DELTA — Lake junior pitchers Drew Tajblik and Jay Blazevich combined to pitch a four-hit shutout as the Flyers opened the season with a 6-0 non-league win on the road Monday.
In 5.2 innings, the University of Toledo-bound Tajblik struck out 14, walked one, and allowed three hits, while Blazevich struck out one, walked one, and allowed one hit through 1.1 innings.
Sophomore Jack Sobczak doubled, reached twice on walks, and had two RBI, while Tajblik, Blazevich, sophomore Gavin Kohlhofer, freshman Kaiden Cousino, and junior Korbin Adkins had base hits for the Flyers.
Adkins, Kohlhofer, Cousino and Blazevich had stolen bases, senior Aiden Young laid down a sacrifice bunt, and Blazevich and Young were hit by pitches.
Coach Casey Witt enters his third year at the helm of the Lake program, going a combined 33-22 in his first two years, including 15-11 overall and 7-7 in the Northern Buckeye Conference last season.
Witt, who previously coached at Marion Local before coming to Lake, sees a Lake team that should be in the hunt for a championship this season.
“The goal for this team is to compete for a league title,” Witt said. “We think we have the pitching staff and defense that can be the catalyst for a run at a league title and tournament run.
“The NBC should be very competitive this year with a lot of good arms for multiple different teams. It will be a challenge night in and night out.”
Witt has seven lettermen returning, including Tajblik (.444 BA), Kohlhofer (.423 BA), Sobzack (.274 BA), Blazevich (.280 BA), senior Ryan Wagner, and senior Caleb Tobias. All are infielders and pitchers except Kohlhofer, who catches.
“From top to bottom, we have a really athletic team,” Witt said. “We are going to play aggressively and use our athleticism and team speed as an advantage.
“Being able to consistently score runs early in the year is a concern of most high school baseball coaches, and I am no different. We need to get games in early, find our groove, and create some early momentum offensively.”
Tobias had a 1.57 ERA on the mound last year, and Wagner is returning to the lineup after suffering a broken collarbone. Tajblik was a first team All-NBC selection last year, Kohlhofer was second team and Sobzack and Tobias were honorable mention.
Witt expects Tajblik, Kohlhofer and Wagner to continue being his best hitters, while leading the Flyers on the mound will be Tajblik, Wagner, Tobias, Blazevich, Sobzack, and Young.
“We have a really deep pitching staff that I believe rivals anybody in the league. I think we have five to six guys that can go get outs for us any night and against any team,” Witt said.
Witt says Young has demonstrated major improvement since last season.
‘He put in a lot of work to get stronger, get his arm stronger, and has changed positions to the outfield and has thrived at that change,” Witt said.
Witt expects Cousino, Adkins, and junior Zaiden Kohlenberg to be major contributors, also.
