Knupp's squeeze sends Orange to first state title game
Thursday, June 8, 2023
By Michael Rich
mrich@cbussports.com
Olentangy Orange’s Keegan Knupp lays down the winning suicide squeeze bunt during the Pioneers’ 3-2 nine-inning win over Anthony Wayne in a Division I state semifinal June 8 in Akron. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Olentangy Orange baseball coach Tom Marker went against the script when he asked Keegan Knupp to squeeze bunt in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Marker saw the Whitehouse Anthony Wayne defense a couple of innings prior and knew how they’d set up with the bases loaded and one out.
“We don’t even have a squeeze in our repertoire, just a safety squeeze,” Marker said. “We talked about it previously. We said, ‘Hey, if we do this number system, we’re going to go ahead and go squeeze. But we’re going to fake on the first two pitches until we get a strike and then we’re going to go ahead and squeeze.’ Then he got it down. We don’t train that very often.”
Knupp, a sophomore third baseman, executed the squeeze between the pitcher and first base, bringing home Cole Cahill and give the Pioneers a 3-2 win in a Division I state semifinal on June 8 at Canal Park in Akron.
Orange’s Cole Cahill scores the winning run in the Pioneers’ 3-2 nine-inning win over Anthony Wayne in a Division I state semifinal June 8 in Akron. Photo: John Hulkenberg
“Whatever it takes to win,” Knupp said. “It felt so good (reaching first base) with the team coming after me for the dog pile. I’ve been dreaming about this since I was a little kid – getting this chance.”
Orange (23-10) advances to play Cincinnati Moeller for a state championship on June 9 at Canal Park. The Pioneers, who were in the state tournament for the first time since 2017 and second overall, have never played for a state title.
Cahill gave up a run in the first inning and another in the eighth in a stellar performance. He allowed six hits and two walks and struck out three over eight innings of work on the mound.
Cahill also came through with the biggest hit of the game, a triple to the right-center field gap to open the ninth inning.
“I was just looking for a fastball and I knew (Anthony Wayne’s Mitch Harder) would give me a fast ball. It’s just a good feeling getting that last run – especially in walk-off fashion – it’s just crazy. I knew Knupp was going to get that bunt down and I was going to score that game-winning run.”
Orange players celebrate their 3-2 nine-inning win over Anthony Wayne in a Division I state semifinal June 8 in Akron. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Jacob Tabor, who is scheduled to pitch against the Crusaders in the title game on Saturday, tossed a flawless ninth inning to earn the win.
It felt like the game would never end at times. The Pioneers left 12 batters on base, were 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and 0-for-5 with the bases loaded.
But they also worked eight of their nine walks in the final three innings and were hit by pitches five times in the game.
“I thought we had opportunities and just didn’t get that timely hit,” Marker said. “I thought we were squaring the ball up, but they were just making defensive plays. Our team kept fighting and their team kept fighting as well.”
Charlie Scholvin, who led the Pioneers defensively with 12 assists, tied the game at 1 in the seventh with a bases loaded walk and Ian Dando knotted it at 2 in the eighth when he was hit by a pitch.
“I can’t put it into words how exciting that was,” he said. “We had our ups and downs in that game and didn’t hit the ball well. But I believe every dude in that dugout trusted everyone there and we got it done. That’s exactly what happened.”
Bryce Anderson had two hits and was driven home twice by Jack Behnfeldt for the Generals (27-5).