Mediapolis topples MFL MarMac in pitching duel

SOLON — In a battle between Bulldogs it was fitting that a pair of bull dogs took the mound.

The aces didn’t disappoint in an epic pitcher’s duel.

MFL MarMac, seeking its first trip to state since 1977, ultimately fell short. Fifth-ranked Mediapolis escaped with a 2-0 win in a Class 2A substate final Tuesday night in Solon.

“It sucks now, but try to look at all the positive things these guys did for the program,” MFL MarMac Coach Paul Gordon said.

“This group of seniors has really moved our program forward. They’ve had a great career. Four or five wins short of 100 for their career, three seasons in a row with 20 wins, two district championships.”

To break through and reach Carrol, MFL MarMac needed to get through Mediapolis (27-2) and their ace, Lance Ludens. Ludens came into the night with a sparkling 10-0 record. From the onset, he was crisp. The fastball had zip, and any attempts to time it were thwarted by a solid curveball.

Ludens made quick work of MFL MarMac (24-7) the first time through the order, striking out five without allowing a hit through three innings.

“My adrenaline was going,” Ludens said. “Beautiful field, substate final, just trying to ramp it up a little bit.”

On the other side, MFL MarMac countered with their own No. 1. Parker Kuehl put up strong opposition. The lefty matched Ludens zero-for-zero in the early going.

“(Luden’s) a hell of a pitcher,” Kuehl said. “They’re a pretty evenly matched team with us. I think if we played 10 games they’d win five and we’d win five.”

Mediapolis cleanup hitter Kyler Crow led off the fourth inning. Facing a 1-2 count, Kuehl left one up in the zone and Crow capitalized, sending a ball over the wall in left center to break the deadlock. It was Crow's second home run of the season.

Following a flyout, two consecutive MFL MarMac errors put runners on first and second. Braden Oliver singled to right to give Mediapolis further cushion.

Ludens kept rolling with a five-pitch fifth inning and set the top of the MFL MarMac lineup down in order in the top of the sixth.

Kuehl kept MFL MarMac in it. Saving his strongest inning for last, Kuehl struck out Ludens to end the fifth. Ludens brought a .534 batting average. Kuehl proceeded to strike out two more in the bottom of the sixth to give his team a chance.

“(Parker) did a great job,” Gordon said. “All season long. Two great pitchers out there.”

Ben Krambeer led off the top of the seventh with a single to left. Jaxon Millage followed with a single to right. It was the first pressure Ludens faced all night.

Pinch hitter Wesley Corlett hit into a fielder’s choice, leaving runners at first and third with one out.

“They kept fighting until the end,” Gordon said. “We had some runners on base. It’s just a game of inches.”

Ludens buckled down. He struck out Jaron Wille and induced a flyout to right from Tyce Wikner to end the game.

“I’m just trying to stay calm,” Ludens said. “I’m not trying to do anything extra, trying too hard, throwing the ball away. I’m confident in my defense. They can work behind me. I was a little worried, but just staying calm.”

Ludens finished with a four-hit shutout and nine strikeouts. He lowered his season ERA to 1.09.

Neither pitcher faced a three-ball count all night.

“Obviously right now it stings a little bit,” Kuehl said. “The sun is gonna rise tomorrow. We put in a lot of hard work and playing this game is going to prepare us for the next chapter of our lives.”

Mediapolis advances to the state tournament for the second time in school history and first since 2015.