(This may be better viewed on tablet or laptop – it’s a very long article – Photos at the very end)

10 years ago the Tinora Rams brought home the 2014 OHSAA DIV IV State Championship in baseball, their first in school history.

Below we will recap the Rams run to the Championship through my thoughts, radio calls, newspaper, and online articles, highlight videos and photos. Enjoy!

Tinora Rams Live – Keith Brown
On June 7, 2014, from Huntington Park in Columbus, with two out in the bottom of the 7th inning, Clay Pittman drove home EJ Kissel from second base with the winning run in the Rams thrilling 4-3 victory vs Newark Catholic.

The win capped the Rams 25-4 season. Tinora finished 6-1 in the GMC, second behind Fairview.

The Rams entered the 2014 season off three straight trips to the OHSAA Final Four in DIV IV. Unfortunately for Tinora, the Rams came up short in the three previous state semi-final appearances.

The 2014 team had a mixture of seasoned veterans and a sprinkle of talented underclassmen as Tinora looked to get back to Columbus for the fourth straight season.

The Rams saw their ace, Reid Renollet, unable to pitch most of the season. Picking up the innings for most of the regular season was a combo of Clay Pittman, Derek Drewes, EJ Kissel, Austin Mahan, and a new recent addition, Izzy Martinez.

As the season progressed, outside of Pittman on the hill, Martinez may have been the most important hurler of the season for Tinora. Martinez picked the innings Renollet was unable to throw, and came through in each and every start he had in 2014.

Fairview ended the Rams run of five straight GMC titles with a 4-2 win at Tinora midway through the regular season.

After a late-season 6-1 loss to Archbold, the Tinora bats would gear up for what they hoped would be a long postseason run. The Rams would outscore their opponents 93-11 over the final five games.

As documented in some of the archived articles below, the Rams postseason run almost ended early in heartbreak as they were down to their last strike in the Bryan District Semi-Finals vs Hicksville. Fortunately, the Rams rallied and slipped by the Aces in a last at-bat win before defeating Ayersville in the District Finals on a one-hitter by Clay Pittman.

Tinora would cruise through the Patrick Henry Regionals, winning both games over Toledo Christian and Patrick Henry in 5 innings.

The Championship game saw more thrilling play. Tinora again was one strike away, this time from winning the Championship, before a two-out infield single by Newark Catholic tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the 7th. And the play no one will forget, Clay Pittman singled in EJ Kissel with the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the 7th for the Rams State Title. (video and articles below)

What a day it was, and still is……..10 years later! A look back in time……………………back to 2014 we go.

Postseason honors for the team are listed below:

The GMC 2014 Player of the Year was Derek Drewes.
Drewes hit .500, had 45 hits, and 42 RBIs. Reid Renollet and Clay Pittman were also named to the first team ALL GMC Team. 2nd team GMC Team members were Brevin Renollet & EJ Kissel. Logan Dickerson was an Honorable Mention.
Clay, Derek, and Reid were all named First Team All-Ohio in DIV IV in 2014.

Clay is currently 7th on the OHSAA All-Time career hit list, and 6th in career RBI in Ohio high school baseball history.

Tinora head coach Brent Renollet is still with the Rams, he has an overall record of 463-183 overall in 26 years, in his 24 years at Tinora, BR has a record of 425-157, with 10 GMC titles.

Coach Carey, Tipton, and Henry still remain on the staff. Former Final 4 players Reid Anders and Chris Wityk are on the coaching staff as well.

**Official OHSAA pics from the Championship game, click to view. (available for purchase)
https://impactactionsportsphotography.zenfolio.com/p65045123

A big thank you to Adam Gubernath, who took the time to find his play-by-play calls from the semi-finals and Championship games. Both original radio calls are provided below.

I am extremely grateful to Adam for obtaining these for us. Enjoy the listen back!!
And yes, it’s ok to get chills and even shed a tear.

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Below are some archived articles documenting the Semi-Finals, the Finals, and the District thriller vs. Hicksville.

THE TINORA RAMS STEAL HOME IN SEMIS (TWICE) AND WALK-OFF IN FINALS

By Dylan Hefflinger and PBR Staff
Ohio Editor in Chief/NW Scout

Two of the most exciting games that I have ever covered happened in Columbus at the 2014 OHSAA State Tournament, and both featured the Tinora Rams.

The Rams reached Columbus three seasons in a row (2011, 12, 13) but had never won a game at the state Final Four … until 2014.

