2011 NEWS ARTICLES
Armed and ready
Troy counting on pitching this year
March 27, 2011 Troy Daily News By Josh Brown Sports Editor
Troy coach Ty Welker knows exactly what the Trojans will be counting on this season.
"We're only going to be as good as our pitching," he said.
But the Trojans have an experienced staff full of leaders returning this season as the team will look to fill a number of key roles vacated by graduation and improve on its 10-17 overall record from a year ago.
Seniors Trey Barkett, Doug Burchfield and Dhaval Shah will make up the starting rotation to begin the year. Barkett was a solid starter for the Trojans last season, with Burchfield making the transition from closer to starter. And Shah, who lettered as a sophomore, returns to the team to lend even more experience oon the hill.
Senior Michael Swigart also returns and will catch, giving the Trojans a battery full of leaders.
"We have some good experience in Trey and Doug, and Dhaval brings some experience to the team, as well," Welker said. "They will anchor our team. Our battery is in good shape, and they will all play a big role in what we do day in and day out."
The Trojans also have a veteran outfield, with seniors Kalob Caudill and Barkett patrolling center field along with sophomore Devin Blakely, senior Nate Fair in left and Jordan Guilozet and Jordan Price in the mix at right, with Devin Alexander being able to play any position.
"Our outfield is loaded. Last year we struggled a little bit, but I think we've gotten more athletic again and can cover a lot of ground," Welker said.
The infield will have a new look, though, with no returning starters. Nick Antonides, a transfer from Troy Christian, will be at third, Shah or sophomore Dylan Cascaden will be at short, senior Jared Fisher - a backup last year - will be at second with Thomas Harvey also seeing time, and Burchfield and Nathan Helke splitting time at first.
"We have a completely different infield, but they've begun to prove themselves already this spring," Welker said. "The pitchers like throwing with those guys behind them. We're seeing a lot of ground-ball outs."
But the question for Troy is the same as last year - where will the runs come from?
"The question for us always seems to be offense. Last year we struggled," Welker said. "Top to bottom, we'll have some hitters, but we've got to fill those crucial roles - we need to find a leadoff hitter, who will be in the meat of the order. The boys have worked hard to get better."
And they have a goal, too - knock off defending Greater Western Ohio Conference North Division champ Butler after finishing second to the Aviators last year.
"I think it'll be us and Vandalia again," Welker said. "Piqua is returning a lot of letter winners and Greenville re-entering the league adds an interesting wrinkle, but I think it'll be between us and Vandalia."
And with league series being back-to-back Monday-Tuesday affairs each week this year, Welker thinks the schedule may help.
"That can definitely help a team like us - our staff is deep, but we don't have that one ace," Welker said. "We have multiple guys that can throw for us, so that could be a factor in our favor."
After all, the Trojans will be counting on their pitching staff this season.
Troy Daily
News Article:
Errors cost Trojans in 3-1 loss to Elks
March 30, 2011 Troy Daily News Staff Reports
CENTERVILLE - Trey Barkett threw a gem for the Trojans Tuesday.
The Centerville Elks just were able to cash in on Troy's rare mistakes.
A pair of errors led to three Elk runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, dooming Troy (1-1) in a 3-1 loss Tuesday in Centerville.
Barkett surrendered only four hits - all singles - striking out four and walking two in six innings. But a leadoff error, a suicide squeeze and a passed ball on which two runs scored in the sixth undid all of that work.
"None of that takes away from what he did. Trey pitched outstanding today," Troy coach Ty Welker said. "Our defense cost us in that last inning, but that last play was a crazy play - it was a fluke.
"We put the ball in play, but what hurt us was when we get guys on, we've got to knock them in. We had runners on second and third with no outs in the top of the fourth, but we didn't score."
Barkett also helped his own cause at the plate, going 2 for 3 and driving in the Trojans' only run. Jordan Guilozet also doubled for Troy.
Troy hosts Beavercreek today.
Troy Daily
News Article:
No pressure at all
Barkett’s hit, Burchfield’s pitching lead Troy to win
April 1, 2011 Troy Daily News By Josh Brown Sports Editor
Trey Barkett knows that sometimes it's not about putting pressure on the opposition.
It's about taking it off of your own guys.
Barkett's two-out, two-run single in the fifth inning gave Troy a 3-1 lead - and took all the weight off of pitcher Doug Burchfield's shoulders. Burchfield mowed through the Beavercreek lineup the rest of the way, going the distance in the Trojans' victory Thursday at Market Street Field.
"It just takes the pressure off the pitcher really. Against Centerville (Tuesday, a 3-1 loss), we didn't have that. We were only up one," said Barkett, who pitched against the Elks. "Getting up by two, that puts a lot less pressure on Doug and makes it easier for him to just go out and throw strikes. It was good to get him some runs today."
"We talked after that Centerville game, and we said we had to come out and do something hitting-wise," Burchfield said. "Trey's clutch hit - that was just a big confidence booster for me."
Burchfield went the distance, scattering six hits and no walks while striking out five on 83 pitches.
"After our scrimmages, I felt confident in myself, confident with all of my pitches," Burchfield said. "My curveball was a little iffy today, but it definitely helped out."
"The key was Burchfield throwing a heck of a game. Doug threw strikes, he got ahead of hitters, he did everything a pitcher has to do," Troy coach Ty Welker said. "That's going to be our trademark this year - we're going to play good defense and pitch well."
Three of Beavercreek's six hits came with two outs in the top of the second, though, and with runners on second and third the Beavers dropped a meek roller down the third-base line for an infield single that plated the game's first run.
But Burchfield worked his way out of two more two-out situations, handling the pressure and stranding a runner on second in the third and one on first in the top of the fourth. And then it was the Trojans' (2-1) turn to put the pressure on.
