Cougars prepping for Chaminade Julienne

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports editor

It’s been a busy week for Van Wert’s recording setting baseball team, as the Cougars navigate uncharted waters.

With a school record 27 wins against just two losses and the program’s first ever regional championship in hand, Van Wert is preparing for Saturday’s Division II state semifinals against defending state champion and current poll champion Dayton Chaminade Julienne.

In many ways, it’s been a dream season for the Western Buckeye League co-champion Cougars but while looking back, Witten admitted he wasn’t sure if his team would advance to the state semifinals.

“There are a lot of good teams especially in our district and region,” Witten said. “We knew a goal of a state tournament would be an uber goal, a real high goal to attain. Our goals were a WBL championship and a district championship.”

Advancing to the state level brings extra attention, but veteran coach Charlie Witten said his team has been focused this week.

“That’s one thing we addressed on Monday, the extra attention and the fact that we don’t have school,” Witten explained. We’re used to going to school then playing baseball. It’s different, but it’s different for everybody, and I think this group has kept things in perspective and understands what’s important.”

Van Wert and Chaminade Julienne (25-2) has some similarities in terms of winning streaks – the Cougars have won 19 consecutive games and the Eagles have won 21 straight – and personnel.

“They have several real good pitchers,” Witten said. “One has a little more control and the second guy is a little faster than the first, so we’ll definitely see a real good pitcher, similar to what we saw in the Craft kid from Bowling Green.”

“As I watched him (Nick Wissman) pitch against Granville, I thought we can hit him. We need to take the right approach and do things the right way to to get to him. They’re very sound defensively and they put the ball in play very well offensively. They’re very patient at the plate as well.”

Wissman, who is projected to start Saturday’s game is 10-0 with an ERA of 0.93. Sebastian Gongora is 8-0 and sports an ERA of 1.17.

Center fielder Andrew Simones leads Chaminade Julienne with a .440 batting average, 22 RBIs and 28 runs scored. Catcher Jacob Hieatt is hitting .429 with 14 RBIs.

Van Wert will counter with Lawson Blackmore, who’s 6-1 with an ERA of 1.50. Should the Cougars advance to Sunday’s state championship game, Owen Treece (9-0, 1.14 ERA) would likely get the start.

At the plate, Jalen McCracken continues to lead the Cougars with a .444 batting average, while Hayden Maples is the team leader in RBIs (27), followed closely by Nathan Temple and Parker Conrad (26).

Saturday’s game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. at Canal Park in Akron. The winner will face Gates Mills Gilmour Academy or St. Clairsville for the Division II state championship at 4 p.m. on Sunday.

State tournament baseball will air live on WERT 1220AM/104.3FM and can be streamed through www.thevwindependent.com.