Junior College World Series one stage away for Terra State, still a baseball baby

In the program’s third year, Terra State Community College is two wins shy of the Junior College World Series.

The Titans play host Friday to the winner from Region 4 of the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III tourney. The winner of the best-of-three series advances to the Junior College World Series.

“We’ve gone from seven wins to 16 wins to sitting at 20 wins,” Terra State coach Gregg Hedden said. “The first year, we started late, in March. A bunch of local kids. The kids want to play baseball.

“They want to grow and see what their ceiling is.”

High school sportsBaseball school is in session and Clyde's Hershey never stops learning

Terra State, which is 11-9 at home, was the top seed for its Region 12 tourney, topping Lorain and Delta (twice) to move on. The Titans finished as runner-up last season.

Terra State (20-24) plays regular season games in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference. There are nine teams, with the Titans among three in Division III.

Terra State players must buy into the grind competing against six Division II opponents.

Shortstop Jayden Leach (Ontario) missed the last month with an injury. He returned during the Region 12 tourney.

Second baseman Hudson Miller (Galion) shifted to shortstop, and Trevor Shade (Crestline) played second late in the season.

“I’m proud of this team; we’ve overcome some major adversity to finish strong,” Hedden said. “They did the job they were supposed to do. We’re battle tested.”

Brayden Guhn (Fremont Ross) and Mitch Nearhood (Toledo St. Francis) share catching duty. Third baseman Mason Johnson (Tiffin Calvert) and Reilly Tyna (Cuyahoga Heights) occupy the corners.

Center Dylan Wright (Ross), left Jorge Santana (Panama City, Panama) and right Noah Huss (Buckeye Valley) are the outfielders. Wright was MVP of the Region 12 tourney with a .565 average, one triple, one double and four times hit by a pitch.

Designated hitter Maxton Lower (Galion Northmor) chose baseball over football.

Reagan Geyer (St. Joseph Central Catholic) tossed 5⅔ innings and Kolton Dunn (Perrysburg) finished the first tournament game. Postseason games are nine innings, after seven innings during the regular season.

Carson Clausing (Kalida) pitched 5⅔ innings in the second game, before Brandon Bingham (Westfall). Reese Keegan (Margaretta) tossed six innings in the third game, before Nick Lukac (Norwalk).

Eleven of 25 players from three years ago continued their careers. There have been eight Academic All-Americans.

“Our thinking when we recruit kids is to play a difficult schedule because our job is to make them reach their ceiling for a school to find a fit moving forward,” Hedden said.

Genoa’s Jacob Emerson and Lakota’s Austin Nuhfer headed to Lourdes University. Emerson added 13 mph to his fastball at Terra State and left at 88.

Danbury’s Aerion Gipson moved on to Defiance.

“All three years, the young men bought in and improved, and they’ve done it the right way,” Hedden said. “That’s what we’re most proud of.”

mhorn@gannett.com

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