For the fourth consecutive year the Rams reached Columbus with one of, if not the, most talented team in school history.

Tinora featured a trio of seniors that could have started for any team at state in any division. Clay Pittman (C/RHP, San Jacinto commit), Derek Drewes (SS, BGSU commit) and Reid Renollet (LHP/CF, Findlay commit) had all been to Columbus three times prior to 2014 and were hungry to get their first win at state.

The Rams also featured some talented underclassmen in E.J. Kissel (2015, RHP/C, Lincoln Trail commit), Brevin Renollet (2016, 3B/RHP) and Dakota Stark (2016, INF).

Tinora also had a coach in Brent Renollet who has won more than 300 games in his coaching career.

The Rams, in spite of a number of injuries, finished the regular season 16-4 and were primed to make another tournament run.

After breezing through the sectional final 10-0, the Rams had to claw to a 7-6 victory over Hicksville. It was a game Tinora trailed 6-5 heading into the bottom of the seventh.

Brevin Renollet led off the frame with a single and a strikeout/passed ball and a walk loaded the bases. However, a strikeout and foul out left the bases full with two outs. On a 1-2 pitch to Kissel, a balk resulted in the tying run crossing home plate. Kissel eventually reached on a free pass to reload the bases and Reid Renollet walked on a 3-2 pitch to give Tinora the win.

It was a sign of things to come later on in the tournament for the Rams.

In the district finals, Pittman was brilliant, as the righty threw a one-hit shutout against rival and No. 14 ranked Ayersville as seen here.

After defeating Toledo Christian 10-0 in the regional semis and the 18th-ranked Patrick Henry Patriots 14-0 in the regional final, the Rams were off to their fourth consecutive trip to the state Final Four.

Tinora going to state for 4th year in a row

But this time it was going to be different for Tinora.

In the state semifinals, the Rams did the impossible and stole home twice in one game in a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over No. 10 ranked Convoy Crestview.

In the sixth inning and down 3-1, Pittman started the frame off with a single to center and moved to second on a single by Drewes. Brevin Renollet laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up with the Rams trailing by two.

Stark flew out to right field allowing Pittman to score and Drewes to move up to third which set up something special.

On a 3-0 pitch, Drewes saw that Crestview LHP Damian Helm was working from the windup and decided to pull his best “Benny ‘The Jet’ Rodriguez” and stole home, sliding in safely just as the ball crossed the plate. The amazing steal of home tied the state semifinal at 3-3.

But that was not even the most dramatic moment of the game, that was still an inning away.

With the bases loaded and a 1-2 count with two outs and the scored deadlocked 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Tinora senior Logan Dickerson (who led off the inning with a double) attempted to steal home. Dickerson appeared to be a dead duck, but Crestview catcher Nate Owens was unable to handle the ball allowing Dickerson to slide in safely with the game-winning run, moving Tinora into the state finals.

Now after that thrilling victory in the state semifinals, the Rams had to go up against state power Newark Catholic (7 state championships, 14 state appearances).

This also pitted the top two teams in the preseason rankings, as the Green Wave started the season at number one while the Rams were ranked second as seen here. At the end of the regular season, the Green Wave were ranked 10th (due to an extremely hard schedule) and the Rams were ranked 3rd. To view the final regular season rankings please click here.

In a game between the two most talented teams in Division IV, the state finals lived up to the hype as the D-IV championship had one of the most dramatic finishes in state final history.

In the seventh inning with the Rams up 3-2 and Newark Catholic down to its final three outs, the Green Wave found a way to score one run and tie the game.

A lead-off walk by sophomore Mitch Lohr and a sacrifice bunt by senior Mike Lohr started the frame.

After a fly out, BGSU commit Hunter Nance came to the plate and on a 2-2 pitch dribbled a high hopper over Pittman on the mound to second baseman Brevin Renollet, who made a nice play to field the ball. However, on the quick throw to first was off line a bit allowing Hunter to reach on an infield single.

The throw allowed Mitch Lohr to score from second, tying the game at 3-3 to set up a drama-filled bottom of the seventh.

After two quick outs in the last of the seventh, the Rams were back at the top of the lineup where junior E.J. Kissel was hit by a pitch in the shoulder on a 2-1 pitch to bring up Reid Renollet.

