Baseball: Olentangy Orange’s Hemrick shines in 1-hit shutout of Worthington Kilbourne
Sunday, April 7, 2024
By Michael Rich
mrich@cbussports.com
Olentangy Orange sophomore Reid Hemrick tossed a complete game one-hitter against Worthington Kilbourne at Orange Apr. 8. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Reid Hemrick made the most of a rare opportunity to show what he can do on the mound on April 7.
In a rare Sunday start, the sophomore right-hander allowed very little to lead the host Olentangy Orange baseball team to a 10-0 victory in six innings over Worthington Kilbourne in a non-league game.
The matchup was added because neither team’s respective school districts are allowing play on April 8 because of the late afternoon solar eclipse.
Hemrick, a regular in the outfield for the Pioneers, allowed a hit and hit a batter and struck out eight in a complete game victory.
Hemrick pitched in a junior varsity game when the team was Alabama over spring break the last week of March, Pioneers coach Tom Marker said.
“It’s not only preparing for when you know you’re going to pitch – it’s preparing like you’re going to pitch every day … every single day,” Hemrick said. “It’s just being ready.”
His lack of innings had very little impact on his performance, throwing 45 of his 61 pitches for strikes and faced just one batter over the minimum.
“Reid is just a solid kid,” Marker said. “He plays football and I think that helps a lot because he’s very mature. I had him (as a student) in the sixth grade, so I know a lot about him. He’s just a competitor and he attacks the zone, which is what you have to do.”
Keegan Knupp beats out a bunt for a hit during the Orange Pioneers’ 10-0 win over visiting Worthington Kilbourne Apr. 7. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Orange (6-1), which has won its last six games, had both of its OCC-Central Division matchups against Hilliard Davidson rescheduled last week because of the weather before ultimately playing them.
Kilbourne (5-2), which won its first five games of the season, played two OCC-Capital games against Canal Winchester, but lost out on non-league games against DeSales and Reynoldsburg as rain and cold temperatures impacted outdoor spring sports across the central Ohio area.
“In the summer, they play every Sunday, so it’s not much different for our guys in terms of that,” Marker said. “I just didn’t want to lose one of the better days because next week looks like rain again. So, if we get a good day – especially in Ohio – I think you gotta play.”
Wolves left-handed starter Braden Pullins matched Hemrick for the first three innings.
But defensive mistakes ultimately allowed the Pioneers to pull away. Orange scored nine runs over the last three innings as Kilbourne committed five errors.
Olentangy Orange’s Griffin Zavislak lays down a safety squeeze bunt to get a run home during the Pioneers’ win against Kilbourne at Orange Apr. 7. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Pullins had the only hit for the Wolves.
“You can’t give up extra bases in bunting situations (and) you can’t fall asleep on the basepaths,” Kilbourne coach Kegan Lanter said. “It’s those little things where we haven’t had an opponent that does that type of action to us. We learned that – one, we deserve to be on the field with these kinds of guys. But two, when chaos ensues, we’ve got to find a way to calm down.
“We knew they were going to be aggressive, so we started rushing throws and things like that. I thought it was a good day for us even though the score doesn’t dictate that.”
James Wimsatt drove in three runs and Griffin Zavislak and Zane Konczak each scored twice to lead the Pioneers offensively. Wimsatt hit a two-run single with two outs in the sixth inning to end the game.
“I had a good bullpen before the game and was feeling pretty good,” he said. “My arm was sore a little bit (in the sixth inning), but I got through with a double play when they got a runner on. That was clutch. It was just throwing strikes and letting them hit and letting our defense work – our defense is so good.”
Worthington Kilbourne southpaw Braden Pullins was the Wolves’ starting pitcher against host Olentangy Orange Apr. 7. Photo: Kevin Rouch