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OXFORD, Ohio – Consistency is key in Hamilton. For the third straight year, Badin baseball is on to the Ohio High School Athletic Association state tournament seeking their first state title since 1996.
Badin (27-3) shut out Vandalia Butler (25-6) 5-0 in the Division III regional finals June 4 at Miami University's Hayden Park. It was a complete game for Badin's senior ace Caleb Driessen, who picked up nine strikeouts in his 11th career shutout. The Miami University commit knew early on that he was going the distance on his future home field to send his team to state.
"I woke up with that edge that you really don't find in a whole lot of people," Driessen said. "Once that two-spot (in the third inning) went up, I knew the game was over because I don't like to give up a lot of runs."
Badin head coach Brion Treadway had complete confidence in his senior star.
"He's the most consistent pitcher I've ever coached," Treadway said. "He just brings a different kind of energy and our guys feed off of it. With Caleb Driessen on the mound, you feel like you can beat anyone."
Badin's been the perhaps the hottest team in the state since returning from their spring break trip to Florida. After a 4-3 start to the year, the Rams have now rattled off 23 wins in a row after shutting out Butler. The Rams have run roughshod over postseason opponents to the tune of a 55-1 run margin. Driessen said even amidst an incredible run, Badin still takes it one day at a time.
"Today was the biggest game of our season, but tomorrow is going to be the biggest practice of our season and so on and so forth," Driessen said. "We've got to focus on the now."
Against Butler, Badin took firm control in the third inning. Eli Wolpert and Derek Ogden both made it around the bases in a three-hit inning. With the bats finally coming alive, Driessen's confidence only increased as he went three up, three down in the fourth and fifth innings.
He allowed just one hit the rest of the way and the offense added on. Cade Cummins hit an RBI double, scoring himself on a wild pitch. Chandler Taylor scored on Keegan Sawyer's sacrificial fly in the seventh inning to cap the day for Badin.
It's now back-to-back regional final wins against Butler in Oxford for the Rams, on the very same field no less. The Rams' quest for a first state title in 30 years will begin on June 11 at Canton's Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium as they take on Parma Padua Franciscan (25-5).
For now, Treadway says Badin is locked in on the next practice.
"The mindset all season long is that this is the most important day of our season, whatever day it is. Our mindset is just to be as good as we possibly can be today."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Badin baseball wins OHSAA Division III regional final over Butler
Continue reading...
Badin (27-3) shut out Vandalia Butler (25-6) 5-0 in the Division III regional finals June 4 at Miami University's Hayden Park. It was a complete game for Badin's senior ace Caleb Driessen, who picked up nine strikeouts in his 11th career shutout. The Miami University commit knew early on that he was going the distance on his future home field to send his team to state.
"I woke up with that edge that you really don't find in a whole lot of people," Driessen said. "Once that two-spot (in the third inning) went up, I knew the game was over because I don't like to give up a lot of runs."
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Badin head coach Brion Treadway had complete confidence in his senior star.
"He's the most consistent pitcher I've ever coached," Treadway said. "He just brings a different kind of energy and our guys feed off of it. With Caleb Driessen on the mound, you feel like you can beat anyone."
Badin's been the perhaps the hottest team in the state since returning from their spring break trip to Florida. After a 4-3 start to the year, the Rams have now rattled off 23 wins in a row after shutting out Butler. The Rams have run roughshod over postseason opponents to the tune of a 55-1 run margin. Driessen said even amidst an incredible run, Badin still takes it one day at a time.
"Today was the biggest game of our season, but tomorrow is going to be the biggest practice of our season and so on and so forth," Driessen said. "We've got to focus on the now."
Against Butler, Badin took firm control in the third inning. Eli Wolpert and Derek Ogden both made it around the bases in a three-hit inning. With the bats finally coming alive, Driessen's confidence only increased as he went three up, three down in the fourth and fifth innings.
He allowed just one hit the rest of the way and the offense added on. Cade Cummins hit an RBI double, scoring himself on a wild pitch. Chandler Taylor scored on Keegan Sawyer's sacrificial fly in the seventh inning to cap the day for Badin.
It's now back-to-back regional final wins against Butler in Oxford for the Rams, on the very same field no less. The Rams' quest for a first state title in 30 years will begin on June 11 at Canton's Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium as they take on Parma Padua Franciscan (25-5).
For now, Treadway says Badin is locked in on the next practice.
"The mindset all season long is that this is the most important day of our season, whatever day it is. Our mindset is just to be as good as we possibly can be today."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Badin baseball wins OHSAA Division III regional final over Butler
Continue reading...