This at-bat will be talked about at Newark Catholic for years, as on a 0-1 pitch (after a dropped pop up in foul territory that could have gotten the Green Wave out of the inning) Renollet squared to bunt, pulled the bat back and was hit on the foot to put two on with Pittman coming to the plate.

*I hear from people who have watched the video and saw with their own eyes that say the ball never hit Renollet. I know Reid pretty well, he said the ball hit him. I believe the young student-athlete and watched the video myself in slow-mo more than 20 times and feel it glanced off the top of his cleat. But those at Newark Catholic surely remain uncertain.

The game went on with Pittman at the plate and on an 0-1 count the San Jacinto JUCO commit laced a single to left. Kissel raced around third without any hesitation and headed for home. The throw from left bounced in front of the Newark Catholic third baseman and Kissel was able to slide in to score the winning run (pictured below). To read the entire state final story please click here.

On the season, the Rams outscored their opponents 269-79 including 58-13 during their tournament run. Clay Pittman took home the Top 22 All-Tournament Team MVP while Derek Drewes, E.J. Kissel and Brevin Renollet all made the all-tourney team.

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State baseball: Gutsy calls give Tinora D-IV title shot

By BRUCE HEFFLINGER
Jun 6, 2014
COLUMBUS — Gutsy or what?

“I don’t know about guts, but that’s how we wanted to play,” Tinora coach Brent Renollet said about stealing home in each of the final two innings of the Division IV state semifinals to rally past Crestview, 4-3.

Derek Drewes did it in the sixth and Logan Dickerson in the seventh, both with two outs, to send the Rams into Saturday’s state finals after losing in the state semifinals in each of the past three seasons.

“We have seven seniors and both of them that stole home were seniors,” Renollet said. “They’ve been through it.”

But stealing home with the game on the line in the state semifinals?

“We had to stay aggressive to stay in this game,” Dickerson said.

The senior left fielder did just that to open the seventh with a double on a 1-2 pitch after fanning twice before in the game.

“He got down on himself a little and we said to him it only takes one,” Drewes said. “That was the biggest hit of the game, at least one of them.”

Eventually at third with the bases loaded and two outs, Dickerson, who had three stolen bases on the season coming in, managed to reach home on a low and inside 1-2 pitch to Brevin Renollet.

“I saw him go and was thinking get there before the ball,” said winning pitcher Clay Pittman, who was on second base when Dickerson scored the game-winning run. “I saw him (Crestview catcher Nate Owens) juggle it and I said ‘Yeah, please touch home plate.

“It’s just an unbelievable feeling, I can’t explain it.”

Crestview veteran coach Jim Wharton had just gone out to talk to his team prior to the final play.

“We anticipated that,” Crestview coach Wharton said of the steal attempt of home. “We talked about them being aggressive on the bases.”

The Rams were never more aggressive than an inning earlier with Drewes doing the damage.

Down 3-2 with two outs and Drewes standing on third, Logan Bailey took a 3-0 low inside pitch from Damian Helm that bounced in the dirt as Drewes slid in with the tying run to the surprise of nearly everyone in Huntington Park.

“That first one caught us off guard,” admitted Wharton about the two steals of home. “My hats off to Tinora. That was a great gutsy call by coach Renollet.

“We knew coming in they would have to do things unorthodox and they were 2-0 on it.”

It helped overcome a two-run deficit heading into the bottom of the sixth.

“We were down a bit in the dugout, but it was only two runs,” Drewes explained. “I huddled the team and we got behind each other.”

Once the Rams evened the game at 3-3 in the last of the sixth, Pittman was more than confident going out to the mound for the seventh.

“When we tied it at 3-3 there was no doubt in my mind we had it,” said the senior hurler, who reached base on each of his last three trips to the plate. “I just had to take care of getting the last three outs.”

Pittman did just that and – call it gutsy or just being aggressive – Dickerson closed things out in the bottom of the inning.

State Semi-Finals highlights, click below:

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Rams refuse to be denied in state trip No. 4

• By BRUCE HEFFLINGER
• Jun 7, 2014

COLUMBUS — After failing to win a game the past three years in the state baseball tournament, the Rams of Tinora were not to be denied in trip number four.

Credit goes to head coach Brent Renollet, his staff and a group of players willing to do what it takes to bring home the hardware that goes to the best Division IV team in the state of Ohio.

“This is pretty special,” Renollet said after a 4-3 win over perennial state power Newark Catholic for the championship.

When your oldest son, Reid, and six of his classmates are key components to the team how can it be anything but special?

