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THE TOLEDO BLADE
By MARK MONROE
BLADE SPORTS WRITER

Toledo area squad goes 5-1 en route to title

Casey Winckowski fouls off a pitch at Joe E. Brown Park. Winckowski had the game-winning hit in the title game. ( THE BLADE/ANDY MORRISON ) Photo Reprints The Ohio Monarchs proved to be kings of the diamond this summer. The Toledo-based baseball team won the 2008 National Amateur Baseball Federation College Division World Series on Aug 11. The prestigious annual tournament was held locally this year and the Ohio Monarchs Gold team took the title. The Monarchs went 5-1 to capture the championship. The Gold team lost just once in pool play and outscored their opponents 50-29. In the final, the Monarchs defeated the two- time defending NABF College champions, the Long Island, N.Y., Astros. Clay High School graduate Casey Winckowski, who plays for Owens Community College, drilled a game-winning, walkoff double in the final. "It was the perfect way to end a great summer," Winckowski said. "We really came together as one. We started playing real good ball. That was amazing. To get the winning hit to win the World Series - there's no better feeling in the world. Everyone went crazy."

Brett Howard rounds the bases during a game for the Ohio Monarchs. The team won the National Amateur Baseball Federation College Division World Series in Maumee. ( THE BLADE/ANDY MORRISON ) Photo Reprints

Former St. John's coach Ed Mouch led the Gold team to a Toledo Federation League title and a 38-11 overall record this year.

"We've just been playing hard all year long and got hot at the right time in all aspects of the game," Mouch said.

The team capped the season with the NABF College World Series championship, which is a national tournament for players ages 22 and under.

The Gold team's standouts in the postseason were center fielder Winckowski, shortstop Brian Bilius (St. Francis/Adrian College), first baseman Jake Cappelletty (St. John's/Adrian College), pitcher Brian Koehl (Northview/Heidelberg), and pitcher/outfielder Cory Hornyak (Genoa/Youngstown State).

Koehl had a 0.44 earned run average in the World Series. He pitched 16 innings and threw 244 pitches in two games during the tournament.

"It was one of the biggest tournaments I've ever played in," Koehl said. "I just thought it was amazing. It gets you ready for the big college games. That's what it feels like."

Cappelletty hit crucial home runs in the quarterfinal and final. His solo blast in the championship game tied it at 3 in the bottom of the eighth inning.

"Coming into the tournament, we expected the teams to be a lot better than us," Cappelletty said. "We weren't sure if we could compete. But after a few games we knew we could."

Hornyak dominated on the mound and at the plate. He was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

"We got a great pitching performance from Cory Hornyak," Cappelletty said. "He pitched and he hit for us. That was why he was the MVP."

The NABF College World Series featured 16 teams from eight states. Games were played at Ned Skeldon Stadium in Maumee and at Joe E. Brown, Bowman, and Scott parks in Toledo.

The Monarchs beat teams from Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Maryland, and New York.

Mouch said his team excelled at the plate, in the field, and on the mound.

"You have to have all three aspects of the game to win and we did," Mouch said. "The biggest thing you need is breaks to win a championship. We got some breaks during the tournament. But this is a gutty group of kids."

Koehl said a different facet stepped up in each game.

"One day we would have really good pitching and another day we would have good hitting," he said.

The Monarchs opened the tournament with a 10-2 win over a team from Kersey, Pa., on Aug. 7. The Gold team then lost to the Ohio Heat 7-5.

"That was a tough loss," Winckowski said. "We lost in the last inning. But we came back and regrouped and played one of our best games on Friday. That gave us momentum."

The team rebounded with a 9-3 win over a club from Pittsburgh on Aug. 8.

"That qualified us for the quarterfinals," Mouch said.

The Monarchs then faced a grueling test against Norton, Ky. The first seven innings were played on Aug. 9 before rain pushed the contest to the next day.

Koehl came into the game on Aug. 10 and threw eight innings, giving up just one run.

"He put goose eggs up," Mouch said.

The Monarchs emerged with a 15-12 victory in 15 innings. Koehl picked up the win.

"The competition was really good," Koehl said. "I just trusted my defense like I have all summer. I went out and threw strikes."

Bilius went 4 for 7 and drove in two runs. He also scored two runs and had two stolen bases.

"That game was tough. We had two rain delays that lasted two hours," Winckowski said. "It took a lot out of us."

In the semifinals later on Aug. 10 against the Maryland Orioles, the Gold team won 7-2. Matt Kaighan (Bowsher/Defiance) started the game and pitched six innings.

Hornyak went 3 for 4 with a triple and scored two runs. Bilius was 2 for 5, and Cappelletty hit a two-run home run to put the game out of reach.

In the championship game at Skeldon Stadium on Aug. 11, the Monarchs won in dramatic fashion over the Long Island, N.Y. Astros. Down 3-2 with one out in the eighth inning, Cappelletty homered to tie it at 3.

"He threw me a high inside pitch and I turned on it. Luckily it went out," Cappelletty said. "It was probably the biggest home run of my life. No words can describe it."

With the game tied at 3 and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Kyle Ottaway (Fairfield/Central Michigan) walked and stole second. Adam Yunker (Toledo Christian/Ohio Northern) then drew a walk.

Winckowski then worked the count full and smacked the game-winning double.

"Their pitcher was a side-armer," Winckowski said. "He got the first two guys out in the bottom of the ninth. He walked the next two guys, but he fired right at me. I got down 0-2, but I worked it back to 3-2. The one I hit, he left over the plate and I was able to turn on it. It was a line shot over the left fielder's head."

Winckowski said he just made sure to touch first base to make the victory official.

"Then I absolutely got mobbed by the whole team," he said. "It was great to celebrate like that."

Cappelletty said he was in the on-deck circle when Winckowski drove in the winning run.

"When Wincky got up there, I was ready to celebrate," Cappelletty said. "When he hit the ball it was just a big dog pile on Wincky. It was definitely one of the biggest wins I've been a part of."

Starting pitcher Ben Kauder (St. John's/Oberlin) threw six innings. Tim Corbey (St. John's/Dayton) got the win in relief with three solid innings.

Mouch said the team's home-field advantage also was pivotal.

"We had great support from parents and family members," Mouch said. "They came out and that helps out a lot. Everyone was up clapping. I thought it was huge.

"Obviously we were very excited," Mouch said. "We just wanted to represent Toledo very well."

Mouch said the team got contributions from the entire lineup all season.

"No one person stood out defensively," Mouch said. "It was a great group effort. We had diving plays in the outfield. We turned some nice double plays. Our catcher threw some kids out."

The Gold team posted a 20-3 record to win the Federation League and carried the momentum into the postseason.

"There was a lot of talent [in the tournament]," Mouch said. "Our guys did a great job all weekend."

Winckowski and Koehl said playing at home provided even more motivation.

"We knew they would be after us because we were the host team," Winckowski said.

"Every team was real solid. It was real nice because we had the fans on our side. We had a couple hundred fans there. It made the celebration even greater."

Koehl said it always feels good to win at home.

"It doesn't happen very often to have a World Series in Toledo," he said. "It was a great feeling to win it front of our fans, friends, and parents."

Contact Mark Monroe at:
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