Nick Antonides drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the fourth, and wild pitch put Nathan Helke on second base after a fielder's choice. Jordan Guillozet then beat out an infield single and the Beavercreek first baseman misplayed the late throw, allowing Helke to score the tying run.
Another walk in the bottom of the fifth kicked off a two-out Trojan rally, as Devon Alexander drew one on four pitches. Devin Blakely then worked a walk out of a full count, and Alexander took third on an errant pick-off attempt to put runners on the corners and bring up Barkett. Blakely stole second, and Barkett hit a floating line drive over the second baseman's head.
He leapt up for it, but it was just out of reach and over his glove, plating both runs.
"I was just hoping it would stay up enough to get over his head, and it did," Barkett said.
"We've been wanting to put the ball in play with guys in scoring position," Welker said. "Trey did that against Centerville, too, and drove in our only run. We need guys to step up. When you put pressure on the other team, that's what can happen."
And with all the pressure off of him, Burchfield cruised through the final two innings, striking out the final two batters of the game to ice it.
Troy remains at home today, hosting Miamisburg.
Troy Daily
News Article:
Caught looking
Miamisburg rallies past Troy
April 2, 2011 Troy Daily News Staff Reports
TROY - It was Troy's biggest offensive display of the year so far.
But it was also a lack of aggressiveness in key spots that cost the Trojans.
Troy was caught looking on third strikes six times Friday - four of them with runners in scoring position - while Miamisburg posted three seventh-inning runs and held on for a 6-5 victory Friday over the Trojans at Market Street Field.
All told, Troy (2-2) struck out nine times in the game. But with the tying run in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh inning, it was two straight called third strikes that proved the most hurtful.
"You're not going to win a lot of games when you do that," Troy coach Ty Welker said. "We took too many called third strikes today.
"Offensively, we didn't play when we needed to play. Once we got the lead, we needed to put more runs on the board."
Both teams fought back and forth early on. Miamisburg put a run on the board in the top of the first, but Troy scored a pair in the bottom of the inning to grab a 2-1 lead.
Two more Viking runs in the top of the third put Miamisburg back on top, but once again Troy fought back in the bottom of the inning with another pair to take a 4-3 lead.
"We battled back and got the lead back, but then we didn't do anything with it," Welker said.
But a rough top of the seventh inning for the Trojans sealed their fate. Miamisburg plated three runs with the help of some rare-yet-costly errors, and Troy's rally in the bottom half of the inning fell short.
"We weren't as crisp as we normally are in a lot of places," Welker said. "Our pitchers didn't hit locations, we made a couple of errors in the field - we didn't play as fundamental as we can."
Nick Antonides and Nathan Helke were both 3 for 4 with two RBIs and Devin Blakely doubled for the Trojans.
Troy travels to Sidney for the beginning of a home-and-away series Monday and Tuesday.
Troy Daily
News Article:
A sweet surprise
Intentional walk leads to walk-off Trojan win
April 6, 2011 Troy Daily News By Josh Brown Sports Editor
Nathan Helke got exactly what he was expecting.
Nick Antonides was caught off guard a bit.
Either way, everything worked out in the Troy Trojans' favor.
Helke blasted a game-tying homer to lead off the bottom of the sixth right after Sidney had seemingly claimed all of the momentum in the top of the inning, then the Yellow Jackets intentionally loaded the bases for Antonides - who had homered earlier - in the bottom of the seventh, and Antonides came through with a game-winning fielder's choice to give the Trojans a 4-3 walk-off Greater Western Ohio Conference North Division win.
"It surprised me a little," Antonides said of the free pass to set the table for him. "I guess they just underestimated us a little."
Dhaval Shah led off the bottom of the seventh with a double past a diving center fielder, then Devin Blakely bunted for a hit to put runners on the corners with no out.
Sidney (4-2, 0-1 GWOC North) then elected to load the bases to put a force on at the plate - and brought in one of its outfielders for a five-man infield for extra help.
But it didn't help.
"It kind of worked against them," Antonides said. "I like to put the ball in the gaps. It kind of surprised me, but it all worked out in the end."
Antonides did what the Yellow Jackets wanted and put it on the ground - but he placed it perfectly between first and second, forcing the first baseman to dive to his right to make the stop. He couldn't get to his feet to get the speedy Shah at the plate, and the Trojans (3-2, 1-0 GWOC North) celebrated the win.
"We make it interesting. We make them worth the price of admission," Troy coach Ty Welker said with a laugh.
Sidney appeared to claim all of the momentum in the top of the sixth, getting to starter Trey Barkett - who had another great outing, going 5 1-3 innings, striking out seven and giving up only three hits, a walk and two hit-batters - for two runs to take a 3-2 lead after Troy had led the whole game.
But Helke changed all that.
The Troy first baseman - who finished the game 2 for 3 with a double and a homer - crushed a 1-2 offering from Sidney's Jack Van Horn to the deepest part of the field, tying the game by sending the ball sailing over the fence in center.
"I knew he wasn't going to throw me a fastball down the middle or anything. He just made a mistake," Helke said. "He threw me a slider that didn't slide. It had been his out pitch the whole game, so I knew it was coming."
"And he hit that with two strikes, too. That was big," Welker said. "In the past, we've had teams that would have hung their heads in that situation. But that's not what this team did today."
Still, Welker would have liked for the game to have been a little less interesting.
Antonides put Troy up 1-0 in the bottom of the first by blasting a homer the other way to right. And in the bottom of the second, Mike Swigard struck out but reach second base after the ball got away from the Sidney catcher, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Jared Fisher groundout to make it 2-0.
But Van Horn hit an RBI double in the top of the fourth to make it 2-1 - Sidney's first hit of the game off of Barkett - and Colin Beer and Van Horn had back-to-back RBI singles in the top of the sixth to give Sidney a 3-2 lead.
