Terra State baseball captures league championship
Jax LaPata hoped to feel like his old self again after missing his final two baseball seasons in high school because of a knee injury.
To a large extent, the Bellevue graduate did that in right field for Terra State Community College. However, the sophomore’s body seems to be a magnet this season for stray pitches, plunking him in just the right spots.
He’s been hit by 13 pitches. It’s a good thing he’s learned to appreciate the grind.
“I didn’t play my senior year,” he said. “I was welcomed in and given a chance. Last year showed that I hadn’t played in two years. The coaches believed in me to perform. I just do what I can to help the team win. It’s been a good year overall.”
LaPata had an RBI double in a victory to start the series as Terra took three of four games from Owens Community College to take the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference championship. The conference was split into two divisions this season.
“We competed with the Division IIs,” LaPata said. “We took one from Tri-City. We battled all year. In Division III, we had a good conference overall. All the games were close. Good baseball. The Region 12 tournament starts Wednesday.
“We’re looking to keep the momentum going, and the ultimate goal is the College World Series. One step at a time, we have to be where our feet are now.”
Terra’s Gregg Hedden is retiring as head coach after the season.
“He broke the news in the fall,” LaPata said. “We want to do it for ourselves, obviously, and for each other. But we want to do it for him. He’s a big part of the program. He got his 100th win this season. Seeing his smile, we all enjoyed that moment.
"We won the conference for him; hopefully we can ride this out a little longer.”
Hansen Huth (Medina) and Cody Lindsey (Bellevue) each notched a complete-game victory against Owens. Terra earned one win by committee with five pitchers.
“Nathan Cunningham (Marion Harding) comes in and shuts the door,” LaPata said. “It’s awesome. Tim Marquette (Oak Harbor). Aaron Banks (Perrysburg). Hunter Scott (Lima Perry). A lot of guys go deep. It’s been working out.”
Denarius Walk (Sandusky) and David Murphy (Canfield) each hit a home run in the same victory over Owens.
“The whole team, we’re balanced this year in terms of hitting,” LaPata said. “Put anybody anywhere, and they’ll do the job. A lot of names, they’ll be that guy.”
Nik Shadley (Clinton, Michigan) stands out with his glove at second base.
“He makes extreme plays look simple, and you kind of expect it,” LaPata said. “He dove in the hole, and it’s routine. Bare hand.”
Terra set the tone for a fun spring when Hayden Kline (Highland) tripled for a walk-off victory and dog pile in Myrtle Beach early in the season. The Titans erased an 10-run deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning to win 13-12.
“That was the craziest game I’ve been a part of,” LaPata said.
Walk recorded a walk-off hit in both games of a doubleheader sweep of Hocking.
“One is crazy enough,” LaPata said. “The same guy has two; it’s unheard of really.”
Braeden Myerholtz (Oak Harbor) is also on the roster.
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This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Terra State Community College wins OCCAC baseball championship
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