LANCASTER ― Elbow surgery forced Kane Stephey to become a spectator during Newark Catholic’s 2025 run to the Division VII state finals.
Not only has he returned with a vengeance at the plate, but the senior is now back in the field at second base, giving the Green Wave an extra lift in its 7-1 district title repeat against Fairfield Christian on May 29 at Beavers Field.
“Personally, after not playing last year in the district and during the whole thing, this means so much more today,” said Stephey, who pounded a pair of two-run doubles to back the two-hit pitching of left-handed ace Owen Przymierski. “I started playing in the field like six games ago, against Licking Heights.”
Said Przymierski, who struck out six and walked only one: “We have a lot more confidence when Kane is out there. He’s our best defender.”
Stephey might not be able to play his normal shortstop, but NC (19-7) will roll into Ohio University’s Bob Wren Stadium at 3 p.m. June 3 with a little extra spring in its step against South Webster in the regional semifinals. Strasburg faces Coal Grove at 6, with the winners returning at 3 p.m. June 4 to decide a state tournament berth.
“Kane obviously picks us up at the plate, but now on our defense, too,” coach Ron Graves said. “We had a freshman (Cash Fluharty) at first base today, and he’s a big help to him.”
The top-seeded Green Wave got off to an inauspicious start against the second-seeded Knights (19-9), who use Beavers Field as their home field. Consecutive errors led to a run in the first on a bloop RBI single, but Przymierski stranded runners at second and third, allowed just one hit the rest of the way and no runners in scoring position.
“We never lack confidence,” said Przymierski, affectionally known as “Opie.” “We had those mistakes early on but it didn’t really affect us. They (Fairfield Christian) have been good all year, but I was not going to give them anything. I was just trying to throw strikes. The focus has been on low walks all season and I have my defense behind me. We all have each others’ backs.”
Meanwhile, NC’s offense emerged with a four-run third inning against Knights’ ace Brayden Stem. Fluharty reached on an error, Dayne Scott sacrificed him over, and Chris Garber and Alex Nagel loaded the bases with walks. Stephey then roped a two-run double off the third baseman’s glove, Max Moore squeezed Nagel home and Przymierski’s RBI double gave him more than enough runs.
“This team can hit,” Stephey said. “We came out with guns a blazin’ there, which was huge. Whichever team can capitalize on the other’s mistakes usually wins the game, and we were able to there after that error. And you know Opie is going to shut them down.”
The Green Wave continued to add on. Hal Gillespie’s two-out single scored pinch runner Kyler Dales in the fifth. Then in the sixth, Stephey, who had been robbed in the previous at bat by the Knights’ center fielder on a diving catch, drove one into the left-center gap, scoring Scott and Nagel who had singled and giving him four RBIs.
“We figured it would be them and us, and we had them scouted and knew they had a couple of guys” (on the mound), Graves said. “We had that initial bad spot and we have to clean that up, but Opie is a beast, and when he’s locked in like that, he’s hard to beat.”
Przymierski threw 90 pitches, 66 for strikes. After NC lost in the district their freshmen and sophomore years, the timing has been right for the seven seniors to string together back-to-back titles.
Graves admits the loss in last year’s state title game still stings.
“The last game of last year, has stuck with us this whole year,” he said.
This time, the Green Wave is glad to have Stephey aboard for the ride. But they are taking nothing for granted after they breezed through the regional in 2025.
“We can’t underestimate anyone,” Przymierski said. “We have to play like we’re the underdogs and keep playing hungry, like we did today.”
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Stephey provides extra boost for another Green Wave district title
Reporting by Dave Weidig, Newark Advocate / Newark Advocate
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
