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Woodmore senior catcher Jake Zollinger figured he was getting the chance of a lifetime last spring when the Wildcats played Port Clinton at Fifth Third Field, the home of the Mud Hens.
“Right when you walk into that stadium, you get chills,” Zollinger said. “Just playing in that kind of atmosphere on that kind of ball diamond ... you go to those games and see minor league players play on that. You hardly ever get that chance in high school.”
Zollinger had two hits at Fifth Third Field last year as the Wildcats beat Port Clinton on a squeeze play in the final inning.
“I led off that inning and got a hit and then stole second,” Zollinger said. “I think they walked somebody and then Cameron Shirer bunted me in. It was pretty unbelievable. It's something you can't really explain when you walk in the batter's box. You see that big stadium around you, there's not a word to explain the feeling you get.”
Woodmore is heading back to Fifth Third Field again this year. The 'Cats will play Oak Harbor on Saturday, April 16 at 10 a.m.
“It was very exciting last year,” Woodmore coach Todd Bringman said. “It's a beautiful facility. The kids really enjoyed it.”
Woodmore players are selling $12 ticket vouchers for Mud Hens games. The tickets cost $9, with $3 going to support Woodmore baseball.
Oak Harbor, which is also selling ticket vouchers for Mud Hens games, will play at Fifth Third Field for the third straight year. The Rockets beat Lakota in five innings last year and beat Port Clinton two years ago.
“You have to sell 300 ticket vouchers,” Oak Harbor coach Rob Schimmoeller said. “The Mud Hens give them to you around October or November, and basically you get up until game time to sell 300 vouchers. The ticket value is $9 and we sold ours for $10. Last year against Lakota we sold ours for $10 and Lakota sold theirs for $12. We just use it as a fundraiser for the program. They're always eager to sell the vouchers for the opportunity to play there.”
Oak Harbor senior shortstop Josh Warnke, a four-year starter, got a chance to pitch against Port Clinton at Fifth Third Field in 2009 and closed out the win over the rival Redskins.
“It's exciting,” Warnke said. “You never really experience anything like that, playing on a professional field in front of a bunch of people. At first I was nervous because that was my first time playing there. Once you get in the flow of the game, after the first pitch, I wasn't nervous. I just went out and played.”
Warnke, who has committed to play at Baldwin-Wallace College next season, said he's sold 10 ticket vouchers as of March 30.
“We're very eager (to sell them),” Warnke said, “just because it's a great experience to play at Fifth Third and it's my senior year.”
Warnke played shortstop in the win over Lakota at Fifth Third Field last season. He said he approached playing on the Mud Hens' turf just like he would if he was playing at Oak Harbor.
“It's nothing different, just a top-of-the-line field,” Warnke said. “You know you won't get bad hops. You still have to be focused and field the ball and make the plays.”
Gibsonburg will play Lakota at Fifth Third Field on Monday, April 28, at 4:45 p.m. The Golden Bears have never played at the downtown Toledo stadium.
“It will be neat to play there on the big field,” Gibsonburg coach Kyle Rase said. “I thought it would be a neat experience for all the kids to do, be in that environment that they normally wouldn't be in. They go to games in the summer and eventually they'll take their kids there and tell them they played there.
“It's just a neat experience and it's all about having experiences and having fun. It will be fun to play Lakota. That's a close neighboring school and the players know each other.”
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