Epling, Sandwisch key to Oak Harbor's past, present
Oak Harbor's past results have no bearing on its state semifinal matchup with Plain City Jonathan Alder.
What have you done for me lately? Not so much in terms of service, but literally, what did you do?
The Rockets lost 1-0 to Keystone in a regional final in 2017 and 4-1 in a regional semifinal the next year.
Oak Harbor (24-8) plays Jonathan Alder at 12:30 p.m. Thursday at Firestone Stadium in Akron. It's the first state semifinal in program history for the Rockets.
Remi Gregory drove in two runs, and Reagan Schultz, Hannah Schimmoeller and Alyse Sorg added an RBI apiece Saturday in a 5-4 victory over Lexington in a regional final in Division II. All of that's rather timely.
Schimmoeller, Sorg, Reese Adkins, Sydney Overmyer and Schultz each scored one run.
"We're able to hit 1 through 9 and attack strikes when we get them," Rockets coach Chris Rawski said. "Putting pressure on the other team. Our plate discipline has been good. Very offensively aggressive."
Oak Harbor doesn't draw many walks, but it doesn't strike out either. It led 5-0 before Lexington scored four runs in the final two innings.
"They made a late charge and we held our composure and finished the game off, even after a couple mistakes," Rawski said. "That was led by Reagan in the circle."
Schultz struck out two and walked one while allowing 11 hits and two earned runs in seven innings.
"She has pitched phenomenal," Rawski said. "Until the sixth inning [Saturday], she was at 12 scoreless innings at regional. Even when she hasn't hit great, she's taken care of us in the circle."
That doesn't mean all the stories of teams before are forgotten. Kaytlynn Sandwisch was heartbroken as shortstop five years ago.
She and third baseman Dani Epling are assistant coaches now.
"I'm so happy and proud for the girls," Sandwisch said. "I feel like I was playing in a way. It was heartbreaking in the moment playing and missing out. Does it suck we missed that opportunity? Of course, but we're lucky to be part of this team now. Me and Dan feel the same way. It's even more rewarding because we've been there.
"We explained to the girls how things work and how things feel."
Rawski was an assistant for Tom Kontak when Genoa lost 1-0 in a state semifinal in 2006. Pitching coach Andy Szypka is there for both trips.
"The feelings are similar," he said. "Both programs were built from the ground up, one as an assistant, one as a head coach. The dedication and work from everybody remains the same. It's neat the Oak Harbor community can experience something special.
"It's another benchmark for the program and all the people who came before and how hard this particular group worked. They deserve it."
Sandwisch and Epling were part of the first Oak Harbor team to play in a regional final. Now, they're part of the first appearance at state.
"They helped get us over the hump as coaches," Rawski said. "As players, that was a difficult loss. Heart wrenching. We were 29-1 at the time. They got back there with a chance to play them again and didn't capitalize.
"They had goals to get this group back there and over, and they were a pivotal part."
She and Epling played with Schultz and Gregory as freshmen in 2019. All have now played in games at regional.
The coaches were part of the best team in program history and now they're part of the only team to advance further.
"Watching them grow is amazing," Sandwisch said.
Why should it matter Oak Harbor's never been here? It's unbeaten at state.
"I didn't," Rawski said of identifying this as a state semifinal group. "Our goal was to get back to the district championship and finish off what we let slip away. After that, it's focusing on the teams [we play]. I never really had that piece — the state final four — as something we overwhelmingly talked about.
"We were super focused on the district championship."
The weight off their shoulders has them tiptoeing with the best in the state.
mhorn@gannett.com
419-307-4892
Twitter: @MatthewHornNH
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Rawski helped Genoa to state in 2006 as assistant
