KENT, Ohio – With a trip to super regional competition on the line, a magical postseason run for Tiffin’s baseball program came to an end in the NCAA Midwest Region 1 championship series over the weekend.
The eighth-seeded Dragons did what not very many expected, but certainly wasn’t surprising given the team’s storied run through the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championship bracket at Prasco Park.
For the second straight season, the Great Midwest had a team advance to the final part of the Midwest Region pod after Ohio Dominican experienced similar success in 2018.
Tiffin was arguably as hot as anyone coming into the national tournament, the Dragons first-ever NCAA Championship appearance. TU played four games while enjoying a lengthy stay in the winner’s bracket.
A trip to Springfield, Ill., was on the table for the Dragons with just one more victory needed, but a tough outcome in the if necessary game officially concluded a special 2019 season.
It started with a statement win against No. 1 seed and region host Ashland, as the Tiffin offense erupted for 17 runs on 21 hits. The Eagles came into the regional with a 41-11 record but the Dragons’ offensive firepower was too much to overcome.
Cody Orr improved to 6-1 by grinding out six innings at Schoonover Stadium. He more than helped his cause on the mound going 4-for-6 with one of the team’s two home runs in the opener.
Jack Dennis also hammered one out of the park while the top three hitters in the lineup, Orr, Bradyen Callian and Zach Campbell, all had four hits. Campbell tripled to go with four RBI while the senior Callihan plated three.
Tiffin led 10-7 going into the eighth inning before blowing up for six runs for an eventual 17-10 final.
On Friday, Tiffin passed its next test with flying colors with an 8-5 win over the No. 5 seed in the regional, Bellarmine. The Knights had pulled an opening-round upset of their own by taking down No. 4 Northwood.
Tiffin carved out runs in six different innings as righty Tyler Wehrle answered the call with six innings on the mound for the winning decision. Two-time conference player of the week and first team Great Midwest pick John Heckman doubled twice while Kyle Vance was 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI.
The Knights had closed to gap to 6-5 in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Heckman’s run-scoring double gave Tiffin a 7-5 lead. Michael Ross closed the door to record the final eight outs, earning a save with three strikeouts.
Facing Ashland for the second time in three days, it was Tiffin’s Jake Monnin who had the upper hand against his counterpart Devin Peters, who was chased out after two innings. Monnin gave the Dragons five strong frames as Tiffin had a commanding 5-1 lead at the end of three.
But Ashland responded with four in the top half of the sixth and pushed home the eventual game-winning run in the eighth inning.
Thirty minutes later with both teams pitching depleted, it was all hands on deck to try and keep seasons alive in the final game of the Midwest Region 1 pod. This time, the Eagles scored 10 runs in the first three innings and despite a three-run blast by Heckman, the deficit was just too much to overcome in the end.
Tiffin was the conference automatic qualifier into the national tournament and the Dragons finished the season with a 26-31 overall record. It was the Dragons’ first year as a member of the Great Midwest.