Terra State Community College baseball has a lot to celebrate—and one very special person to honor. The Titans captured the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference championship this season, but the victory carries extra meaning as it marks a farewell to retiring head coach Gregg Hedden.

The team took three of four games from Owens Community College to secure the title, which was especially sweet after the conference split into two divisions. Every game was a battle, but Terra State proved they had what it takes to come out on top.

At the heart of the lineup is sophomore Jax LaPata, a Bellevue graduate who missed his final two high school seasons due to a knee injury. Now playing right field for the Titans, he's making up for lost time—even if it means wearing more than a few bruises. LaPata has been hit by 13 pitches this season, a testament to his willingness to do whatever it takes. "I just do what I can to help the team win," he says. "It's been a good year overall."

LaPata delivered an RBI double in the series-opening win, but the story is bigger than any single player. When Hedden announced his retirement in the fall, the team knew they wanted to send him out in style. "We want to do it for ourselves, obviously, and for each other," LaPata explains. "But we want to do it for him. He's a big part of the program. He got his 100th win this season. Seeing his smile, we all enjoyed that moment. We won the conference for him; hopefully we can ride this out a little longer."

The pitching staff rose to the occasion in the championship series. Hansen Huth (Medina) and Cody Lindsey (Bellevue) each threw complete-game victories, while a committee of five pitchers combined for another win. Nathan Cunningham (Marion Harding) earned praise for shutting the door when it mattered most.

Now the Titans turn their attention to the Region 12 tournament, which starts Wednesday. The ultimate goal? The College World Series. "We're looking to keep the momentum going," LaPata says. "One step at a time, we have to be where our feet are now."

For a team playing for each other—and for a retiring coach who has given so much—Terra State's championship run is just getting started.