"We still have a little bit to work on. We got up, and then we kind of sat in neutral," Welker said. "We've got to put the throttle down. We had a couple of chances with guys in scoring position - and we've got to get those guys in in those situations, take the pressure off our pitchers."
But Devon Alexander came on in relief, walking two and giving up one hit in 1 2-3 innings - but giving up no runs and earning the win.
"Trey felt like it wasn't his best stuff, but he still pitched well," Welker said. "And Devon came in and battled with guys in scoring position. He's filled that role for us so far."
The pitchers also got help from Swigard, who picked a pair of Sidney baserunners off of first base, once in the top of the third and again in the fifth, keeping the Jackets from scoring in either inning.
Troy now must prepare to face the Jackets again today after Monday's scheduled game in Sidney was rained out.
Knowing a little better what to expect.
Troy Daily
News Article:
Troy beats Sidney in dramatic fashion, 12-10
April 7, 2011 Troy Daily News Staff Reports
SIDNEY - This time, Dylan Cascaden got to be the hero with the bases loaded in Troy's final at-bat.
With the Trojans down 10-9 to Sidney, Cascaden - who was 3 for 3 with five RBIs - hit a two-out, bases-loaded triple, plating all three runs and giving Troy (4-2, 2-0 Greater Western Ohio Conference North Division) a thrilling 12-10 victory Wednesday.
"It was pretty exciting again," Troy coach Ty Welker said. "We had the bases loaded with none out, but a strikeout and a fielder's choice at home made it two outs. Then Dylan - the No. 7 hitter - hit a clutch triple. It was spectacular.
"He came to play today. It's nice to see a young guy do something like that in that situation."
Troy got behind 3-0 early but fought back to take a 5-3 lead - before giving up six in the third to go down 9-5. Still, the Trojans never quit.
"We never got our heads down," Welker said. "We felt like we could hit their pitching. Even down 9-5, we never played like we were behind."
Nathan Helke, who also got the win in relief on the mound, was 3 for 4 with two doubles and five RBIs, while Nick Antonides - Tuesday's seventh-inning hero - was 4 for 5 with two doubles. Devin Blakely also was 3 for 4 with a double.
Troy hosts Bellefontaine Friday.
Troy Daily
News Article:
Troy wins third straight in final at-bat
Helke hits walkoff
April 9, 2011 Troy Daily News Staff Reports
TROY - Troy finished a good-yet-drama-filled week on the baseball diamond Friday, winning three games in four days - all in its final at-bat.
Nathan Helke, who had a game-tying homer against Sidney in the sixth inning Tuesday, connected on a walk-off homer to beat Bellfontaine 3-2 Friday at Market Street Field.
"We find a way to make it dramatic," Troy coach Ty Welker said.
That is an understatement.
Helke led the Trojans, going 4 for 4 with a homer. Dylan Cascaden, who delivered the game-winning triple for Troy against Sidney Wednesday, went 2 for 3 with an RBI.
Devon Alexander went six innings, striking out six, allowing no walks while giving up seven hits and only one earned run. Trey Barkett came in to get the win.
"We didn't give up. We battled," Welker said. "It was the third game that we have won like that just this week, so it says a lot about our character and who we are as a team."
Troy is in action at Athletes in Action Field in Xenia for a pair of games today.
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Four in a row
Trojans come from behind, top Greenville 4-3
April 12, 2011 Troy Daily News By Josh Brown Sports Editor
Opposing pitchers don't want to throw against Troy when their team has the lead.
"I would hope so," Troy first baseman Nathan Helke said. "We've done this in every game now. We don't want to have to do it this way, but a win's a win."
Because when they've been trailing of late, the Trojans are unbeatable.
Trey Barkett - who left the mound trailing 3-1 after five innings - hit a game-tying two-run single in the bottom of the fifth, Helke followed with a go-ahead RBI double and Devon Alexander slammed the door on Greenville as Troy rallied for its fourth straight win, 4-3 Tuesday at Fifth Third Field.
Barkett, who ended up getting the win, went the first five innings, striking out four,
walking three, hitting a batter and giving up seven hits and three runs - including two in the top of the fifth on a two-run single by Green Wave pitcher Matt Orth that made it 3-1.
He wasn't concerned at all.
After all, the Trojans (6-2, 3-0 Greater Western Ohio Conference North Division) entered the game winners of three in a row - all three come-from-behind wins, and all three in their final at-bat.
"I wasn't sure if I was going to get the 'W' myself, but I knew we'd come back," Barkett said. "It's crazy. I wish we could put someone away. But you know what? If we're getting wins like this, I can't really complain."
And this time, he led the charge.
Barkett - who had already tied the game once with an RBI single in the third - came up with runners on second and third and one out in the bottom of the fifth, and he dropped a lazy fly ball in between the Greenville center fielder, shortstop and second baseman, plating both runs to make it 3-3.
"I was pretty happy with that," Barkett said. "He'd (Orth) been throwing his curveball a lot, but I was expecting to get a first-pitch fastball. The wind helped me out a little, but hey, I'll take what I can get."
"When we put the ball in play, we make things happen," Troy coach Ty Welker said. "We've struggled to score runs this season - and we're going to at times. But as a team, we've been putting the ball in play and making it happen when it matters."
Barkett took second on the throw home, and a groundout by the next batter brought up Helke - the owner of a game-tying homer and a walk-off game-winning homer during Troy's winning streak.
And he didn't disappoint, driving a ball over the center fielder's head for a double, bringing home Barkett and putting Troy up 4-3 - and putting Barkett in line for the win.
Alexander made sure he got it.
After giving up a single to the first batter he faced, Alexander burned down the next six straight, striking out four to earn the save - which did not go unnoticed by the starter.
"Devon came in and did a great job of pitching," Barkett said. "That was crucial. That was huge. I can't say enough about how well he threw."
"We've used a lot of guys in key roles," Welker said. "Trey maybe didn't have his best stuff, but he still did his job. We know we don't score a lot, but he kept us in the ballgame - and Alexander nailed it down in the last two innings. He had great command.
