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Defiance baseball is No. 1 in the state: Top billing is first for program with prominent past

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By TIM McDONOUGH

mcdonough@crescent-news.com

Perspective.

Everyone we know is looking for a little bit of it because it always has a way of bringing events in our lives into focus.

While it may not be the most pressing issue on the planet, two weeks ago fans of Defiance baseball found out for the first time in the history of the program that it had been voted by coaches around the state of Ohio as the top team in its division. For a program that hasn't had a losing season since 1980, has won a state championship and has advanced to state another time, that really was a bit of a surprise.

But for seniors on this year's 19-1 team, as well as head coach Tom Held, it all boils down to perspective about being the No. 1 team in the state in Division II.

"I was shocked when I saw that ... in all the years that this program has been successful, it's shocking to think that this is the first time for that to happen," said Held. "But, for what it's worth, it is what it is and to be honest, it's nice but it really doesn't mean all that much.

"I think the great thing about it is that because it is the first time, the 2008 team will be remembered for being the first," continued Held. "The great thing about this program is that every year each team strives to live up to the standards of the teams that came before them and they try to leave their own mark. This team will be remembered as the first team to ever be ranked No. 1 in the state during the regular season."

Seniors Adam Wagner, Justin Riley and James Frey all have their own unique perspective when it comes to being voted the top team in the state in D-II. One perspective they all share, however, is that while being ranked No. 1 now is great, being ranked No. 1 at the end of the season is really the goal.

"It's definitely an honor, especially when you think of some of the teams that came through here and were not ranked No. 1" said Wagner, a pitcher/outfielder. "It's good for the program, but it won't really mean anything unless we can finish the year as the best team in the state, that's the big goal."

Said Riley: "Right now we know that by being the No. 1 team we really don't have anywhere to go but down ... being ranked No. 1 at the end of the regular season was always something to shoot for. But now other teams will be gunning for us, so we need to keep playing good baseball and keep winning. Being No. 1 now is great, but being No. 1 at the end of the year is what we really want."

"To me it's just surreal," said Frey, who players catcher. "Of course we think we're a good team, but we don't ever think about it like that. We just play, we play together and we play to win. Every guy on the team wants us to be the next one that gets to state."

The players firmly believe that being ranked No. 1 at this time is a product of some of the teams at Defiance that came before them. But at the same time, they're also different from some past teams at DHS.

"I'm not trying to downplay the success of this year's team, but I think as a program we're reaping the benefits of past teams here," said Wagner. "I think the coaches who vote on that are seeing that Defiance has had a great program for a long time and it really is about respect. We have to thank past teams for that and it's not only recognition for us, but for all those teams that were great here."

"I think what's different about this team than in year's past is that in the past we've had that one dominating pitcher that everyone was afraid of, but now we've got three great pitchers who can go out there and get the job done," said Riley, the DHS second baseman. "We've got confidence in Adam (Wagner), Richie (Killion) and Dace (Kime) and we know that whoever is out there gives us a chance to win."

While being ranked No. 1 might bring added pressure to some teams, these Bulldogs don't think for a minute that it will affect the way they play. Being the top-ranked team doesn't change the fact that these Bulldogs want to win every game no matter who they play.

"To me pressure is what you put on yourself. If we think about it constantly and try to live up to what the poll says, then I guess there could be added pressure. But at the same time that's not what we're about," said Held. "On the other side of that, if we were playing the No. 1 team in the state we would try to use that for motivation. I think other teams will use that, but I don't think it's something we'll really get caught up in."

Held's players agreed.

Said Frey: "To me, it's really just in one ear and out the other with all of us. We know it's there, but we just throw it out and go and play baseball."

"It's not like we go out to the field and think we've got to play like the No. 1 team, we just go out there to play and have fun," said Wagner. "If you think about it like it's everything, then that really is putting pressure on yourself that you just don't need."

Added Riley: "It really doesn't bother us because we all know that we're still going to play the same way we play if we're No. 1 or if we're not ranked. It's Defiance baseball, we play the way we do because we already have high expectations no matter what. We know what we can do as a team and we always expect to get the job done."

There's an old cliché that says: "Success breeds success," and that's something that the 2008 version of the Bulldogs also believes. Because there are so many good players around each other every day vying for playing time, it's hard not to get better.

"I think the thing that makes Defiance baseball good is that there's just so much competition in practice every day," said Frey. "It makes it tough, but it makes it fun to go out and compete with your teammates. It doesn't matter who you are, the competition is there and only nine guys can play. We have 16 guys on this team who could start for anybody, anywhere."

As the season moves forward, there are many goals left for this team to try and achieve. After clinching the Western Buckeye League title, all that stands in the way of back-to-back titles with an unblemished record is a date with Kenton on Tuesday. Then of course there's the tournament. Defiance has won nine straight sectional titles, seven district titles in the past nine years and one regional title in the not too distant past back in 2002.

"Our first goal every year is to win the WBL, our second goal is to finish with at least 20 wins and our third goal is to get back to regionals for a shot at getting to state," said Frey. "Of course our ultimate goal is to get to state and win a state championship."

"Like Jimmy said, those are goals we always talk about at the beginning of every season, but we also talk about trying to win every game," added Wagner. "We love to win and that's why we work so hard in the offseason, in practice and in games."

Concluded Riley: "Like I said earlier, being No. 1 is no big deal. We're just going to go out there and play the way we're capable of playing. That's what we do every year, our goals are still the same ... the only thing different is that now we're ranked No. 1."