“The other six seniors are like sons to me,” the Tinora coach said after the thrilling victory that culminated with EJ Kissel sliding home with the game-winning run on a single to left field by Clay Pittman with two away in the bottom of the seventh inning. “It’s so great to end on a happy note for these seven.”

After winning by an identical 4-3 final on Thursday – with the last two runs scored on steals of home – it was hard to imagine topping that excitement in the championship game.

But Saturday was everything that Thursday was and then some. After all, Saturday’s contest was for a state title, something never done before in the sport of baseball at Tinora. Adding to it all, the Rams were playing defending state champion Newark Catholic, which was making its 14th appearance at the state baseball tournament and seeking title number eight.

The Newark Catholic magic was there again when the Green Wave, down to their last strike, tied the game in the top of the seventh inning.

With two outs and nobody on base in the last of the seventh for the Rams, extra innings appeared imminent. But down in the count 1-2, Kissel reached first when hit by a pitch as the drama began to build.

“I was down in the count 1-2 and just thinking get on any way you can,” the Tinora junior reflected. “I had trust in Reid.”

The frame looked about to end, however, when Reid Renollet hit a foul ball that the Newark Catholic third baseman ran under, only to drop the ball giving second life to the Tinora two-hole hitter.

With Kissel running on the next offering home, Renollet was hit by another pitch from Newark Catholic relief pitcher Rob Engel, bringing Pittman to the plate.

“I’d rather have Clay hit then me,” Renollet said with a grin after the game.

Pittman then did what everyone rooting for the Rams wanted – and expected – with a grounder between Newark Catholic shortstop Tanner Lake and third baseman Gabe Morris. Left fielder Jake Wollenburg charged the ball and fired home to catcher Mitch Lohr as Kissel never slowed down rounding third.

“When the throw came in I thought if they cut it he’s done,” Pittman said of watching Kissel heading home on the play. “When I saw the ball take a bad bounce, I thought It’s going to happen. We’re going to do it. It’s unbelievable.”

Kissel, like his teammates all tournament long, were not to be denied and slid home safely as on-deck hitter Derek Drewes raced in to embrace Kissel as the celebration began.

“Getting over that first game gave us a lot more confidence,” Pittman said of beating Crestview on Thursday. “Then when we looked at the scouting report (on Newark Catholic), I looked toward Derek and said, ‘this is the year.’ “

Quite a culmination of a high school career for Pittman, Drewes and company – one that ended each season in Columbus.

“It’s been awesome playing together with these guys since I can remember,” Drewes said. “This is the last time we get to play together and that’s sad, but to go out with a win

“It’s what we’ve wanted to do since the beginning of the season. It’s been our goal.”

A goal that has finally been met.

State Championship highlights, click below:

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D-IV district baseball: Tinora, Ayersville advance

By BRUCE HEFFLINGER
May 23, 2014
BRYAN — Tinora and Ayersville will meet again.

The Rams and Pilots set up another district championship game with victories on Thursday in Division IV play at Sumpter Field. Tinora used a balk and a walk-off walk to rally past Hicksville 7-6 while Ayersville held off Edon for a 3-2 win in the nightcap.

Tinora was one strike away from seeing its season come to a close before the dramatic win in the first game.

“We escaped,” Tinora coach Brent Renollet said of his team’s chance of making it to state a fourth straight year staying alive.

Down 6-5 entering the last of the seventh, Brevin Renollet hit a single up the middle and stole second to start the rally. Dakota Stark struck out, but reached on a passed ball before a walk to Logan Bailey loaded the bases.

After a meeting at the mound, Hicksville hurler Wes Perry recorded a strikeout and foul out to Kaleb Johns at catcher. Then with a 1-2 count on EJ Kissel, Perry was called for a balk bringing in Renollet with the tying run.

“They said he didn’t come set,” Hicksville coach Tim Shock said of what the umpires told him. “I didn’t see it, but I’m sure he was jacked up.”

Kissel then proceeded to walk to load the bases and Reid Renollet followed with a walk-off walk on a 3-2 pitch, sending the Tinora faithful into a frenzy.

“I thought the balk was a good call,” the Tinora coach said. “I felt he did it 10 times before. But give him credit and give Hicksville credit for coming back. That happens in the tournament. Their kid pitched a heck of a game. He really gutted it out.

“Brevin got a nice hit to start the inning and we some quality at-bats there at the end. EJ had a great at-bat and Reid’s played enough ball to know what’s a strike.”

