ORANGE TOWNSHIP — Baseball can be a cruel and arbitrary game.
Hard-hit balls frequently end up in fielders’ gloves. Meanwhile, bloopers and flares and seeing-eye ground balls go for base hits.
One mistake by a pitcher can ruin an otherwise dominant outing. On the other hand, a pitcher without his best stuff can high-wire his way to victory.
That’s why Orange coach Tom Marker values consistency above all else.
The Pioneers (24-5) will take on Cincinnati St. Xavier (25-5) in the nightcap of a Division I state semifinal doubleheader at 7 p.m. Thursday at Akron’s 7 17 Credit Union Park.
Orange reached the Final Four with wins over 2025 state champ Olentangy and Newark in last week’s regional in Lancaster. It’s the program’s third Final Four appearance and first since finishing as state runner-up in 2023.
Marker took over for Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Phil Callaghan following the 2018 season. In the seven seasons since (the 2020 campaign was lost to the pandemic) the Pioneers are 158-52 with five district championships.
“We’ve won four district titles in a row and five in the last six years,” Marker said last week. “Consistency is hard and wins are so random.
“Consistency is one of the most difficult things but … whenever you have a consistent program and people who buy in, it’s special.”
‘Tribe vs. Tribe’
It helps to have good players and by all accounts, Orange has as much talent as any of the four remaining Division I teams.
Of the 13 seniors on the roster, eight have committed to play college baseball.
That list of luminaries includes staff ace Reid Hemrick. The hard-throwing right-hander recently committed to Toledo after de-committing from Eastern Michigan.
Hemrick is 6-0 with 0.76 earned run average and 97 strikeouts in 57 innings of work. He was the pitcher of record in both regional games, working two innings of scoreless relief in the win over Olentangy and allowing four earned runs on eight hits in five innings against Newark.
“Reid’s a special human … but then again it’s a team effort,” Marker said. “It isn’t about individuals. It’s tribe vs. tribe.
“Everybody wants to go one warrior on one warrior. We said we’ll go tribe vs. tribe with anybody because I think our team, the collective team, is better.”
Veteran Olentangy coach Ryan Lucas agreed.
“Olentangy Orange, in my opinion, is the best team in the state of Ohio,” Lucas said.
Reinforcements
While Orange’s roster is senior-laden, a talented group of underclassmen has provided plenty of support.
Orange’s every-day lineup includes four juniors and a sophomore. Junior Maverick Scholvin delivered the game-winning hit in a walk-off win over Oletangy last week.
“I’m super excited for us,” Scholvin said. “We’ve worked really hard for this.”
Success Breeds Success
The Pioneers are looking for their first-ever state title in baseball, but Orange is no stranger to state success.
The boys basketball team won a state title in 2024-25. The football team won it all in the fall.
“These kids are used to success,” Marker said. “They know what it takes.
“I think our team is really connected.”
Know Your Foe(s)
St. Xavier advanced to the state tournament for the third time in program history and first time since winning it all in 2003.
Pitcher Jack Ryan fired a no-hitter in the Bombers’ 1-0 win over Elder in the regional semifinals. At the plate, the Boston College recruit is 6-for-10 with six runs batted in and four runs scored in four postseason games. He’s the program’s all-time leader in pitching victories (21) and strikeouts (222).
Thursday’s early game pits Cincinnati Moeller (24-6) against Perrysburg (25-6). First pitch is 4 p.m. at 7 17 Credit Union Park (formerly Canal Park).
Moeller is led by Matt Ponatoski, who will play football and baseball at Kentucky. Pitcher Nathan McDowell is 10-0.
Perrysburg advanced to the state semifinals for a third straight year with a 1-0 win over Massillon Jackson. Heidelberg recruit Andrew Charpie scattered six hits in the win.
