Rams garner No. 1 seed in D-III sectional
Kunkel is happy, but not overconfident, as his team opens against East Clinton on May 14.
Monday, May 05, 2008
WEST CARROLLTON — There were no major surprises in the Division III Dayton sectional baseball tournament draw Sunday, May 4, at West Carrollton High School.
Yet it was still a new experience for Badin coach Rick Kunkel, whose squad has dropped into this division for the first time this season.
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"We don't know most of them," said Kunkel, with his 16-6 Rams earning the sectional's top seed. "I'm happy we got the No. 1 seed and are able to go the way we wanted. It just shows how the kids are playing right now. They're playing with a lot of confidence.
"Now whether it all pans out or not remains to be seen," he continued. "You still have to play good baseball to advance. One good pitcher can end your season real quick."
Badin received six first-place votes and was followed in the seeding by No. 2 Carlisle (19-5), No. 3 Fenwick (10-9) and No. 4 Madison (13-6).
Carlisle garnered the other three No. 1 votes (Dayton Christian did not participate in the online voting), one of which came from its coach, Brad Sizemore.
"As a coach, you've got to do that," he said. "With Badin playing in the league they play in, I knew they would probably get the No. 1 seed. But you've got to give your kids a shot."
Badin, riding a 10-game winning streak and already assured of at least a share of the Greater Catholic League Central Division title, will open at home against East Clinton (3-16) on May 14.
Also in the lower bracket, Dixie (14-6) faces Dayton Christian (12-6) in the first round May 12, with the winner visiting Madison on May 14.
If the seeds hold true, it'll be the Rams vs. the Mohawks for a sectional title at 5 p.m. May 16 at Centerville.
"I voted the top four the way they ended up," Madison coach Bob Evick said. "Badin and Fenwick play in a bear of a conference, and we split with Carlisle, so I know how good they are. We've got to get better defensively to get to that top level."
Evick said he considered entering the upper bracket with Carlisle and Fenwick, yet opted to go in Badin's direction, in part because Madison doesn't see the Rams very often.
"I thought the unknown would be good for our team," Evick said. "We don't fear anybody. When we play well, we're as good as anybody on the bracket. I think our kids will be excited."
In the upper bracket, Fenwick hosts Waynesville (3-12) on May 14. Carlisle will also play at home that day, awaiting the winner between Clinton-Massie (11-7) and Preble Shawnee (5-12).
That sectional final is slated for 3 p.m. May 16 at Centerville.
"We like where we are," Sizemore said. "It was just a matter of who was going in the 3 or 6 spot (on the bracket). Obviously Badin wanted to go in the 6 spot because that's where they went. We wanted to go in the 3 spot, and that's where we are."
Fenwick is familiar with its bracket. The Falcons have beaten Waynesville (11-2) and lost to Carlisle (5-4) on an error in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Fenwick also fell to Badin 9-8 earlier this season, squandering a 6-0 lead.
"We've got to get through the first game first, but I kind of figured we'd be going through Carlisle in the draw," Falcons coach Sam McConnell said. "I figured it was best to stay away from Badin. Carlisle is a better stage than going through Hamilton."
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2194 or rcassano@coxohio.com
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