The Rams appeared to have the game in hand leading 5-1 heading to the seventh inning behind the pitching of Izzy Martinez. But the gutsy Aces did not give up.

A walk to pinch hitter Brett Tollas and a Dakota Harvey single, his third of the game, ended the night for Martinez.

Danny Captain greeted Derek Drewes with a pinch hit single to right before Philip Karacson hit a high chopper toward third. Drewes fielded the ball and fired home but the ball eluded Clay Pittman trimming the deficit to 5-3 with two on and no outs. A throwing error allowed the Aces to even the score on a Kaleb Johns’ grounder and Johns put Hicksville in front on a ground out by Dominc Harvey, just beating the throw home from Bailey at first base.

“I’m proud of these guys, we just couldn’t finish,” Shock said after his squad closed out the season at 9-12. “My hats off to them.

“We played up the underdog thing, nobody gave us a chance. We were right there but it’s kind of like it’s been all year., we just can’t finish. It’s a combination of things, part of it being young, but we’ll learn from it.”

Both teams scored in the first, the Aces on a Tinora error and the Rams on a Drewes’ ground out. Tinora then went in front with three in the third featuring an RBI grounder by Stark and RBI hits from Bailey and Austin Mahan.

Brevin Renollet made it 5-1 in the fourth with a run-scoring single, before coming up with an even bigger hit to open the Tinora seventh.

“I just tried to get on any way I could,” Brevin Renollet said about the last at-bat. “We had one at-bat left and we had to make it count.”

Linescores

Hicksville 100 000 5 – 6 7 0
Tinora 103 100 2 – 7 8 5

Records: Tinora 20-4, Hicksville 9-12.

Winning pitcher: Clay Pittman (1 inning, 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 strikeout, 0 walks). Others: Izzy Martinez, Derek Drewes.

Losing pitcher: Wes Perry (6 2/3 innings, 7 runs, 8 hits, 7 strikeouts, 7 walks, 2 HBP).

Leading hitters: (Hicksville) – Philip Karacson 2 singles; Dakota Harvey 3 singles. (Tinora) – Clay Pittman single, double; Brevin Renollet 2 singles; Austin Mahan double.

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D-IV district baseball: Tinora headed to regionals again

By BRUCE HEFFLINGER
May 24, 2014

BRYAN — Winning district titles is getting habit forming for Tinora.

“It doesn’t get old,” Tinora coach Brent Renollet said after the Rams won their fourth consecutive district baseball championship with a 7-0 victory over Ayersville on Friday at Sumpter Field.

Clay Pittman was nearly perfect and Tinora used a five-run fifth inning to advance to the Division IV regionals at Patrick Henry on Thursday. The Rams will take on Toledo Christian (19-6) at 5 p.m. with Patrick Henry (20-9) and McComb (22-3) meeting in the 2 p.m. contest. The regional final is Friday at 5 p.m.

“It’s nice, but the seniors have been there three times,” Reid Renollet said of making it to regionals. “It’s special, but not our goal. We want to get to Columbus and win there.”

Pittman was a big reason why the Rams are headed to PH. The senior right-hander flirted with a perfect game until a hit batter in the fifth and took a no-hitter into the seventh before Matt Engel lined a single up the middle to lead off the final at-bat of the season for the Pilots.

“I was thinking about it,” Pittman admitted about the chance at a no-hitter. “I was trying not to but I got excited and there you go.

“I didn’t have great stuff but was working on location. You can try to throw the fastball by anybody but if you can locate it, it will work out.”

In moving to 6-1 on the season, Pittman struck out seven and did not walk a batter.

“We’ve got Clay and they don’t,” the Tinora head coach said of beating Ayersville. “He’s played in so many games and just knows how to compete. He doesn’t want anyone to beat him.”

Not when the season was on the line. And it was for the state’s third-ranked team by Prep Baseball Report, scoreless heading into the bottom of the fifth against the 14th-rated Pilots.

“I told the kids it’s okay to get nervous,” the Tinora mentor said about the feeling in the dugout at that time. “Nervous is good, you’ve just got to play through it. If you’re not nervous, you’re not a competitor.”

Designated hitter Austin Mahan started off the Tinora bottom of the fifth with a walk, the same way the senior opened the third inning when Ayersville got out of a two-on, two-out threat by getting Pittman on ground out,

This time, however, Tinora didn’t waste Mahan’s walk.

