West Branch baseball team advances to state tournament, Warren JFK falls in regional final
The year was 1973. Richard Nixon was in the White House. Gas was 39 cents a gallon and bell bottom pants were the latest craze.
It was also the last time a West Branch baseball team qualified for the state tournament.
That was until Friday evening when the Warriors defeated Kenston 2-1 in a Division II regional final to punch their ticket to next weekend’s state baseball tournament in Akron.
They become the second West Branch team to qualify for the state tournament, joining the 1973 team which finished as a state runner-up.
Jaxon Robb delivers game-winning hit
West Branch senior Jaxon Robb delivered with a deep RBI single to left field in the bottom of the seventh inning which scored Anthony Perry from second base with the winning run.
“Honestly, so much goes into it and a lot was going through my head, but it (the pitch) was over the plate and I figured I had to swing with how the emotions were going,” explained Robb of the winning hit. “Whenever pressure is high, the faster you react to it, the better.”
West Branch manager Rick Mulinix talked to Robb before he went to the plate for his game-winning at-bat.
“I walked up to him after they walked (No. 7 batter Charlie Biskup) and I said, hey, this is why you decided to come back out this year, get a good pitch and put a swing on it,” said Mulinix.
Moments later, Robb hit his long game-winning single.
“Just credit the kids, man — it was awesome,” said Mulinix.
West Branch’s Anthony Perry was the winning pitcher, giving up just one run in the first inning. He also had an RBI on a groundout earlier that tied the game at 1-1 in the fourth inning.
“We’re a good enough team to play with anybody,” said Perry. “We’re a good defensive team and we’re a good offensive team.”
West Branch had five hits in the game. Aaron Tucker had a double and West Branch had singles by Robb, Beau Alazaus, Hunter Shields and Charlie Biskup.
What’s next for West Branch?
West Branch will carry a 26-6 record into Friday’s D2 state semifinal against Indian Creek at 1 p.m. at Canal Park in Akron.
Hillsdale defeats Warren JFK
Warren JFK, which enjoyed an outstanding season, had its postseason run come to an end in a 3-0 setback to Jeromesville Hillsdale Friday in a game played in Louisville.
Hillsdale advanced to the D4 state tournament and will play Fort Recovery in a D4 state semifinal Saturday at 4 p.m. at Akron’s Canal Park.
Warren JFK ended its season with a 20-9 record and won sectional and district titles.