"We almost expect to win now in games like this. We know how to make it exciting."
Jared Fisher finished the game 2 for 3 with a pair of runs, Devin Blakely doubled and scored once and Nate Fair and Mike Swigard also singled for the Trojans.
Troy looks to continue it winning streak today at Greenville, a makeup from Monday's rainout.
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Trojans cruise to fifth straight win
April 13, 2011Troy Daily News Staff Reports
GREENVILLE - The Troy Trojans didn't know what to do.
The end result, though, was very familiar.
Leading by four in the bottom of the seventh inning may not be a situation the Trojans (7-2, 4-0 Greater Western Ohio Conference North Division) are used to at the moment, but they still did what they needed to do to wrap up a 6-2 victory Wednesday over Greenville - their fifth win in a row.
The difference between it and the four that came before it? Troy didn't have to rally at the end of the game to get it.
"I was looking around the dugout in the bottom of the seventh, and we kind of didn't know how to handle ourselves," Troy coach Ty Welker said with a chuckle. "It was nice to play with the lead the whole game - and add to it throughout.
"Sometimes it's how persistent you are, not how powerful. The guys were persistent today and scored at least one run in five innings."
Doug Burchfield was the beneficiary and got the win, throwing the first five innings, and Nathan Helke - who was 2 for 4 with an RBI - worked the final two innings for a save.
Nate Fair was 2 for 2 with a double, an RBI and a run as the Trojans spread out th offense throughout the entire lineup.
"No one had more than one RBI, only those guys had multiple hits - everyone did their part," Welker said. "It was a team effort offensively."
But that didn't mean the game was totally without drama. With two outs in the top of the fourth and leading only 2-0, the Trojans put together a brief rally and picked up a pair of runs to go up 4-0 and get some separation. And in the bottom half of the inning, the Green Wave (2-8, 1-3 GWOC North) left the bases loaded, and Troy never looked back.
Troy now travels to Wayne Friday before two key divisional games against Butler on Monday and Tuesday.
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Trojans win 6th straight, top Wayne
April 16, 2011 Troy Daily News Staff Reports
HUBER HEIGHTS - Troy (8-2) ran its winning streak to six straight Friday, taking control early with a three-run first inning and holding on for a 6-3 Greater Western Ohio Conference crossover victory Wayne.
"That may be our first three-run inning of the year, so that was a good way to start out," Troy coach Ty Welker said. "But after that, I was disappointed with the way our offense played.
"We stranded runners in the fourth and the sixth, so it was a shame that we started so well and finished like we did."
Nathan Helke continued his hot streak at the plate, going 2 for 2 with a double and a home run - his third homer of the year. Nick Antonides went 3 for 4 and scored two runs, while Jared Fisher went 3 for 4 with an RBI.
Brandon Rose got the win in relief for the Trojans - one of three pitchers that combined to scatter nine Wayne hits. They got plenty of help from the defense, too - particularly the arms in the outfield.
"Our defense really prevailed tonight," Welker said. "We had three different outfielders make assists tonight, and that was a big key to the game."
The Trojans travel to Lebanon for a doubleheader today.
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The Magic Finally Ran Out
Butler 10, Troy 2
April 18, 2011 Troy Daily News Staff Reports
TROY — The magic finally ran out for Troy as a fundamentally-sound and opportunistic Butler team rolled to a10-2 victory at Market Street Field Monday in Greater Western Ohio Conference North Division play.
The loss snapped Troy’s six game winning streak and dropped the Trojans into a first-place tie with the Aviators atop the GWOC North standings at 4-1. Butler jumped out to a 5-1lead at the end of three innings, and it coasted from there behind the 92 mile-per- hour fastball of winning pitcher Taylore Cherry, who threw a one-hitter against the Trojans.
“They jumped on first pitches tonight,” Troy coach Ty Welker said. “They hit a lot and played smart. They did some hit-and-runs, bunted well. They were offensive, and they had us on our heels defensively.”
Trey Barkett started on the hill and left having given up six runs scattered through six innings of work. Barkett also struck out three and gave up three hits in a losing effort.
“They put pressure on us,” Welker said. “They got the leadoff hitters on in the first three innings, and they scored all three times.”
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Gut-check time
Trojans must rebound after Aviators’ sweep
April 22, 2011 Troy Daily News By Josh Brown Sports Editor
Troy entered the week on a six-game winning streak and leading the Greater Western Ohio Conference North Division.
Now the Trojans will find out what kind of team they really are.
"Moments like this, you see what you're made of," Troy coach Ty Welker said after Butler completed a two-game sweep with a 10-0 victory in five innings Thursday. "No one's going to judge you when you're winning six in a row. They're going to judge you on how you bounce back from two losses like this."
Butler (12-2, 5-1 GWOC North) knocked off Troy 10-2 at Troy on Monday to draw even in the division standings, then two days of rainouts postponed the tiebreaking showdown. Once the game finally started Thursday, the Aviators cashed in on every chance they got - and they did so in the clutch.
Seven Aviators were either walked or hit by pitches in the game, and Butler cashed in five of those runners - four in the first two innings to grab a 5-0 lead, the big strikes being a two-run double in the first by Ryan Keeler and a two-run single by Lance Straley in the second.
All 10 of Butler's runs came with two outs in their respective innings.
"That's what good teams do - they make plays defensively and they have a plan at the plate," Welker said. "They're a very advantageous team. If they see a crack, they're going to run through it."
Troy (8-4, 4-2 GWOC North), meanwhile, missed its best chance in the top of the second. Nathan Helke led off with a double and Mike Swigard and Kalob Caudill drew two-out walks to load the bases. But Butler starter Kyle Fain got out of the jam with a called third strike.
