NEWARK ― Coming off a heartbreaking loss at Heath, and three in a row, Alex Nagel and Newark Catholic were in search of a pick me up on April 15 against visiting Mount Vernon.
With one swing of the bat from the junior shortstop, the Green Wave got the jolt they needed.
Nagel’s bases-loaded, one-out single in the bottom of the 8th inning capped a comeback from a 3-1 deficit and lifted NC to a 4-3 Licking County League crossover win.
“I’ve been battling at the plate, went 0-for-4 against Heath, and this time up, we just needed one hit,” Nagel said. “I just tried to be like Mikey (graduated senior Hess) was last year. Be calm and attack the ball.”
Owen Przymierski singled, Kylen Eskins walked and freshman Dayne Scott put down a perfect bunt single to set the stage. After a flyout wasn’t deep enough to score the run, Nagel fell behind 0-2, but lined the next pitch into left center as NC (6-3, 3-2) could finally exhale.
“I think we’ve left double figures on base every game, 14 against Wheeling Catholic (a 4-3 loss on April 11),” coach Ron Graves said. “We have our chances early in the game but don’t take advantage.”
On this day, Mount Vernon (1-6, 0-5) couldn’t cash in, leaving runners in scoring position the final four innings against junior reliever Hal Gillespie after they took a 3-1 lead in the fourth. That enabled NC to to tie it in the fifth on Malone Hutchison’s single and Przymierski’s sacrifice fly, scoring Kane Stephey and Gillespie after they had back-to-back singles.
In all, Gillespie stranded seven runners, striking out one and walking one while giving up five hits in four scoreless innings. He relieved John Eiginger, who pitched 2⅔ innings after starter Max Moore left in the second when he took a line drive off his pitching thumb.
“I just tried to let them hit the ball and let my defense do the work,” Gillespie said. “I trust Nagel at shortstop, Malone back there blocking things and being a wall at catcher, really trusting all of the players.”
Observed Graves: “We had John come in and do a great job for a couple of innings and Hal is good, but when he comes out on defense, it makes it tough. He has good off speed and stays around the plate.”
Gillespie, who went 3-for-4, scored Stephey with an RBI single in the first as the Green Wave led 1-0. But a balk scored one Mount Vernon run, after an NC error, and another miscue helped the Yellow Jackets take the lead. They out-hit the host team 12-11, didn’t commit an error and made a couple of great plays in the field, but left 12 on base.
“They’re a bigger school and last year was a close game (a 6-5 Mount Vernon win),” Gillespie said. “We expected another game like this.”
Added Graves: “Their record doesn’t show it, but they’re always a hard team to beat,” Graves said. “Their 3-4 hitters can really swing it, and (coach) Nate (Hunt) does a great job up there.”
Scott, who played third base, went 3-for-4 and provided a boost as did another freshman, Cash Fluharty, who took over at second when Gillespie relieved. The Green Wave has been stung by injuries, Jaxon Holman likely out for the season and Andy Gossett currently sitting with a concussion, while Moore, who also plays in the field, and is now dinged up.
“We had to pull up a couple of JV players, and they both played well and did what they had to do,” Graves said.
Said Gillespie: “I’m excited for him (Scott). I did not expect him to come in and spark us like that.”
After last year’s run to the Division VII state title game, NC returned nearly everyone, but lost a pair of great leaders in Hess and Miller Hutchison. New ones are starting to emerge.
“This season, we’ve been in some close games and not been on the top side,” Graves said. “We really needed this one.”
Nagel admitted the team has struggled a bit with the expectations after 2025’s huge success.
“In practice yesterday, we were a little dead,” he admitted. “Going into practice tomorrow, we’ll have our heads up and hopefully got our confidence back.”
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Nagel, NC baseball grind out much-needed LCL comeback win in 8 innings
Reporting by Dave Weidig, Newark Advocate / Newark Advocate
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
