High school baseball: Buckeye loses to Lakewood, throws GLC East race into chaos

YORK TWP. — Much like it had all season, the Buckeye baseball team started five sophomores and five juniors Thursday in a key Great Lakes Conference East Division game against Lakewood. Veteran coach Mike Wolf wasn't offering any excuses after a 5-3 loss that dropped the defending champion Bucks (9-6, 5-1) into a three-way with the Rangers (8-7, 5-1) and Normandy (7-6, 5-1) with four games to play. Mistakes attributed to youth are no longer acceptable because the pressure is on. "The message for us, essentially, was we talked about competing all the time," Wolf said. "It's not when it's convenient. You have to do that every single pitch. "For example, there were 136 pitches on our side and 142 on their side. That's how many pitches you've got to compete for. You can't just do it in the fifth inning or when you feel like it." Buckeye simply didn't execute consistently enough, especially with situational hitting and baserunning. The Bucks had the bases loaded with no outs in the first inning yet scored only once, failed to properly get down multiple bunts, were caught stealing after a ball in the dirt and had a runner picked off third after the runner at first tried to bait a throw. Combine that with a three-walk, three-run fourth third inning by Joey Cash (2-1), who otherwise pitched effectively enough to win, and a pair of two-run doubles by Lakewood designated hitter Colin McCrone and the bad outweighed the good for the scrappy Bucks. Buckeye certainly had highlights, mainly when first baseman Andy Schneider unleashed an effortless-looking two-run home run over the right field fence that cut the deficit to 5-3. The Bucks got a slick diving catch from second baseman Cody Burgess, salvaged a bad situation when left fielder Dylan Sickle relayed to third baseman Chandler Kosh to throw out a runner at the plate and end the fateful third and loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh. "To be a champion, it's not easy. You have to compete all the time," Wolf said. "When we started the game there were no seniors on the field, so we've gone through some growing pains and you saw that. We're not where we're supposed to be." Lakewood was just a bit better on a crisp day in which both teams played with a sense of urgency given the league ramifications. McCrone's first double landed near the center field warning track in the second inning, while his second was a hot shot down the third base line that pushed the Rangers' lead to 5-1. The combination of starter Drew Jablonowski, middle man Logan Ellis (3 innings, 0 runs, hit, 2 walks, 0 strikeouts) and closer Luke Jablonowski was effective, stranding nine runners and inducing three fielder's choices. "Hats off to them," Wolf said. "They made plays." Buckeye will now turn its attention to a set of games with last-place Valley Forge before a gigantic series against Normandy in the final week of the regular season. The Bucks don't have much margin for error, though they would get a huge boost if the Invaders and Rangers split their home-and-home next week. "I'm not making any excuses," Wolf said."We're still not there yet, but I'm confident we will be. "I'm happy with the grit we showed, but you've got to compete every pitch." Contact Albert Grindle at (330) 721-4043 or agrindle@medina-gazette.com. Lakewood 5, Buckeye 3 LAKEWOOD &emsp;&emsp;023 000 0 — 5 3 3 BUCKEYE &emsp;&emsp;102 000 0 — 3 8 3 WP — Logan Ellis 3 innings, 0 runs, hit, 2 walks, 0 strikeouts. LP — Joey Cash (2-1) 5 innings, 5 runs, 5 earned, 3 hits, 4 walks, hit batter, 3 strikeouts. S — Luke Jablonowski 1 inning, 0 runs, 3 hits, 0 walks, strikeout. Lakewood (8-7, 5-1) — Colin McCrone 2 doubles, 4 RBIs; Ben Jablonowski single, hit by pitcher, 2 runs. Buckeye (9-6, 5-1) — Andy Schneider single, home run, 3 RBIs; Scott DiMarco 2 singles.