Logan Dickerson followed with a sacrifice bunt to move Mahan into scoring position.

“That’s his job, he and Logan Dickerson,” Renollet said of the 8-9 hitters in the lineup. “They’re seniors and they know what their job is. You can’t ask for any more out of them then what they give.”

Lead-off hitter EJ Kissel, who had a big day for Tinora with two singles, two runs, two stolen bases and a walk, lined a single to right to advance Mahan, who was nearly picked off rounding third too far. After a Kissel steal, Ayersville smartly brought the infield in but Reid Renollet made the Pilots pay.

The senior left-hander hit a shot too hard to handle for Ayersville second baseman Gage Odom, bringing in the first two runs of the game.

“The time before I hit the first pitch trying to be aggressive,” the Tinora senior said in reference to a grounder to Ayersville pitcher Luke Lawson with runners on first and third in the third. “My dad yelled at me that we need to make a play. I took a pitch this time, but I knew I was there to hit.”

Said the Tinora coach: “I thought about the squeeze the last time Reid was up, but he took a swing at the first pitch. I ripped him, but he’s a good enough hitter to know what needs to be done.”

After Renollet stole second, Pittman hit a high-hop single to left and promptly stole second. Derek Drewes was intentionally walked to load the bases bringing Brevin Renollet to the plate.

This time the Tinora head coach went with the squeeze and his youngest son delivered to score older brother Reid. A Dakota Stark RBI single and a wild pitch added to the lead in the frame.

“The big thing with Tinora is you can’t put the bottom of the order on,” Ayersville coach Chad Donsbach said. “We walked the eight hitter one time and got out of it. We did the same thing again and you’re not going to get through it twice.”

Tinora added two runs in the sixth inning highlighted by a walk to Kissel and a Reid Renollet bunt single that was thrown into right field with nobody covering first.

With Pittman on the mound, the runs were not needed. Ayersville hit balls on the ground for 10 outs in the contest, including five to Drewes at shortstop, and Tinora, which had five errors in a district semifinal win over Hicksville, did not commit any against the Pilots.

“I think it was our inability to make adjustments,” Donsbach said about why his team was unable to hit Pittman. “The first time we faced him in the spring we did a much better job, but for whatever reason this time we didn’t make adjustments.”

It marks the second year in a row Ayersville has been eliminated by Tinora in the district finals, losing 13-8 a year ago.

“I like to compete against good competitors,” Donsbach said of the Rams. “That’s a good measuring stick of where our program needs to go. We’re not there yet, but we’re not that far away.”

It marks the fifth district championship in the last six years for Tinora.

Ayersville 000 000 0 – 0 1 2
Tinora 000 052 x – 7 8 0

Records: Tinora 21-4, Ayersville 19-7.

Winning pitcher: Clay Pittman (7 innings, 0 runs, 1 hit, 7 strikeouts, 0 walks, 1 HBP).

Losing pitcher: Luke Lawson (5 innings, 5 runs, 7 hits, 2 strikeouts, 3 walks). Other: Jacob Kahle.

Leading hitters: (Ayersville) – Matt Engel single. (Tinora) – EJ Kissel 2 singles, 2 runs; Reid Renollet 2 singles, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Clay Pittman 2 singles; Brevin Renollet single; Dakota Start single.

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Tinora coaches big part of success

• By BRUCE HEFFLINGER
• Jun 9, 2014

COLUMBUS — Often overlooked in a team’s success is the coaching staff.

All coaches have their own unique style of getting the job done.

There are those that yell, those that explain and those that are friends. Some tear down, some bring back up and some stay middle ground.

Tinora head baseball coach Brent Renollet can’t say enough about the importance of his staff, which played a big part in helping the Rams take home the Division IV state championship on Saturday.

“Our coaching staff has been with me for a long time,” noted Renollet, who just completed his 16th year at the helm of the program. “They’re a huge part of what we’ve become.”

Tom Henry and Tom Hurtt have helped Renollet since he became head coach at Tinora, though Hurtt stepped away for a two-year period before coming back to the program. Chuck Cary has been an assistant with the Rams for a dozen years while Eric Tipton has been on board for eight. Brock Bergman is the newest addition, moving over from head coach at Edon to become an assistant at Tinora last season.

“They’re good coaches and very knowledgeable,” Renollet said. “It’s enormous for any program to have good coaches and that’s what we have here. They know what to teach without me having to tell them everything.”

That camaraderie is so beneficial in reaching team goals.

