Emotional week for Waynedale ends with walk-off extra inning win in OHSAA baseball Division 3 state championship game

AKRON, Ohio – Emotions were everywhere as Waynedale walked off with a 2-1 win in eight innings over Milan Edison to win the OHSAA baseball Division III state title for the first time in school history on Saturday.

First, there were explosions of joy and happiness after Connor Gatti rocketed a walk-off RBI single into right field to score Josiah Raber to clinch the title.

And then as Waynedale stood on the third base line accepting their medals and state championship trophy, there were moments of sadness and reflection for a friend.

In the dugout for the second straight game was a golf bag and a gold t-shirt with “BEE” written on it. It was for Waynedale golfer Deegan Bee, who had passed away on Wednesday morning after injuries sustained in a head-on car collision earlier in the week.

The team had gathered the day before to go to the calling hours for Bee, who had just finished his sophomore year of high school. And then they had to go play a game on Saturday to win the state championship. Bee’s golf teammate Trey Barkman, who had pitched for Waynedale in the state semifinal, had a hard time finding words to describe the week.

“Calling hours were yesterday and it was hard, it was really hard,” Barkman said. “And then to come here and pull off a walk-off win, I don’t have words to describe it. It’s so emotional.”

Waynedale was able to focus on Saturday to play their state championship game, despite the emotions of the week.

Otto Solorzano took the mound and went all eight innings, scattering nine hits and striking out seven to give Waynedale a chance to win the game. That included getting out of a jam in the eighth with two runners on base and just one out.

“Otto is an awesome kid and obviously a really good pitcher,” Waynedale coach Lucas Daugherty said. “He did get hit around a little today, but you couldn’t tell with his composure and the way he threw, especially in the sixth, seventh and eighth. He gave us a chance."

A chance was all Gatti needed.

“I said to myself ‘this is the moment,’” Gatti said. “Right now is when we are going to win the state title.”

Gatti was prophetic, as he took an outside fastball and went the other way with it to deliver the state title to the Golden Bears.

“That’s a tough situation to be in going into extras with the state title on the line,” Daugherty said. “But I think our guys really stayed composed.”

A tough situation for sure, but one that Barkman was happy to find himself in after the whirlwind of emotions this past week.

“It’s the game of baseball, that’s why I love it,” Barkman said. “There is no thinking. You just go and do it and you have fun. Baseball was my escape this weekend.”

Photo gallery: