The Wadsworth Grizzlies jumped on Brecksville for four runs in the bottom of the first inning en route to a 7-0 win over the Bees in the Div. I district semi-finals played Tuesday night under the lights at Hudson High School.
With the win, Wadsworth will face Walsh Jesuit in the district finals Wednesday afternoon at Hudson High School with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.
As he has done all year, senior shortstop Riley Campbell got the Grizzlies started in the first. Campbell drew a walk off Brecksville starting pitcher Danny Cody. He stole second, went to third on a balk. After Jared Houser walked, Craig Palidar drove Campbell home with a single to right.
Kyle Pennington followed with a two-run triple to the left field fence. “I was looking for a fast ball,” said Pennington. “I fouled one off early in the at-bat. I got another one. He left it up and I drove it.”
Adam Dennison closed out the scoring in the first with a sacrifice fly to right that scored Pennington with the fourth run.
That’s all the run support Nick Bebout would need. The senior right-hander allowed only two hits, walked none and struck out 10. Bebout’s record on the season is 9-0. “It seemed like my fast ball was a little faster than usual and my breaking ball was a little sharper,” said Bebout.
Wadsworth would score single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to close out the game. The Grizzlies improve their record to 27-0. Brecksville ends their season at 21-6.
The game marked the first appearance of the season for Wadsworth senior Alex Laikos. In fact, Alex was in the starting line-up. Laikos was injured before the season began and has recovered enough to put on a Grizzlies uniform. He singled in first plate appearance in the first inning. Laikos went 3-for-4.
To a man, Wadsworth players remember how their season ended last year. Walsh beat the Grizzlies in the District finals at Hudson High School. “They knocked us out a year ago,” said Wadsworth head coach Greg Pickard. “They have that taste in their mouth from a year ago. We’ll be excited to play.”