“I would guess we have one of the closest staffs in the state,” Tipton said during the celebration following Saturday’s 4-3 win over Newark Catholic in the state title game. “We do a lot of things together. It’s a family thing, no one is better than anyone else. It’s great to be a part of.”

When Renollet took over the program, winning state was far from the thoughts of anybody.

“In 2005 we won a sectional game for the first time in a long time,” pointed out Cary. “We’ve just gotten a little better every year since then. It’s been amazing to see that all of a sudden baseball was important to the kids instead of just something to do in the spring.

“Since then the kids have worked their tails off. BR (Renollet) gets them to work, but we have fun doing it. He makes it just a great atmosphere for the kids and the coaches.”

Tipton was a player at Paulding in Renollet’s early stages as head coach.

“From where it was when I was in high school in ’01 and ’02 to where it is now … what a great baseball coach,” Tipton said. “He’s built the program from the bottom up and Tinora is reaping the benefits of it. We’re just here to help.”

It’s the kind of help Renollet could not do without.

“These guys just know how to help kids,” Renollet said. “We don’t have certain areas we specialize in, we help in every area. When somebody pitches well we joke that we’re the pitching coach, There are no egos. It’s just an awesome staff that is very loyal.

“We’re all here for the same reason. We’re here for the kids and we want to win.”

Relating to players can be a daunting task, especially over time. One era of kids is certainly different than another, yet the Tinora staff has no problem.

“Our kids respect every coach, not only that, but they like them,” Renollet said. “We don’t do bad cop-good cop. If anyone’s bad cop it’s me.

“Tip calls the pitches and Chuck calls them sometimes. I’ve done it before and Brock did it at Edon. We’ll get it done some how, some way.”

The players understand the quality of coaches on the staff.

“These coaches are awesome,” noted Derek Drewes, one of the vocal leaders on the team. “We’re so lucky to have coaches that not only know the game but love the game. They want to win as bad as we do and they just do a great job of leading us.”

A program that once was at the bottom, has now made it to the top of the state thanks to a coaching staff led by Renollet.

“This is the best thing ever,” senior Reid Renollet said after winning state. “It’s not about me, either. My dad deserves this more than anybody. I’m so happy for him.”

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Tinora baseball: Seniors leaving a legacy

By BRUCE HEFFLINGER
May 8, 2014

In one month, the state baseball tournament will be held in Columbus. Getting there is never easy, but Tinora hopes to make a trip for the fourth consecutive season.

Winning at state is about the only thing Derek Drewes, Clay Pittman and Reid Renollet have not accomplished in what has become a record-setting career for the Tinora seniors.

“Our goal from day one this season has been to win state,” said Drewes, who has been a starter the past three years when the Rams lost in the state semifinals.

A goal that was never considered before the trio became students in the hallways of the Defiance County school.

EARLY DAYS

“When I started coaching we had no outfield fence here,” noted 16th-year Tinora head coach Brent Renollet. “There was no scoreboard and no grass in the infield.”

But somehow, the Rams have turned into a state power.

“We never dreamed of going to state in baseball,” Renollet said in reflecting back to the early days of playing ball.

Added Drewes: “In junior high we were not very good.”

That changed three years ago when the Rams reached the state tournament for the first time in school history.

“The seniors that year were great leaders,” noted Drewes, a starting left fielder as a freshman that season. “They showed what it takes to get to Columbus.”

It changed the mentality of the program.

“Coming into our freshman year our goal was to win the GMC,” Reid Renollet said. “Since going to state we’ve found out we’re as good as everybody else in Ohio. Since then, our goal has been to get back there and win state.”

IMPROVEMENT

Not resting on previous accomplishments is key to future success. And this year’s senior leaders are proof.

“Through the years I’ve worked hard to get better and better,” explained Pittman, a career .487 hitter with the Rams. “I try to do what I can to help out the others, be it helping them in practice or coming to my house to take extra BP. I not only try to make myself better, but the people around me.”

One area stands out when it comes to improved play.

“Confidence is a big key,” said Drewes, who has hit better than .400 every season at Tinora. “It’s not that you’re scared as a freshman, but you’re not as confident against the pitching you see like you are now.”

And it’s more than just on the field.

“I’ve worked on the more mental part of the game,” noted Renollet, a first-team all-state selection last year. “It’s a lot of the little things you wouldn’t think of when you’re younger. It helped that the seniors my sophomore year want us to be more successful than they were. No one was unselfish.”

