Talent, not luck drives Waynedale's comeback

There is an age-old saying that states, “Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.”

How about this: “Sometimes it’s better to be confident, prepared and believe in yourself regardless of the circumstances rather than be lucky.”

During their recent Division V district final contest, the Waynedale Golden Bears baseball team exhibited every bit of the latter, and luck had little to do with the incredible seventh-inning comeback from three runs down to stay alive in hopes of defending their Div. V state title.

The Golden Bears have established themselves as one of Ohio’s top high school baseball teams, having fashioned three state titles over the past four seasons including currently defending the Div. V crown.

On Friday, May 29 in a district championship showdown at Munson Stadium in Canton with the Keystone Wildcats, that title and the Golden Bears’ heart was put to the test.

Waynedale showed the state why it is perched among the top teams in Ohio, never doubting, never wavering in trusting each other. In the end the determination and having been through the rigors of pressure-packed baseball time and time again paid huge dividends — season-saving dividends.

Waynedale found itself trailing 7-4 heading into the final inning, their mighty bats having been shut down by Wildcats starting pitcher Blake Moore over six innings, the Golden Bears managing just five hits through six frames.

With the season and hopes of defending its title hanging in the balance, Waynedale showed the state why it is such a strong contender for one of the state’s elite programs by plating four runs to claim an 8-7 victory that kept their hopes alive and devastated the Wildcats team and fans.

The effort took every ounce of trust in one another for the Golden Bears, and it all began when Moore plunked Jordan Miller to start the inning, something that brought on reliever Tucker Webb.

Webb walked Hudson Barkman and struck out Brock Reifsnyder, but Collin McGlothlin singled to center to plate Miller to make it 7-5.

Maddox Kidd then dropped a floater right in front of a diving center-fielder for a single to load the bases, and then Cam Mast’s bullet to third glanced off a diving attempt and rolled a few feet to the left, and Mast went headfirst into the bag at first base, just beating the throw to keep the bases loaded as the Golden Bears crept to within 7-6.

As the nine-hole batter, Mast proved to be a catalyst, reaching base all four plate appearances, showcasing Waynedale’s incredible depth and talent up and down the lineup.

Now down one with the tying run 90-feet away and the winning run on second, Waynedale couldn’t ask for a better guy to stride to the plate than lead-off man Steiner, who is hitting .419 with five home runs and 32 RBI on the campaign.

Steiner took a Webb offering on a laser ride down the left-field line, with McGlothlin jogging in from third and Kidd racing around from second to score the winning run.

It was a prime example of why this program has become so strong over the past several seasons, and it also exhibited plenty of mental fortitude to put aside any doubts that could easily creep into the minds of the Golden Bears trailing by three runs heading into the final inning.

Lucky? The outcome had little to do with luck and everything to do with coach Daugherty and his staff preparing the Golden Bears for the battles every team faces on their march through tournament play.

Thus, in this case, it is much better to be good than lucky.