District champs again

By GREGG RETTIG

The Jonathan Alder baseball team celebrated its Division II Central District title Saturday at Grove City High School.

GROVE CITY — Jonathan Alder baseball coach Craig Kyle asked his team a simple question before Saturday’s Division II Central District championship game at Grove City High School.

“I asked them how many of them have ever been in a district championship game,” Kyle said. “A few of them raised their hands. I told them to take advantage of the situation. There’s no guarantee they will ever be here again.”

The defending state champion Pioneers did just that, knocking Hilliard Bradley and former Alder coach Matt Gilkerson out of the tournament for the second consecutive year. Alder prevailed, 7-3, and will advance to a regional semifinal at 5 p.m. Thursday at the University of Dayton against Cincinnati Archbishop McNicholas.

Alder did Saturday what it has been doing all season long. The Pioneers rode the outstanding pitching of Graham Johnston, played errorlessly on defense and got timely hitting.

“This is awesome,” Johnston said. “It’s an unbelievable experience.”

Johnston added having the experience of playing at state last season has helped the handful of returning starters guide the youngsters.

“Definitely the experience has helped us,” Johnston said. “The younger guys are following the lead of the older guys that have been at state. The older guys are trying to pass along what they know.”

Ahead 1-0 after an inning of play, Alder posted four more runs in the second inning. Josh Holland got the second-inning scoring under way when he brought home Josh Warren on a sacrifice fly.

Nick Squires then stroked a two-run single to right.

Anderson Hasting’s single to right brought home the fourth run of the inning and the Pioneers (20-3) led 5-0.

Squires and Hasting both finished the game with three RBI.

Meanwhile, Johnston was mowing them down on the mound. He didn’t give up a hit until the fourth inning and the Jaguars collected only two hits the entire game. Johnston struck out 11.

“I felt great,” Johnston said. “I haven’t pitched in a week, so I was 100 percent.

“My offspeed stuff was working pretty good today.”

Kyle praised his pitcher.

”He never let them get into the game and the defense played great,” Kyle said. “He had a live arm.

“Really, Graham didn’t have a lot of chances to pitch last year. He’s still learning how to be a pitcher. Just think what he’ll be able to do.”