Parker Munday, a University of Akron commit, shut Gilmour's lineup down in the OHSAA regional semifinal game on June 1.
Parker Munday, a University of Akron commit, shut Gilmour’s lineup down in the OHSAA regional semifinal game on June 1.
In pitching a complete game three-hitter, Munday only allowed one earned run and struck out 14 batters. Kenston defeated the Lancers, 4-2.
“I’m ready for (playoff baseball) at all times,” Munday said. “Another game today where I felt I didn’t have all my stuff, but it worked out in my favor. I got those 14 strike-outs. I wasn’t pitching for strike-outs, but that’s the way it went for me today.”
Added Kenston Head Coach Joe Hritz: “Pitching performance was gutsy out in this heat here. He’s a fantastic gamer, he’s a fantastic kid, and that kid steps up every time we need him.”
Kenston’s senior leadership of Munday and Nikko Georgiou, at the plate and on the bases, was also crucial in helping Kenston advance to the regional title game.
After Gilmour got one run in the top of the second inning, Munday and Georgiou spurred a rally that allowed Kenston to come right back with three runs of its own.
Munday got the rally started with a one-out single to center field. Georgiou then doubled to put runners at second and third with one out.
Here’s what happened next on a most unusual play: Bret Bischof hit a hard one-bounce line-drive to the shortstop, and Munday broke for home on contact. The shortstop, having to rush his throw to the catcher, threw to the outside of the third-base line. Although the throw was in time, Munday made a great slide to the inside of home play to avoid the tag. On the same play, Bischof then aggressively took off for second. The catcher threw to second to try to throw Bischoff out, but the throw was too late. By then, Georgiou had rounded third, and the second baseman tried to throw him out at third, However, the throw was offline and got past the third baseman — a throwing error that allowed both Georgiou and Bischof to score.
These three runs would prove to be all the runs Kenston would need to get the victory.
“It was a fun game, high-pressure situation,” said the coach. “Gilmour’s got a fantastic team over there. We executed very well, we put some pressure and made a play, and that was pretty much the difference in the ball game.”
Kenston would add a run in the bottom of the fourth when a sacrifice bunt by Grant Beclay scored Greyson Bischof from third base, and Gilmour added a run in the top of the seventh to make the final score.
For the game, Kenston was led offensively by Georgiou (2-3, 2 doubles), Drew McKenna (2-3), Munday (1-2) and Beclay (1-2, RBI).
With the victory, Kenston moved to 18-12 on the season and faced NDCL the next day in the OHSAA regional championship game.
