UTICA – Braxton Fisher moved up just one spot in the batting order July 7, but he proved to be the perfect player to set the tone for the next phase of the season for the Utica Post 92 baseball team.
Fisher, a Utica graduate, sent a double flying toward to the right-field fence to begin the bottom of the first inning. He later added an RBI in each of his next two at-bats as Utica rolled to a 15-0 victory against Marysville Post 79.
“I have never really led off, but (coach Tyler Osborne) usually has me in the No. 2 spot. I am usually playing small ball or getting a nice single to move the runners,” said Fisher, who was moved up the to replace Aaron Hays, who had a commitment with the Utica High School football team. “I kind of like lead off, but I will play wherever he wants me.”
Johnstown graduate Conner Jordan slashed a ground ball down the first-base line for an RBI double immediately following Fisher’s double. Utica later added six runs in the second inning and eight in the third.
“We are usually the single merchants here. I got lucky with a double today,” Jordan said. “I have just been focusing on getting my body right and working hard when nobody else can see.”
Utica is just two wins away from its second 20-win season, which also would give Osborne 100 career wins. Post 92, however, has plenty of unfinished business.
Utica is scheduled to play a total of seven games this week to prepare for the postseason. That run concludes with a doubleheader against Marietta Post 64 at 1 p.m. July 12 to wrap up the home schedule.
Utica begins play in the four-team regional tournament against Sidney Post 217 in Bellefontaine on July 15. The winner of the tournament, which also includes Marysville and Wayne County Post 68, earns entry into the state tournament later this month with the runner-up still receiving one final chance to qualify.
“We are focusing on consistency, communication and zero complacency,” said Osborne, who played for Newark High School and Capital University. “Over the past couple years in July, we kind of got complacent, kind of lose steam. We are trying to make that different.”
Before Utica broke open its victory, Northridge’s Bridger Burcham recorded a strikeout to escape a bases-loaded jam in the top of the second inning. Burcham allowed one hit in three innings, striking out a pair, and his defense played error-free.
“(Burcham) is usually on the junior team. When he gets called up, he does his job, and we execute the plays behind him,” said Fisher, who was the left-handed ace for Utica in the spring and has continued in that role for Post 92.
Against Marysville, Post 92 also was missing Elijah Bland, another standout for Utica High School, but others picked up the slack. Johnstown graduate Jackson Ryan added a hit and three RBIs, Utica graduate J.T. Brubaker a hit and two RBIs and Licking Valley’s Corbin Eppley an RBI double with Johnstown’s Giovani Fultz, Mount Vernon Nazarene’s Levi Furay and Danville graduate Reuben Troyer all scoring two runs each.
Post 92 also has Aidyn Burgess on its pitching staff and in its lineup. Burgess, a Utica graduate now playing at Ohio Christian, was sitting out against Marysville and instead served as an assistant coach.
“This is by far my biggest team as far as depth goes,” Osborne said. “We have had guys miss for work and football and other extra-curricular activities, and we haven’t missed a beat.”
Post 92 certainly has a large contingent of Utica players with Gaige Spray at catcher and graduate Nate Hite at shortstop, but Osborne has built a strong core that has been together for a couple seasons with primarily five high schools represented.
“It’s awesome to play with guys from other teams,” said Fisher, who will play at Rio Grande next spring. “They are all amazing guys. I love every single one of them. Even if we play in school ball as rivals, we all have fun together.”
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Utica Post 92 baseball preparing for second season
Reporting by Kurt Snyder, Newark Advocate / Newark Advocate
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kurt Snyder, Newark Advocate | USA TODAY Network
