Jake Fisher of Marysville slides across the plate with the winning run during a 2-1 victory over Dublin Coffman.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
—
Imagine you’re Marysville High School sophomore Cam Schultze.
You’ve spent the entire 2024 season to date as a member of the Monarch junior varsity baseball squad.
Now, think about how you’d react when you get to school Monday morning and quickly learn you’re going to start on the mound for the varsity later that day.
Not only that, but you aren’t going to start against any schlump team. It’s a Dublin Coffman squad that has won 17 games that’s coming to town.
“I found out this morning I was going to start for the varsity this afternoon,” said Schultze after MHS’ 2-1 victory over the Rocks.
“I was pretty excited, but also nervous,” he said.
“We gave Cam the start because we knew we’d probably need our (main) varsity arms for later this week,” said MHS head coach Nick Blake. “It’s going to be all hands on deck on Wednesday.”
The Monarchs (19-6) will take their No. 8 Division I tournament seed into a home game against No. 23 Upper Arlington.
“Cam is also a pitcher we’re going to rely on in the next couple of years,” said Blake.
Schultze pitched a solid game for 6 2/3 innings. He yielded three hits, struck out five and issued a pair of walks.
He turned the ball over to senior Lucas Bankes, who pitched one-third of an inning and was the hurler of record when MHS scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh.
Although Schultze went away with a no-decision, he was happy with the Monarchs’ victory.
The win spoiled a homecoming of sorts for the Gould family of Marysville.
Former Monarch diamond standout Corey Gould is in his first season as the Rocks’ head coach.
Younger brother Casey and his father Chuck are on his coaching staff.
“It felt a little weird being in the visiting dugout here,” said Corey Gould. “I really love my team and it was nice to come back home and compete against a very good team.”
Schultze, a right-hander, and Coffman southpaw Charlie Colson went through an old-fashion pitcher’s duel.
Marysville plated a run in the home half of the second.
The Rocks responded with a score in the top of the third.
The battle remained deadlocked for the next 3 ½ innings before MHS scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh.
The Monarchs’ initial run came with two down in the second.
With one out, Jake Fisher and Derek Moyer ripped back-to-back singles.
Another fly ball produced MHS’ second out before DH Max Freeman drew a walk to load the bases.
Colson threw a wild pitch and Fisher broke for home. He slid headfirst across the plate to give the Monarchs a 1-0 lead.
Colson got out of further trouble with a strikeout.
With two down, a walk and hit batsman put a couple of runners on base for the Rocks in the top of the third.
Carson Wilcox then singled in the run that knotted the game at 1-all.
Schultze escaped additional problems when he coaxed an inning-ending fly ball.
Neither team produced much in the way of offense for the next several innings.
The Rocks left two on base and the Monarchs stranded one during innings four-through-six.
A base hit and MHS fielding miscue put two Coffman runners on base in the visitors’ portion of the seventh.
Schultze induced a fly ball for the first out, with the runners holding their base.
The MHS hurler then produced his fifth K.
At that point, Blake decided to play the percentage game.
He summoned Bankes, a southpaw, to face Colson, who bats left-handed.
Bankes threw his first pitch out of the strike zone.
However, his next offering was put into play by Colson.
The third out was made by the Monarch infield.
“We went with the percentages and it worked,” said Blake. “When it does, you look like a genius.”
Colson went back to the bump during the home half of the seventh.
He promptly walked Fisher on four pitches.
A fly ball out followed, but Colson issued a free pass to Rocco Marchetti.
Freeman then singled to load the bases.
Tate Martino put the ball in play and a Rock infielder rifled the ball toward the plate.
Fisher, though, beat the throw and was able to slide in with the winning run.
DC 001 000 0-1 3 0
MHS 010 000 1-2 6 1
WP: Bankes
LP: Colson