Cougars blank Chieftains

Blankenship’s hit, Mamer’s mastery lead to win

Kenton Ridge’s Luke Mamer (15) is congratulated by teammates after pitching a complete game. Staff photo by Barbara J. Perenic

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ABOVE: Kenton Ridge High School's Jonathon McDuffie gets a hit during a Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail Division game against Bellefontaine at Kenton Ridge. The Cougars won the game 4-0. BELOW: Kenton Ridge's Luke Mamer (15) is congratulated by teammates after pitching a complete game. Staff photos by Barbara J. Perenic

Barbara J. Perenic ABOVE: Kenton Ridge High School's Jonathon McDuffie gets a hit during a Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail Division game against Bellefontaine at Kenton Ridge. The Cougars won the game 4-0. BELOW: Kenton Ridge's Luke Mamer (15) is congratulated by teammates after pitching a complete game. Staff photos by Barbara J. Perenic

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Barbara J. Perenic

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By David Jablonski, Staff Writer Updated 11:11 AM Wednesday, May 6, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — Of all the baseball players to wear the Kenton Ridge High School baseball uniform this season, only one has started in the state final four the last two seasons.

His name is Travis Blankenship.

Two years ago as a sophomore, he played second base in the state semifinal and championship games. Last year, he again started at second base in the semis.

In all three of those games, Blankenship never got to hit. A designated hitter came to the plate for him, and Blankenship never complained, waiting his turn.

That’s what makes what happened Tuesday, May 5, so much sweeter. Blankenship’s two-out, two-run single in the fourth proved to be the game-winning hit in a 4-0 victory over Bellefontaine at Tom Randall Field.

“I love it. I’m excited,” Blankenship said. “I’ve been waiting to do this. I finally got my chance, and I’m showing them I can do it.”

The victory puts Kenton Ridge (19-4 overall) in control of the Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail Division. The Cougars (11-1 CBC) lead the Chieftains (16-6, 9-3 CBC) by two games and Tippecanoe (11-2) by a half game.

Kenton Ridge plays Greenon on Thursday, Tippecanoe on Friday and then Northwestern and Indian Lake next week. It still has a long way to go, but beating Bellefontaine, ranked No. 8 in the Division II state poll, on Monday and Tuesday proves the Cougars are as good as their record.

Improving players like Blankenship, who entered the week with a .431 batting average, are one reason why.

“He’s worked so hard in the offseason, getting strong in the weight room and working on his swing,” Kenton Ridge coach Aaron Shaffer said. “It’s paid off this year. He’s gotten big hits for us all year, and that was the biggest hit of the year for us.”

Brandon Hube and Luke Mamer drove in Kenton Ridge’s other two runs with singles in the fifth and sixth innings, respectively. All four runs scored with two outs.

Mamer, meanwhile, shut the Chieftains down on the mound. He threw his best game of the season, allowing just two hits and striking out 11. He retired the last 12 batters he faced and is now 5-1 with a 0.91 ERA.

“I felt great. My fastball was in command, and my changeup was working really well,” Mamer said. “I got ahead of the hitters, and my defense backed me up.”

Said Shaffer, “He’s thrown well all year, but he could throw all three pitches where he wanted tonight. He was really on his game.”

»Triad wraps up OHC crown. Roundup on B2

»See more photos and video from the game online at Spring fieldNewsSun.com/sports

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The article did say player from the state that is currently on this year's team which is only Travis Blankenship. The others mentioned are not currently active players for the cougars.

The article is then correct the way it was originally written.

cougar fan
3:44 PM, 5/6/2009

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You are correct, cougar baseball alum 08. Sorry about that. What you see now is a corrected version of the story.

David Jablonski
11:08 AM, 5/6/2009

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great game today. the article is technically wrong because two other players from kenton ridge have started in two state final four two years in a row and that is tyler rinker and zach jones.

cougar baseball alum 08
11:34 PM, 5/5/2009

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