Of Fain's five strikeouts, three were looking as baserunners were a rarity for Troy. Trey Barkett was 2 for 3 in the game and Dhaval Shah led off the fifth with a double, but in none of those cases could Troy advance the runners past the base they started at.
Butler, meanwhile, got three consecutive run-scoring hits by Dan Link, Keeler and Peter Yorben in the fourth to go up 8-0, then Link hit an RBI single and Keeler an RBI double to end the game in the fifth.
"We got beat by the better team," Welker said. "We watched a team that does all the little things right, that is offensive-minded, and where we stand at this point, we're neither one of those things.
"There's nothing positive we can take from that game. We just have to bounce back. We have to decide that we want to be that kind of team."
Troy hosts a doubleheader against West Carrollton Saturday.
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Back on track
Trojans hit 4 homers in sweep
April 24, 2011 Troy Daily News Staff Reports
TROY - After two divisional losses to Butler - and scoring only two runs total between both games - the Troy Trojans were a little frustrated.
Saturday, they took it out on the baseball.
Mike Swigard hit a pair of homers to open a doubleheader against West Carrollton, the beginning of a four-bomb day as the Trojans (10-4) swept a pair from the Pirates, 13-9 and 10-0 at Market Street Field.
"With all of the rain, that's (the losses to Butler) all you can think about sometimes," Troy coach Ty Welker said. "It was nice to get things going our way again. It was good for us to go out and hit the ball like that."
Especially for Swigard.
The Troy catcher went 2 for 3 with two home runs and four RBIs in the opener, Jordan Guillozet was 2 for 4 with two runs and Nick Antonides doubled as the Trojans made good on their chances, scoring 13 runs on eight hits - including five in the fifth inning when they were down 8-6.
"Mike said they were the first two homers of his life," Welker said. "He's been working on his swing, and he did a really nice job today.
"I think the guys had confidence that we were going to be able to hit their pitching. We were down, but we didn't get our heads down. It reminded me of the us from a couple weeks ago (when Troy was on a six-game winning streak)."
Dhaval Shah pitched into the fifth inning and left with a no decision, while Nathan Helke came in to get the win - despite six errors by the Troy defense.
"Shah kept us in the game, and Helke came in to finish it off for us," Welker said. "We bobbled things defensively, we missed the cut-off man on our throws - we didn't do the little things again. But the good news was that we hit the ball better."
And in the second game, those little things fell into place along with the hitting.
Trey Barkett struck out six, walked none and gave up three hits in a six-inning shutout - and the defense committed zero errors.
"We played with more confidence, stepped up and made the routine plays," Welker said. "The first third of the year, we made those routine plays and gave our pitchers chances to win. In the first game, we struggled defensively, but in the end we did what we needed to win."
With Troy leading 4-0 in the fifth, Helke launched a three-run homer - his fourth of the season - and Nate Fair (2 for 3, double, homer, RBI) followed with a solo shot to put the game away. Ian Nadolny was 2 for 3 with a double and Kalob Caudill also doubled.
Troy scored its 10 runs on six hits, cashing in five walks.
"The first four batters of the game walked," Welker said. "We scored on passed balls, we had some sac flies - we took advantage of situations and did the little things."
Troy faces Trotwood on Monday and Tuesday, hosting the Rams Tuesday for Senior Night.
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Seniors power Troy
Fair hits 2 homers in 24-1 Trojan win
April 27, 2011 Troy Daily News By Josh Brown Sports Editor
Usually when on defense, teams do their best to avoid leadoff walks.
So when Trotwood intentionally put Nate Fair on to start the third inning, it was a little surreal.
"I've never experienced anything like that before," the Troy senior said. "But I'll take that as a compliment, a sign of respect. I guess I'm pretty dangerous at the plate right now."
The baseball can attest to that.
Fair crushed a pair of two-run homers in his first two trips to the plate Tuesday - giving him three in his last two games - as the Trojans (11-4, 5-2 Greater West Ohio Conference North Division) celebrated a surreal Senior Night with a 24-1 victory over the Rams at Market Street Field.
The Trojans honored not only their eight seniors - Fair, Trey Barkett, Doug Burchfield, Kalob Caudill, Jared Fisher, Brandon Rose, Dhaval Shah and Mike Swigard - but also all of the boys and girls track and field seniors, as rain for the past week has ruined local athletic schedules.
Troy coach Ty Welker didn't mind the extra spectators - especially after the offensive show his team put on.
"There was sunshine, the field looked great - we had no problem helping them out," he said. "Bring everyone on out to the ballfield."
The team was happy to see the field again, too.
"Every day for the last week or two, it's either been raining and we've been stuck in the gym practicing or we've been playing or making up a game. We haven't been able to be outside practicing on a field in forever," Welker said. "It's tough to get practices in when the rain keeps coming and you're making up games."
So the Trojans used Tuesday for batting practice.
Fair led the charge, going 2 for 2 with two home runs and four RBIs after launching one over the fence against West Carrollton on Saturday. His bombs also came in the first two innings, as Troy sent 11 batters to the plate and scored six runs in both frames.
"I'm feeling great," Fair said. "I've been working on my stance a little bit, trying to have a less circular swing, keep it more compact."
"That gives him three in two days. He's just swinging the bat really well right now," Welker said.
Nathan Helke also had a huge day, going 3 for 3 with a double, two triples and five RBIs. Caudill was 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs, Shah was 2 for 3 with two RBIs, Burchfield hit a two-run double, Barkett and Jordan Guillozet each had RBI doubles, Jordan Price hit a two-run single and Fisher doubled.
"This game was about competing with ourselves and working on the things we need to work on offensively," Welker said. "We obviously had success hitting the ball hard, but we also wanted to go up and have good at-bats, stay within ourselves."
It was more than enough support for Rose, who pitched all five innings for the win. He struck out four, and his only blemish was giving up a pair of hits in the fourth inning, including an RBI triple by Dewayne Hairston.
