As the high school baseball season enters its final two weeks, Ohio's top programs are sharpening their claws for the playoff gauntlet ahead. The best way to prepare? Schedule the toughest opponents you can find. That's exactly what happened Wednesday night, when Division I's No. 1 team, Centerville, hosted Division II's No. 2 squad, Troy, in a postseason tuneup that felt like a championship preview.
The Elks emerged with a commanding 6-0 victory at Engleka-Dickten Field, but the scoreboard only tells part of the story. These two powerhouses entered the game with a combined record of 41-4, having outscored opponents 432 to 108. When elite teams clash this late in the season, it's a mutual sign of respect—and a strategic move to get playoff-ready.
"I could go out and try to win 25 games every year if I wanted to schedule teams that weren't competitive," said Troy coach Ty Welker. "I asked the guys if they wanted to run-rule every team or if they wanted to play teams that are going to make us better. Playing teams like Centerville is a challenge for our guys, but I think it's going to pay off."
Centerville coach Jason Whited took a playoff-caliber approach to the matchup. The Elks played station-to-station baseball, executing five sacrifice bunts and relying on small-ball tactics to manufacture runs. Senior pitcher Luke "Magic" Maciejewski delivered a complete-game three-hitter, keeping the Trojans' offense in check all night.
"That's the approach we take offensively, and that's how you win close games in the playoffs," Whited said. "You're not going to get as many opportunities against good teams like Troy, so you have to play run by run. Then, one run can turn into three and you have a big inning."
That big inning came in the bottom of the second. After a Troy fielding miscue, Centerville loaded the bases with a series of well-placed bunts and singles. Joey Kristbaum opened the scoring with a two-out single, and Colten Burleson delivered the knockout blow—a three-run double into the gap that cleared the bases and gave the Elks a commanding lead. They added single runs in the third and sixth to seal the win.
For fans of high school baseball—and anyone who loves seeing future stars in action—this was a glimpse of what October baseball looks like in Ohio. When two of the state's top teams meet in a non-league game with playoff intensity, it's a reminder that the best preparation for big moments is playing in them. And for Centerville and Troy, that preparation is paying off just in time for the postseason push.