Tue Feb 09 2010
By BRUCE HEFFLINGER
For the fifth time in six years the Napoleon River Bandits will be making the trek to Athens to compete in the American Legion State Tournament.
"Credit the (high school) programs in the area and the expectations and standards set by guys that were part of the program in prior years," head coach Shane Coleman said about the Bandits becoming regular participants at state. "The kids come in understanding the history of the program and where we want to go. What we're trying to do is important to them."
Reaching state was no easy task this season. Napoleon edged Whitehouse 14-13 to stay alive in district play, then came back the following night to beat Whitehouse 2-1 in 15 innings for the right to represent District 1 at state.
"Credit the guys for the hard work done," Coleman said. "We've got another good group this summer that come to the yard ready to play every day. They all come from successful spring programs which translates into good things for us in the summer in terms of hard work and knowing and understanding the game."
A deep pitching staff has played a key role to this season's 43-11 record. Preston Zachrich (Ayersville/University of Findlay), Justin Hancock (Defiance), John Kesler (Edon), Eric Sims (Fairview), Ethan McKenney (Tinora) and Lucas Willitzer (Tinora) all pitched during the districts and will be counted on when needed in Athens.
"When you look at the fact guys like Kyle Niermann (Napoleon), Quinn Nofziger (Pettisville) and Stephen Leskow (Defiance) didn't pitch in the tournament, that shows the kind of depth this team has pitching," Coleman explained. "The pitching is going to be dictated by what happens at the Sunday night draw. But it's going to take the effort of the whole staff to get things done.
"When you look at our depth, I think that's going to benefit us. When you go there and play the number of games you're going to play in five days, pitching will win you the championship."
The hitting has certainly been a strength as well through much of the season, with a .333 team batting average. Players like Nofziger (.363, 18 stolen bases), Anthony Kidston (North Central, .431, 49 RBI), Austin Bower (Patrick Henry, .352, 32 RBI), Mark Sebring (Defiance, .388, 28 RBI), Cody Meyer (Patrick Henry, .338, 37 RBI) and Willitzer (.321, 27 RBI) have led the way throughout the season.
"If you look back at years past and the depth, this may overall be one of the deepest teams we've had," noted Coleman, who will play state without second-leading hitter Craig Gutman (Defiance, .400), who is out with a shoulder injury. "No doubt, if we have guys step up and fill in we'll be okay."
Nofziger will lead-off followed by Meyer, Kidston, Sebring and Willitzer. With Gutman out of the lineup at third base, either Hancock, T.J. Losby (Bryan) or McKenney will bat next with Nofziger another possibility at playing third base.
Bower, Niermann (.257) and Trey Meyer (Tinora, .271) round out the expected starting lineup for the Bandits.
"There will be great competition, we've just got to play our best ball," said Coleman. "We're not going to be familiar with everybody, we just have to take care of ourselves."
Defending champion Sandusky (22-12) headlines the 12-team field after rallying from a 7-0 deficit to beat Avon Lake 11-10 in the District 5 title game.
Other strong squads in the field include: Alliance (24-4), which features 10 college players; Grove City, which had just one home game due to school levy issues; Pickerington (34-11), which got an eighth-inning grand slam that bounced off the top of the fence for a 9-8 comeback win over Athens in the District 8 championship; and Portsmouth (37-15), which outscored opponents 81-42 in the District 7 tournament.
Rounding out the field are Lima (26-14), which split a doubleheader with the Bandits early in the season; Piqua; Cincinnati Mount Carmel; St. Louisville (25-7); Beverly-Lowell (17-18); and Wickliffe.
"Obviously you go to Athens with a goal of winning a state championship, but it's like any other day," concluded Coleman. "We talk to the kids about getting better each day, work hard and take it one day at a time. If we take care of our business good things will happen."
The draw for the double-elimination tournament is this evening with eight teams playing games at 9:30 a.m. on Monday. The remaining four teams receive byes and face the four early winners in later action Monday at either 2 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. The championship game is slated for Friday at 9:30 a.m.
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