LANCASTER – East Knox baseball coach Randy Baugher had to loan his pitcher, Sam Printz, his shoes for the Bulldogs’ Division IV district final game on Wednesday, May 26.
The senior had never pitched on turf before.
Turns out it wasn’t a problem. Printz went the full nine innings to lead the Bulldogs to a 7-5 win over host Berne Union at Beavers Field in Lancaster and capture the first district championship in school history.
So what’s it like to walk in another man’s shoes?
“It’s a little bit awkward, I’m not gonna lie,” Printz said. “Coach Baugher had the right shoes for me today. They fit snug like bug in a rug.”
“That’s the best those shoes have ever played,” Baugher said. “Trust me. My feet are so bad I can’t hardly wear them, so I’m glad he got some use out of them. They’ve been rolling around in my trunk for four years.”
Printz kept the third-seeded Rockets off balance, allowing just two earned runs on six hits and five walks with five strikeouts. He threw 114 pitches.
“He’s going to welding school,” Baugher said. “He’s just a blue-collar dude and such a good leader. Kids listen to him because he’s not phony. I’m just so happy for him.”
The Bulldogs, seeded fifth, pounded out 17 hits in the game but still found themselves behind most of the way.
It was the perfect kind of win for East Knox. The Bulldogs did it as a team.
“Who would’ve thought … we were 1-7 at one point,” Baugher said. “To have it done with these guys … it’s just really, really special.”
Cole DeLaughder came through with East Knox’s biggest hit, a two-run double in the ninth that ended up being the game-winner. DeLaughder scored the final run on a pair of wild pitches.
“It was 3-1, and I knew if he came to me I was gonna hit a double, and it worked out,” DeLaughder said.
Teddy Sears scored the tying run with two outs in the seventh inning. He stole third base and scored when the throw ended up in right field.
“It felt amazing,” Sears said about scoring the run. “It felt great. It’s not comparable to anything I felt before. It was awesome.”
He did it on his own too. Baugher did not give him the steal sign.
“I saw the third baseman playing back a little bit,” Sears said. “I took advantage of it and I ran, and it worked out in my favor.”
The district championship is a feather on the cap of Sears’ time at East Knox. He’ll be moving back to Rhode Island after the season.
“I love these guys,” Sears said. “They’ve treated me like a brother. I love them all; they’ve done so much for me. I’m glad for them and I’m glad for us.”
“Teddy Sears drops into our lap and he’s a hockey player from Rhode Island, and he tied it up,” Baugher said. “He did that on his own … and thank God he did. He’s really been special to have around. He’s such a nice young man.”
Printz and Peyton Lester had three hits apiece; and Sears, DeLaughder, Carson Steinmetz and Shane Knepp each had two hits. Sears and Lester also led with two runs each for the Bulldogs, who play Berlin Hiland in a regional semifinal at Beavers Field on Thursday at 5 p.m.
David Hurst had two hits, two walks and drove in two runs; and Nate Nemeth had three hits to lead the Rockets.
Dylan Winkler was solid on the mound, allowing three runs (two earned) on 12 hits and a walk with four strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings for Berne Union. Hudson Gerken went 3 1/3 innings in relief and took the loss. He allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk with one strikeout.
“We made history,” Printz said. “The football team made history last year and the baseball team this year. These kids that are in my class, they’re special kids. I love all of them, no doubt about it. It’s been so much fun playing with them the last four years.”
