin 2B: (P) Rickard, Oddo; (N) Malson, Obringer