Huskies’ Nemeth No-Hits Fort Frye | News, Sports, Jobs

Harrisonn Central’s Jace Madzia, right celebrates with teammate Treston Nemeth during the Huskies’ win Wednesday in the Ohio Division III District championship game.

OLD WASHINGTON — Harrison Central senior Treston Nemeth remembered the 2022 Eastern District Championship Game against Ridgewood all too well.

Not only did the Huskies fall, 7-3, but Nemeth committed a costly throwing error that led to the Generals taking charge.

Fast forward to Wednesday afternoon at the Baker Activity Complex at Buckeye Trail High School, Nemeth, quite simply, was out to erase the memories of 2022. And Fort Frye could do nothing about it in the Eastern District championship.

Putting forth a day that included two doubles, a single, two runs batted in, and for good measure, he just went on the mound and threw a no hitter and allowed only two base runners as the Huskies advanced to next week’s ‘Sweet 16’ with a convincing 10-0 victory in six innings over the top-seeded Cadets.

“This is like my get back from last year,” Nemeth said amid a celebration on the field. “To have another opportunity in a district championship game was great, and I wasn’t going to let it get by again.”

According to Harrison Central coach Mike Valesko, who now owns two district titles in his career, the ending of last season has been a motivating factor not just for Nemeth, but the entire Huskies squad.

“It’s been a long 12 months because of how last year’s (district title) game ended,” Valesko said. “We’ve not shied away from talking about it. We were excited to get back here and have another opportunity for Treston to come out and do what he did after last year tells you about him. I’ve said he’s the best hitter in the state of Ohio. I think he’s just the best baseball player in the state.”

Nemeth, who had seemingly every pitch in his repertoire working, was in charge all day long. He had the Cadets off balance and seemingly never fell behind in any count in the gem, which included seven strikeouts.

“My whole mindset was trust the guys behind me and not try to do too much,” Nemeth continued. “I told Coach Valesko after I warmed up, ‘I was dialed in.’ I was just ready to compete.”

Nemeth did more than compete. He dominated the game.

He set the tone in the top of the first in the manner he normally does … with his bat. He ripped a double down the line in left to score Kaden Jurosko who had led off the game with a single.

The Huskies went on to score three runs in the first. Senior Jace Madzia, who has been red hot at the plate in the last couple of weeks, had a RBI single and Nemeth’s battery mate, Anthony Pelegreen, also drove in a run with a base knock.

It was more than enough for Nemeth. He promptly struck out the side in the first inning.

“I didn’t want to get too over the top (after striking out the side),” Nemeth said. “I just wanted to keep a level head. I can’t take all of the credit because my teammates played great defense and just kept battling at the plate, too.”

The Huskies’ offense pounded out 16 hits off of a pair of Fort Frye pitchers. Every spot in the Harrison order at least one base knock and five players had multiple hits.

“We’ve had a good season, but I still didn’t think we had played our best baseball,” Valesko said. “I think we were pretty darn close (Wednesday). To have 16 hits, throw a no hitter, not commit an error is what you want to have happen this time of year. I am just so happy for our guys.”

Nemeth didn’t allow a base runner until he plunked a guy with one out in the third. He then reeled off nine consecutive outs before plunking his second hitter with one out in the sixth.

Meanwhile, Harrison Central’s offense kept adding on.

Freshman Braden Cook drove in a run in the third. In the fourth, Harrison Central scored three more runs on four hits, all of which were doubles. Jurosko had a RBI double down the third-base line. Nemeth and Wyatt Pierce also had RBI doubles in the frame. Reed Arbaugh ignited the rally with a double.

In the sixth, the Huskies pushed across the final three runs of the game. Cook drove in a run and Cabot Arbaugh had a seeing-eye single into left to drive in a run.

“We kept believing and kept fighting,” Valesko said. “We had a really good practice (Tuesday) and came ready to play. I thought we’d play well, but I didn’t know we’d play this well.”

Nemeth recorded two strikeouts and induced a come backer, which he flipped to Arbaugh to set off the celebration.

As for what lies ahead, Harrison Central will take on the winner of today’s Southeast District 1 championship game between Winchester Eastern and Minford in the regional semifinal at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus.

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