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Toronto headed to D-IV state tournament

LANCASTER – Next stop, Columbus!

After a 19-year hiatus, the Toronto Red Knights are heading back to the Ohio Division IV state baseball tournament thanks to an 11-1, 5-inning thrashing of Waterford on Friday afternoon in front of a packed house at Beavers Field in Lancaster.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Toronto head coach Brian Perkins, the team’s third-base coach the last time the program played in the state semifinals. “And, it’s very rewarding to say that.

“Our kids worked their butts off. On this very field last year we lost a heartbreaker and we felt like we were good enough then.

“And, man, our kids set a goal and we have a chance at that goal and we’re looking forward to representing the East District in Columbus.”

After surrendering a run to the Wildcats in the top of the first, the Red Knights were dominant the rest of the way, holding Waterford to one hit, while churning out nine base knocks themselves in securing a berth in next Friday’s 10 a.m. state semifinal game at Huntington Park in Columbus.

The top-ranked Red Knights (27-3), will face the winner of today’s Hamler regional between No. 8 Minster (22-7) and No. 13 Leipsic (24-3). Those two squads will play at noon.

Perkins had little time to think about his team’s trip to the state capital, as he awash in celebratory hugs from his players and fans, the spoils of a season in which the Red Knights dominated most of their competition.

After struggling to down Danville in Thursday’s regional semifinal (2-1), Toronto got out of the gates quick against the Wildcats (24-7), collecting three hits and scoring twice in the first. The Red Knights produced just four hits all game vs. the Blue Devils.

“We’re young, and I think we had a case of the nerves (Thursday),” Perkins said. “We went back afterwards and we had a good talk with them and they were prepared for this game. They were prepared and we challenged our kids throughout the season with our hard schedule and, man, I could tell from the time they woke up (Friday) morning they were ready to play.

“They brought a lot of passion.”

Toronto got its leadoff batter on in each inning, and scored in each frame, too, including three times in the third that gave it a 8-1 lead.

Lucas Gulczynski led off with a mammoth triple to the gap in right-center. Later, after Nolan Clegg walked, Nick Sninchak laced a two-out single that plated two. Later, a fielder’s choice by Zach Gulczynski resulted in another run, setting the Red Knights up to win it in the fifth.

A single to left by Nate Chetock, followed by a bunt single by Danny Zdinak, started the final inning for the Red Knights. Lucas Gulczynski then blasted his second triple of the day – scoring two – putting Toronto on the brink.

After the Wildcats intentionally loaded the bases with one away, Sninchak singled to left bringing in Lucas Gulczynski with the game-winner and igniting a celebration that could be heard all the way back in the “Gem City.”

“They deserve it,” Perkins said. ‘It’s all the kids. We just came and responded (after that top of the first) and they just kept it going, kept it going. I’m just proud of each and every one of them.”

Zdinak was superb, striking out five and walking none. He only allowed one base runner the final four innings and fanned one batter in each frame.

“He’s been a big-game pitcher for us for years,” Perkins said, dripping from a postgame ice-water bath delivered by his players.

“I wouldn’t expect anything less from him. He did a great job of bouncing back.”

Seven players scored for Toronto, symbolic of the team effort Perkins spoke of after the game that led to Friday’s receiving the regional championship trophy.

“This team here just has a tightness,” he said. “Good leadership. They just have a goal and they want to win.”

Ohio Division IV

Regional Final

(at Beavers Field, Lancaster)

Waterford 100 00 – 1 3 1

Toronto 212 33 – 11 9 1

W – C.Hayes lp (0K, 3BB0, Wagner (4) (0K, 4BB) and Huffman. Huffman T; Burns D.

T – Zdinak wp (5K, 0BB) and Clegg. Zdinak 2S; L.Gulczynski 2T, 3rbi; Clegg D, rbi; Sninchak 3S, 4rbi; Z.Gulczynski rbi; Bodnar S, rbi; Chetock S, rbi.

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