The Crestwood Red Devils baseball team’s offense was stifled for six innings against Mentor but finally mounted a rally in the seventh frame but lost 3-1 in a pitching duel last Saturday at Mentor High School.
“I am proud of the guys that we had on the mound,” said Coach Chris Stanley. “We started a freshman, brought in a junior for relief and a sophomore. They were very efficient. They faced a really tough team and only gave up five hits, so I am really proud of those kids.”
Through six innings, the Red Devils (5-8, 3-2) had only recorded four hits against Mentor sophomore right-hander Chase Menough but in the seventh inning, sophomore left fielder Michael Kalista ignited a rally, tripling to left field with one out.
Sophomore Sam Pausch worked a walk, putting runners at the corners and senior Jake Eyerman entered the game as a pinch-hitter and also walked, loading the bases.
Kalista scored on a wild pitch by sophomore righty Rylee Blair, trimming the lead to 3-1, but Blair responded by striking out sophomore second baseman Chris Mory and froze senior center fielder Wyatt Januska on a called strike three, ending the Red Devils’ threat.
“I felt really good going into that at-bat and Wyatt had a great cut at the pitch before on a curveball that he stayed on but just missed it and he is one of the few kids on my team that has the potential to drive the ball out of the park so I thought he would have a chance to put the ball in play and make something happen but it just didn’t turn out that way,” noted the five-year coach.
The Red Devils’ trio of freshman right-handers Mason Grifa, junior Dakota Powers and Pausch combined to hurl six innings, surrendering three runs (one earned), on one walk while striking out two batters.
Crestwood was undone by a three-run second inning, as the Cardinals loaded the bases on a base hit, a fielding error, and a walk.
Sophomore third baseman Cooper Russo scored on a wild pitch, junior catcher Jaydon Vaughn plated another run a single to right field and junior center fielder Alejandro Ortiz crossed home plate safely on a passed ball.
“We had one out when that happened so if you get that second out, they may only get one run or may not get any and we stranded a few runners, guys made clutch pitches, the defense came through,” Stanley said. “When you win six frames and lose one half of it and you lose 3-1, that is just baseball.”
Stanley acknowledged that the most difficult part of the inning was that the Cardinals only needed to put the ball in play once to score three runs.
“That is a tough way to go but against a Division I school at their place on a chilly day our kids came in and competed and we didn’t have two starters in,” he added. “Seven of the nine were underclassmen and two seniors.”
Although Crestwood’s rally fell short resulting in their third loss in four games, Stanley said that the Red Devils are not dwelling on the past and still have their eyes on the Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division banner, as although their league record is 3-2, they are only a half game out of first place as league leader Kirtland suffered two consecutive losses against Wickliffe, opening the door for a wild finish to the conference title.
“This conference is a buzzsaw, even the teams that are at the lowest part of the division, they are a great squad,” said Stanley. “We are in the driver’s seat and get a chance the crown and repeat as conference champions.”
For the defending CVC Valley Division champion Red Devils, it would mark the first time in program history since joining the conference that they would repeat as champions or co-champions. A strong finish will enable the Red Devils to leave their mark in the CVC Valley Division as they only have one more season remaining in the league before departing to join the newly formed Greater Portage Athletic Conference in the 2027-28 school year, which is the old Portage County League, reuniting the Red Devils with several Portage County rivals.
Following an away-and-home series against league rival Berkshire on Monday and Tuesday, the Red Devils will return to action by traveling to face Portage County rival Southeast on Friday afternoon in Palmyra Township at 1:30 p.m., then will host Western Reserve Academy for a double-header in Mantua on Saturday morning beginning at 11 a.m.
