Waynedale Seniors Leave Lasting Legacy, Cementing Their Impact on Program

APPLE CREEK — Legendary.

That’s what the Waynedale Golden Bears baseball program has done over the past four years, both locally and on a statewide stage. With three league titles under their belt, Waynedale has sparkled even brighter on the statewide stage of the OHSAA Tournament.

In a sport where Hiland has set the standard over the years with its consistency, the Golden Bears have made their case for their spot beside their rivals as standard bearers. Waynedale has gone 26-1 in the state tournament during that time span and it just won its third State Title in the past four years this past weekend. With that win, they joined the likes of Archbishop Moeller (2012-2015), Elder (1958-1961) and Newark Catholic (2013-2016) as programs with four straight state appearances and three state titles in that stretch.

In all, per OHSAA record books, only nine times has a program made it to state four years in a row, with the Golden Bears becoming the 10th. The only program ahead of the collective is Wheelersburg, who made it six times in a row from 2010-2015 with three state titles.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” said Golden Bears coach Lucas Daugherty about the run. “We’ve tried our best to slow it down and just enjoy the game.”

As for what it says about the program, he didn’t hold back in how special the players have been.

“It’s a special accomplishment to do what these guys have done,” he added. “It speaks volumes about the players in the program. They’ve been consistent, they go about their work, they set the standard and expect it from all the players in the program.”

Looking back at this year’s seniors, Daugherty lauded their experience dating back to the first state appearance in 2022.

“That was my first experience as a player, assistant coach or coach of going to state,” he said. “That experience once we got there as a program, it was unparalleled and it naturally gives a pretty good drive to get back there.

“Breaking through was a special accomplishment, it helped the players realize it was attainable if they work hard, play the right way, do it the right way and it’s helped drive these past few years.”

For his group of seniors those experiences helped them to lead this year’s overall young squad. Falling short last year of a three-peat only proved to be a catalyst as it made climbing that mountain this spring that much sweeter. It didn’t hurt that the team opposing them on Sunday night was St. Paris Graham, the Golden Bears wrestling rival and perennial state contenders on the mat.

“I heard from a lot of people that Graham was a tough wrestling school,” senior staff ace Shane Coblentz said. “Knowing that going into the game just fueled the fire that we had as a team, especially that combined with the pain of last year’s loss. That just drove us to give everything we had left in the tank.”

Even in the final moments the pain from last year and the drive to get back on top kept them laser-focused.

“I remember stepping out in front of the plate and calming down our defense, or trying to,” senior catcher Tristan Franks said. “I knew that (St. Paris) Graham was a good team and the game wasn’t over until the last out was made.

“Logan (Troyer) stayed calm and collected, and when he bounced the curveball, instincts just kicked in to block it. Then the only thing I could think about was not overthrowing our first baseman. Afterwards, it all felt a little bittersweet. Knowing that we had just won it all was exhilarating, but knowing that was the last time I would step on the field as a Golden Bear made the moment a little more surreal.”

As for finishing on top of the mountain, both seniors soaked it all in.

“It means the world to me,” he added. “Being able to say that in high school I won three state titles is something I will forever hold onto. It was really special and it was great to finally see all our hard work and dedication pay off.”

“Being able to go out on top makes all of the hard work worth it,” Franks added. “Our coaches repeatedly told us, however, that the game is the prize, not the trophy or rings. The game is what I will remember for a lifetime.

“This run meant everything to me. With it being our last year, we (seniors) gave it everything we had. We had that sour taste in our mouth from last year and knew that we

had

to go back. After we did, we all had that sense of relief that what we worked so hard for actually came to fruition.”

For Coblentz and for Franks, it wasn’t just winning state or the thrill of doing three times in the past four years that stuck out. It was family. It was Waynedale baseball.

“It has to be all of the time I got to spend with my Waynedale baseball family,” Franks said. “From the early morning practices to the last out at Canal Park, I enjoyed every second.”

It’s a feat that Daugherty cautions isn’t easy, but it was rewarding feeling will hang around Apple Creek for a while.

“It is never easy. Each year we have a tough league, tough schedule and tough district,” he said. “But we knew with this group of seniors, it was possible — it was very possible.

“We just want to thank them for everything that they contributed — our coaching staff is proud of the way they have done things — and they leave with no regrets. They supported the younger players, they did the little things and I know their parents, the school and community are thankful for what they brought to Waynedale. They have left a lasting impact.”

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record:
Waynedale seniors get one of their own, make lasting impact on program