"Brandon threw a nice game," Welker said. "He throws strikes, and he kept them out on their front foot all game long. He did a nice job."
Troy is scheduled to travel to Trotwood today to make up Monday's rainout, weather permitting.
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Trojans take care of Rams
April 29, 2011 Troy Daily News Staff Reports
TROY - Sometimes the only thing you can do is get a game out of the way.
That's what the Troy Trojans did in a 33-0 rout of Trotwood Thursday in a game that was originally scheduled to be played at Trotwood but was moved to Market Street Field due to field conditions.
"In a game like this, you try to work on your offense, believe it or not," Troy coach Ty Welker said. "You try to approach every at-bat like you would in any game, and the guys did a good job of that. These are tough games to play.
"We hit the ball pretty well. We've been swinging the bat a lot better lately."
The game marked the fourth straight that the Trojans have hit two home runs in. Doug Burchfield was 4 for 5 with a double, a homer, six RBIs and three runs scored and Dylan Cascaden also homered.
Ian Nadolny was 3 for 4 with three runs and two RBIs and Mike Swigard, Devon Alexander, Nick Antonides and Nate Fair - who hit two homers against Trotwood Tuesday - all doubled.
Troy, now 12-4 and 6-2 in the Greater Western Ohio Conference North Division - travels to Springboro Saturday to make up the game originally scheduled for Thursday.
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Trojans at it again
Rally to edge Panthers, 7-6
May 1, 2011 Troy Daily News Staff Reports
The Troy Trojans were up to their old tricks Saturday.
Which is not necessarily a bad thing.
Down 6-0 heading into the sixth inning, the Trojans erupted for seven runs to take the lead and never let it go, holding off the Springboro Panthers 7-6 in Greater Western Ohio Conference crossover action at Springboro in a game rescheduled from Thursday.
And while Troy coach Ty Welker would like to see his team up from start to finish and not need to come through in the clutch, he knows they have the ability to do so when needed.
"That says a lot about the team when they can be down six with two outs in the sixth inning and come back to win," he said. "We were very scrappy today. We hadn't even posed a threat offensively all day until then."
Earlier in the season, Troy (13-4) won six straight games - three of them in their final at-bat, and one with a sixth-inning rally.
And once again, Nathan Helke had the clutch bat.
Helke led off the sixth inning with a single, then the following two hitters struck out. But Jared Fisher (1 for 3, RBI) doubled, three Trojans drew walks, Dylan Cascaden (2 for 4, RBI) singled and another Trojan drew a walk, putting runners on first and third for Helke once again. Helke cashed both runners in with a double to bring in the game-tying and winning runs.
Helke finished 3 for 3 in the game.
"He's got 30 RBIs this year, which, if not leading the GWOC is close," Welker said. "He's done a nice job when we've needed him to come through. He's been clutch, and he's done it kind of quietly."
Dhaval Shah went the first four innings for Troy, Brandon Rose pitched the fifth and Devon Alexander pitched the final two and got the win.
"Shah kept us in the game. He could've hung his head after giving up a couple runs in a couple innings," Welker said. "But he didn't and he kept us in it. Rose pitched the fifth and threw well, and Devon came in and was a bulldog."
Alexander also got out of a jam in the seventh to preserve the win, as Springboro had runners on second and third with none out. A strikeout, an intentional walk to load the bases, another strikeout and a groundout put an end to another comeback win, though.
"That was a huge, huge inning," Welker said of the way the team worked out of the seventh.
Troy hosts GWOC North rival Piqua Monday.
Troy Daily
News Article:
Piqua ends streak
Gets 1st win over Troy in 8 tries
May 6, 2011 Troy Daily News
By Rob Kiser Ohio Community Media
Taylor Huebner ended Piqua's eight-game losing streak to Troy with one swing of the bat Thursday.
Troy coach Ty Welker won't have to wait long to see how his team responds.
Huebner's walk-off single in the home seventh inning gave Piqua a 4-3 win at Hardman Field - and the two teams are scheduled to meet today in Troy at the Market Street Field.
"That's the great thing about baseball," Welker said. "That's what we told our guys. We will see what our guys are made of. I think they are pretty good that way. You have to give Piqua credit. We didn't underestimate them. We knew this was going to be a tough game."
Huebner said it was a swing he won't soon forget.
Troy had intentionally walked Taylor Wellbaum with one out to load the bases.
"It was no disrespect to their four-hole hitter (Huebner)," Welker said. "We needed to set up a double play or a force at home in that situation."
For Piqua coach Jared Askins, it was a win-win situation.
"Taylor (Wellbaum) told me loved being in that situation," Askins said. "That's what you want to hear. Then, they walked him. And Taylor (Huebner), especially batting left-handed, is a great guy to have up in that situation."
In fact, the switch hitter expected them to walk Wellbaum.
"It didn't surprise me at all," Huebner said. "I had been struggling all day from the right side. But I am a lot more comfortable from the left side."
He turned around with right hander Devon Alexander replacing southpaw Trey Barkett with one out in the seventh inning.
"I wasn't sure their coaches knew I am more comfortable on the left side," Huebner said. "I just sat on a fastball."
It came on the second pitch, and Huebner nearly sent it out of the park. It landed just short of the fence as Trenton Hemm game home from third with the winning run.
"It (a game-winning hit against Troy) is about all you can ask for," Huebner said. "That's about the third time I thought it was going out (of the park), but the right field fence is so deep here. All that matters is it scored a run and we won."
Starting pitchers Aaron Christy and Barkett, both left handers, had pitched well the entire game.
And after a RBI single by Michael Swigard and a sacrifice fly by Jared Fisher gave Troy a 2-0 lead in the second, it was Christy's third inning that stood out to both coaches. He retired the side on just six pitches.
