Morgan Rode sports@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader photo by Morgan Rode Gresham’s Drew Haffner fires a pitch during a regional playoff matchup against Green Bay NEW Lutheran.
Defense is a problem the Gresham baseball team has dealt with all season.
Defense proved to be the Wildcats’ downfall on Tuesday, when the team committed several errors during an 11-4 season-ending loss to Green Bay NEW Lutheran in a Division 4 regional matchup in Green Bay.
Third-seeded Gresham took an early lead by taking advantage of some poor defense by the hosts. The second-seeded Blazers responded by scoring the next eight runs to take control of the game. The Wildcats scored once in the sixth inning and two more times in the seventh but a three-run sixth helped Green Bay NEW Lutheran pull away for the victory.
“We had some mental mistakes,” Gresham coach Scott Cerveny said. “Sometimes we weren’t engaged in the game. We had a lot of young kids this year at a lot of new positions and it was hard to get everyone focused.”
Gresham was able to put plenty of runners on base, but could not capitalize on its opportunities. The Wildcats left seven runners on base in the contest.
“We just had way too many errors and too many strikeouts tonight,” said Todd Otradovec, the Wildcats’ catcher.
After reaching on an error to open the game, Gresham’s Justice Paiser advanced to third base after another error. Paiser then scored on a wild pitch to give the visitors an early advantage.
On the first pitch in the bottom of the first inning, Lucas Bukowski ripped a liner to center that was misplayed by the Wildcats’ center fielder. Bukowski didn’t slow down and rounded the bases on the play, quickly getting back the run the hosts allowed in the top of the inning. After a one-out single by Sam Meerstein, Eric Voskamp delivered a RBI triple to put the Blazers ahead.
Green Bay NEW Lutheran executed a double steal with runners on first and third to add a run in the second. Gresham’s Otradovec picked off a runner at third base to end the inning and limit the damage.
Gresham should have held the hosts scoreless in the third frame, but an error allowed a run to score and make the score 4-1. Bukowski drove in a run on a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning to make it 5-1.
Green Bay NEW Lutheran tacked on three runs in the fifth, two of which came on a Jacob Champeau single.
Gresham cut into the seven-run deficit in the top of the sixth when Waylon Welch drove home Drew Haffner on a single. After a pitching change, the Blazers were able to strand two runners on base.
In the bottom of the sixth, Green Bay NEW Lutheran scored three more runs, taking advantage of defensive miscues from Gresham. The Wildcats were able to cut down another run at the plate to avoid the 10-run rule.
In the seventh, Gresham took advantage of some sloppy defense by the hosts. Jake Hoffman scored on an error before a Raven Bennett groundout plated Paiser. The Wildcats stranded runners on second and third to end the game.
Otradovec reached base three times in his final game for Gresham, posting two hits and walking once. Haffner, another senior, walked once and had one hit. Haffner also started the game on the mound for the Wildcats before Paiser came on in relief.
“Drew did pitch really well for us tonight,” Cerveny said. “But the guys behind him have to make some plays, especially in regional play.”
The loss marked the end of the high school careers for Otradovec, Haffner and Ryan Schroeder.
“Drew and Todd are my captains,” Cerveny said. “They’ve been with me since the little league years and they always bring their best game. Ryan is a great kid that battled for us the last two years.”
“It’s sad knowing that it’s all over,” Otradovec said. “I’ll remember all the memories with my teammates and just having a lot of fun. Even when we lost, we all still had fun playing the game.”