“We’ve been communicating to our team that we’re not done,” CCS coach Curtus Moak said. “The guys know they have more of a target this year. We’re no longer under the radar, and they know we have to come out and play good ball. Today I felt like we turned a competitive corner, and I think they’re tasting that championship potential.”
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Pitching ace Mitchell Smith and first baseman Jacob Carroll are the only two seniors for the Cougars, who have pushed their record to 17-5.
“We came out today with a special kind of confidence,” Carroll said. “We really changed our mind-set and came out with so much energy. We played as a team better than we have all season.”
Carroll had one of Cincinnati Christian’s four hits against TCN’s Collin Whipp. Smith was 2-for-2, got hit by a pitch and scored twice while firing a three-hitter with 13 strikeouts.
“I told the young guys that last year was great and we got as far as we’ve ever been, but let’s forget last year and come out stronger this year,” Carroll said. “We know we’re that good now. Last year some people doubted us, but people know now. I think that’s a good thing. That just gives us more confidence in ourselves to know that we can beat anybody.”
“All we’ve got to say is, ‘Who’s next?’ ” Smith said. “We’ve been saying that we want to go farther this year … now we’re ready to make that happen. We were a little flat the first couple tournament games, but right now, I’m loving how we’re playing.”
Cincinnati Christian will have a regional semifinal rematch with Russia at 2 p.m. on Thursday at Carleton Davidson Stadium in Springfield. CCS won that matchup 6-1 last season.
Minster and Mechanicsburg will play in Thursday’s second semifinal at 5 p.m., and the regional championship will be decided Friday at 5 p.m.
“Fort Loramie getting beat out is a big deal,” Moak said. “I think that leaves our region very possible for us.”
The Cougars resorted to some small ball Friday against the Panthers (16-10) and left the rest up to Smith on the mound.
The game started Wednesday and was suspended by inclement weather in the top of the second inning with no score. It was moved to Thursday, but Mother Nature stepped in there as well.
Playing Friday proved to be very beneficial for Cincinnati Christian because Smith, who threw 34 pitches Wednesday and thus couldn’t pitch Thursday, was able to be on the mound.
“I think the whole situation with the weather ended up playing out well,” Carroll said. “We knew we could get Mitch back on the mound and that’s exactly where we wanted him because we know we play best with him there.”
The Cougars scored twice in the third inning, getting one run on an RBI grounder by Alex Johnson and another run on an error. Smith got plunked by a pitch and scored on a wild pitch in the fifth.
TC North scored in the sixth on a bases-loaded balk. Smith hadn’t been called for a balk during his CCS career before he balked twice in one inning Friday.
“That was a little unlucky, but it happened, so we’re over it,” Smith said.
The right-hander notched at least one strikeout in every inning. Panthers coach Justin Tucker said Smith was simply too strong for his team on this day.
“We see some really good teams in our league and we play a great nonconference schedule, so I thought we were ready and prepared for him. He just had our number today,” Tucker said. “We chased some curveballs that helped him out in the count, and we couldn’t get a timely hit.”
“I had the velo working,” Smith said. “The heat always helps loosen me up, so my velo was up a couple miles an hour. I threw a lot of fastballs today. Coach Moak was telling me they couldn’t catch up to my fastball, so I stuck with it.”
Whipp had two hits for TC North, a member of the Cross County Conference. Tucker is losing eight seniors: Whipp, Casey Whipp, Chayse Eby, Phillip Lockwood, Dylan Curtin, Wyatt Hutchins, Liam Downing and Clayton Finney.
“These seniors have been to two regionals and now two district runner-ups,” Tucker said. “They’re probably the most prestigious class we’ve ever had here, so that’s something to be known for.”
Tri-County North 000-001-0—1-3-1
Cincinnati Christian 002-010-x—3-4-1
WP — Mitchell Smith (10-2); LP — Collin Whipp (6-1). Records: T 16-10, C 17-5
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