"I thought we lost the momentum and they took it and went with it," Welker said. "He is a good pitcher. No question. But that (a six-pitch inning) can't happen. That's not the way we play."
Askins agreed it was huge.
"Aaron came up big all game," he said. "But that is always a great feeling anytime you can get off the field that quick."
The top of the order did the damage for Piqua all day.
Piqua took a 3-2 lead in the fifth with the help of Tyler Davis' speed. With a slight bobble on his single in the outfield, he hustled down to second base then stole third.
Wellbaum singled him in, but Troy would answer in the sixth as Nate Fair drilled a two-out double to score Barkett and make it 3-3.
"Nate's done that all year for us," Welker said.
Troy threatened in the top of the seventh. An error and a single by Dylan Cascaden put runners on the corners with two out, but Christy got a strikeout to end the rally.
"I just knew I had to get an out there," Christy said.
Hemm started Piqua's seventh-inning rally with a one-out double and Davis greeted Alexander with a single. That put runners on second and third and gave them both three-hit games.
That led to the walk of Wellbaum to set up the shot that sent the Piqua dugout and fans into celebration.
"Oh my gosh," Christy said. "That was just a bomb."
Askins didn't have to see it land.
"I don't know how far it went," he said. "All we needed was one run."
Christy had five strikeouts and two walks, while Barkett had eight strikeouts and a walk.
Fair was 2 for 2, while Jordan Guillozet had a double.
"We have had some games where we had chances early in the game," Welker said. "Tonight, we had chances the last couple innings. But give Piqua credit."
Askins knows Piqua will face a tough task today.
"I really like the two-game series," he said. "You can't get too high or too low."
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Soul searching
Piqua jumps on miscues, sweeps Troy
May 7, 2011 Troy Daily News By Josh Brown Sports Editor
After a walk-off win by Piqua Thursday ended Troy's eight-game winning streak over the Indians, the Trojans entered Friday's series finale looking to reassert their dominance.
They left with a storm cloud over their heads - both real and figurative.
Piqua (12-8, 7-3 Greater West Ohio Conference North Division) capitalized on a brief-but-fierce second-inning downpour - and a pair of Troy errors - taking an early lead and riding the arm of Andy Draving to a 7-2 victory at Market Street Field, giving the Indians a season sweep of the Trojans.
"One team showed up today, and the other didn't," Troy coach Ty Welker said. "We've got to do a little soul searching, for sure. It's time to decide what kind of team we're going to be."
Troy (13-6, 6-4 GWOC North) had won five straight heading into this week, including an impressive 6-5 win over potential sectional tournament opponent Springboro, but on Friday it was Piqua that did all of the little things right.
"They're kind of like Butler. They put pressure on you and force you to do things - and we didn't step up when we needed to," Welker said. "They have a baseball knowledge and awareness of situations that we have to get better at.
"Their guys were anticipating getting the extra base and ran aggressively, and ours didn't. It's all about the mental approach to the game."
Troy threatened in the first after a Trey Barkett single and steal of second. An error off the bat off Nathan Helke by the Piqua second baseman Taylor Wellbaum let Barkett advance to third, but there was a moment of hesitation as the ball seemingly got far enough away from Wellbaum to score on, and Wellbaum recovered in time to throw Barkett out at the plate for the final out of the inning.
Then the rain came - as did the errors.
Dylan Cascaden made an impressive sliding catch in left field to start the inning, but Draving followed with a single. Troy then booted a tailor-made double play ball to put runners on first and second, and Adam Debrosse drove in the game's first run.
A dropped fly ball in right field led to another Piqua run, and Wellbaum drove in a third run with a bases-loaded fielder's choice to make it 3-0 on three unearned runs - just in time for the rain to go away.
But the Troy hitters couldn't solve Draving.
Draving struck out seven and walked one in six innings of work, scattering four hits and giving up two runs - one earned. Draving worked from ahead in the count all night long, and Taylor Huebner - who had the walk-off hit in Thursday's game - pitched a one-two-three seventh to finish it off.
"He threw a lot of first-pitch fastballs for strikes, which we didn't take advantage of until later in the game," Welker said. "He threw a heck of a ballgame."
Troy's only runs came in the fifth. Mike Swigard led off with a walk and Jared Fisher singled. An error of the bat of Devon Alexander scored one run, and a sacrifice fly by Cascaden brought in another. But Troy ran itself out of a rally again with a runner being caught stealing at third base to end the inning.
"We don't just make one mistake. They come in bunches," Welker said. "We just didn't compete today."
Piqua got three insurance runs in the top of the fifth with the big strike being a two-run single by Brandon Wright.
"We've had a lot of great victories early in the season, we battled back against Springboro and made a miracle happen. But we've got some soul searching to do now," Welker said.
Troy heads into its doubleheader at defending Division IV State champion Fort Loramie today with literal clouds over both teams' heads, as rain is in the forecast for the day.
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Trojans split with Redskins
May 7, 2011 Troy Daily News Staff Reports
FT. LORAMIE - After a pair of losses to rival Piqua, Troy needed a pick-me-up.
Splitting a doubleheader against a reigning state champion? That'll do just fine.
The Trojans (14-7) dropped the first game of two against Division IV State champion Fort Loramie 4-3 in extra innings, but they rallied with two in the seventh to grab a 3-2 victory in the late game Saturday on the road.
"We had a little team meeting last night after the game (against Piqua)," Troy coach Ty Welker said. "We were pretty critical of how we've been playing. We told them that that's not the direction we're headed in."
Before the opener, though, it was evident that Troy was a different team.
"We took our infield practice, and we were enthusiastic," Welker said. "We came out with our heads up today. After the last couple days, we could have had our heads down, but we didn't. We wanted to make sure we got back to the way things were before."
