Friday, May 04, 2001
Sectional baseball preview
St. X, Hamilton on collision course
By Dave Schutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The key to success in high school baseball's postseason t has always been pitching depth.
In the sectional tournament, three games are played in five days. At the regional level, games are played back-to-back.
This gives the advantage to such teams as Moeller, Elder, Fairfield, Hamilton and St. Xavier in Division I; Cincinnati Country Day will be strong in Division IV.
Here's a look at how each sectional tournament shapes up and which teams will likely advance to the district championship game.
Cincinnati I, Division I
Elder is favored to win the lower bracket championship behind the one-two pitching punch of Matt McCloy and Justin Wendling.
Coach Mark Thompson's Panthers also have an outstanding hitting team led by Richie Jones, Keith Bolger, Brett Bolger and McCloy.
Although Moeller hasn't played up to expectations, coach Mike Cameron's Crusaders boast strong pitching in Scott Byrnes, Brad Alvis and Andrew Bradley.
Cincinnati II, Division I
Moving St. Xavier and La Salle from Cincinnati I to Cincinnati II strengthened an already tough sectional.
St. X, co-champions of the Greater Catholic League South, was seeded No. 1 and drew into the upper bracket with No. 3 Hamilton.
The Bombers' pitching staff is solid behind Kurt Biedelschies, Mike Gallagher and Marty Mooney. The offense averaged nearly eight runs a game.
Hamilton counters with a corp of pitchers that includes Todd Richardson, Steve Polen and Nate Stewart.
Fairfield and Harrison are expected to battle for the lower bracket championship.
Coach Ralph Smith's Fairfield team has two steady pitchers in Jason Bolin and Kevin Ruhl. Harrison is a well-rounded team led by pitchers Brad Bachman and Allen Brech.
Cincinnati Division II
The No. 2 (Taylor), No. 3 (Turpin), No. 4 (Roger Bacon) and No. 6 (Purcell Marian) teams are entered in the upper bracket. If Roger Bacon gets past Bethel-Tate in a first-round game, the Spartans play Turpin in the semifinals.
Taylor drew a first round.
The surprise team is New Richmond. The Lions are undefeated and seeded No. 1 in the lower bracket after winning 16 consecutive games. The Lions' pitching staff has an ERA of just 2.1.
New Richmond's toughest foes will be Ross, McNicholas and Norwood in the lower bracket.
Dayton Division II
The upper bracket is loaded with Badin, Franklin, Springboro and Kings while Kettering Alter is the favorite in the lower bracket.
“Three of the top four teams are in the upper bracket,” Kings coach Gary Schiering said.
Cincinnati Division II
In a 10-team sectional, Ripley and Madeira are favored to battle for the upper bracket championship. The winner of the Mariemont and Reading game on Wednesday is expected to come through the lower bracket.
Cincinnati Division IV
A wide-open battle is expected in the upper bracket with Summit Country Day and Fayetteville (18-2) the favorites to play for the championship.
Miami Valley Conference champion Cincinnati Country Day (18-3) probably will have to get past Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy for a third time to win the lower bracket championship.
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Sectional baseball preview