Nathan Helke was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and hit his fifth homer of the year in the opener, Jared Fisher was 2 for 4 with a run, Trey Barkett was 2 for 2 with a run and Devon Alexander was 1 for 3 with an RBI as the Trojans and Redskins were tied at 3-3 after seven. But Loramie picked up one off of Dhaval Shah in the eighth to steal the win.
Brandon Rise got the start in the second game, and Helke came on in the sixth to get the win.
"We got great pitching out of both starters today," Welker said. "Shah kept us in the game and gave us a chance to win it, and Rose threw tremendous in the second game. Give credit to those two seniors for keeping us in both games."
Dylan Cascaden was 2 for 4 in the second game - with the game-tying RBI in the top of the seventh. Helke was 3 for 4 with two RBIs, including the game-winner, and Thomas Harvey was 2 for 3 with two runs.
"They've (Loramie) won two state championships in the last four years," Welker said. "They play very fundamentally sound baseball. And the good news is that today, so did we."
Troy Daily
News Article:
Trojans run selves into 5-2 loss
May 11, 2011 Troy Daily News Staff Reports
TROY - Troy picked up Tuesday's game against Fairmont looking to build momentum leading up to its tournament opener Thursday.
But the Trojans got caught along the basepath.
Troy (14-8) made a number of critical baserunning mistakes Tuesday, hindering an already-hampered offense even further in a 5-2 loss to the Firebirds (9-13) at Market Street Field.
"We ended the first on a line drive double play, getting doubled off second. We ended the third getting thrown out at third base.
We ended the fifth getting thrown out at third base. And we ended the sixth getting thrown out at second base," Troy coach Ty Welker said. "Obviously, we made some very, very poor baserunning choices.
"When you're down three runs, one run means nothing. We made some poor choices running the bases, and at this point in the season, that's just unacceptable."
Trey Barkett and Nick Antonides doubled and Nathan Helke had an RBI as the Trojans managed only five hits in the game.
"We didn't hit very well. We just don't have a plan offensively," Welker said. "We're up there chasing first pitches that are out of the zone, then watching balls go straight down the middle. It's very frustrating."
The streaky Trojans - who have six-game and five-game winning streaks to their credit this season - have now lost four out of five heading into Thursday's second-round sectional game against Springboro (11-12), which blanked Belmont 10-0 Tuesday.
The Trojans defeated the Panthers 7-6 earlier this season, scoring all seven of their runs in one inning to pull off one of many Trojan comebacks.
"I'd imagine Springboro is going to be hungry to get back at us," Welker said. "We've got to be up for this one. After how hard we've battled and worked all year, we have to be."
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No rallies left
Troy digs early hole in sectional loss
May 13, 2011 Troy Daily News By Josh Brown Sports Editor
After Kalob Caudill's leaping grab in center field robbed Springboro's Ty Helmbright of extra bases in the top of the fifth, Troy seemed poised to run off one if its trademark rallies.
But the Trojan hitters simply couldn't solve Matt Delbridge.
Delbridge threw a four-hitter and allowed only one run, while Troy simply seemed to run out of gas after a season of come-from-behind battles, falling to the Panthers 11-1 in six innings in the second round of the Division I Dayton 1 Sectional tournament Thursday at Market Street Field.
The Trojans (14-9) defeated Springboro during the regular season after falling behind 6-0, rallying for seven runs in one inning to steal the win.
Troy simply had no more miracles left.
Down 6-1 in the fifth inning and looking for a spark, Caudill seemed to provide it. After making a fully-extended diving catch in center for the second out, Troy reliever Devon Alexander struck out Sean Kennedy on a check swing and gave a fist pump, and the Trojans seemed energized for the first time in the game.
"It was 6-1 at that point, and we were talking about picking up Kalob after that catch. But offensively, you've got to execute," Troy coach Ty Welker said. "You can get momentum by just getting outs sometimes, and I thought that was our turning point."
But Delbridge sat down Troy quickly and quietly in the bottom of the fifth one-two-three on four pitches. And in the top of the sixth, Alexander - who had been Troy's closer most of the season - just ran out of gas in his fourth inning of work, with Springboro putting together five runs on five hits to put the game away.
But that inning wasn't the whole story for Alexander, who was the main reason Troy still had a chance late in the game. Alexander threw 3 2-3 innings in relief of starter Trey Barkett and reliever Dhaval Shah, getting the Trojans out of a bases-loaded jam in the third with minimal damage and shutting down Springboro (13-12) in the fourth and fifth innings.
"Devon came in and kept us in the ballgame. He competed," Welker said. "But offensively, we came out and swung at first pitches that weren't our pitch and went chasing things.
"We took the wind out of our own sails offensively. And unfortunately, that's been our struggle all year."
Troy managed only four hits in the game. In the fourth, Doug Burchfield singled and Jordan Guillozet followed with a double over the center fielder's head, driving in the Trojans' only run on the day. Dylan Cascaden and Nate Fair had the other Troy hits.
The Trojans fell behind early on a clutch shot by Ian Huss in the top of the first. With two on, two out and facing a full count, Huss ripped a line drive over the fence in left that got out in no time, putting Springboro up 3-0. After another run in the second and two more in the third, Troy found itself down 6-0 again to the Panthers.
This time, though, there wasn't another rally in the tank.
"We knew they're a good team, and we knew they'd be hungry," Welker said. "Some teams make things happen and some teams watch things happen - and today, we got caught watching. Those three runs right out of the chute didn't help us, either."
And though Troy's season ends, Welker said it may have ended sooner had it not been for the efforts of seniors Barkett, Burchfield, Caudill, Fair, Shah, Jared Fisher, Brandon Rose and Mike Swigard.
"Our senior leadership has been outstanding," Welker said. "I cannot say enough about these guys. I've probably never had a group as emotional as them. They earned us 14 wins through their sheer effort and heart. We probably got a few we shouldn't have this year because of their hard work and the fact that they never quit.
"This unfortunate game was not a microcosm of our entire season. We were tougher than that."
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