ALL ABOUT TEAM

That team mentality continues today.

“We want the same thing for the younger kids now,” the younger Renollet said about continued success. “Us three get the hype and the glory and the press, but the other seniors have done just as much as we’ve done. They don’t do anything different than we do. We wouldn’t get the recognition if not for them and we wouldn’t get to state if they weren’t with us.”

That includes Logan Dickerson, Austin Mahan, Izzy Martinez and Tyler Fickel.

“Guys like Logan and Austin are a big part of our success,” added the Tinora head coach, whose team is currently 13-4 and ranked second in the state in Division IV by Prep Baseball Report.

Setting an example for teammates is an important part of the success.

“We take pride in being the hardest workers on the team,” Drewes said. “It (success) doesn’t come easy.”

Added Reid Renollet: “When the underclassmen see us doing it, they’ll do it.”

Which is something any head coach can appreciate.

“When your best players are the hardest workers, that’s when you have success,” the Tinora skipper said.

SUMMER TIME

The hard work doesn’t just take place during the season.

Pittman was a member of a travel team from southern California and played in Georgia and Florida. He was home for just two days last summer.

“You see as much pitching as you can,” Pittman said of how the travel ball helps. “You also see all the other great talent out there. When you play with those types of players it builds your confidence.”

It left an impression on the Tinora head coach.

“Clay probably plays more baseball than anyone else in northwest Ohio,” said BR, the name most call the Tinora mentor. “One fall he went to Georgia to play four or five games every weekend.”

Drewes, a three-sports standout who was first team all-state in football and basketball this school year, had less free time for baseball last summer but worked it into a busy schedule.

“I went to Georgia with Clay to play in one tournament,” Drewes noted. “There were a lot of good players there and that helps you become better.

“I played with the River Dogs this past summer and also went to a big (Prep Baseball Report) showcase in Illinois called the Future Games. That was a great experience with a lot of really good players there.”

Renollet was busy as well playing ball last summer as part of the Napoleon River Bandits American Legion team.

“We traveled everywhere,” the Tinora center fielder and pitcher said of playing 67 games in a span of three-plus months. “We won state and the regional and went to the World Series. It was a total experience. Playing against the best kids in the country gave me confidence I can compete with anyone.”

BY THE NUMBERS

The hard work has resulted in some impressive numbers by the Tinora trio, none more than an 83-20 team record the past four years. But there are also individuals numbers that stand out.

Pittman, who has signed to play baseball at San Jacinto College in Texas, holds numerous school season records including at-bats, hits, RBIs and batting average. The right-handed hitting catcher and pitcher has a career batting mark of .487 with nine home runs, 142 RBIs and 120 runs scored along with 65 walks.

In addition, Pittman is 12-2 on the mound, including 4-1 this season with a 0.00 ERA.

Renollet has also been successful as a pitcher, yet to taste defeat in his time on the hill. The left-hander, who has been limited in innings pitched due to arm issues, has a career mark of 9-0 with an ERA of 1.89.

At the plate, Renollet has a career batting average of .380 with an outstanding .547 on-base percentage. The left-handed two-hole hitter has scored 74 runs the past three seasons with 47 walks.

Drewes, like Renollet a left-handed stick, has numbers that stand out as well. The Tinora clean-up hitter is currently batting .490 this season to up his career mark to .460. Drewes has a school-record 32 doubles and 12 triples for his career while driving in 101 runs and scoring 106.

“With these three, we’re alarmed when they fail,” the Tinora head coach said. “They did it before and all three expect to get a hit every time up. It’s a lot of pressure.”

CONFERENCE PLAY

Every year there has been pressure to keep alive a Green Meadows Conference winning streak. What became a 36-game GMC winning streak came to an end a year ago when Fairview beat the Rams late in the season after Tinora had already locked up a GMC title.

But this year the Apaches not only defeated the Rams in league play, but ended Tinora’s streak of five consecutive GMC baseball championships.

“Losing the GMC is good and bad,” Pittman explained. “It’s a teaching moment. You can’t just go out there and expect to win. Every game is not going to be easy.”

But the main goal for 2014 remains.

“At the beginning of the season when we talked about goals not one person said winning the GMC,” Reid Renollet said. “Everybody looked at going back to state.”

Something Drewes wants to enjoy one more time.

“We know what we want to accomplish,” the standout shortstop said. “We’ve been close the last three years. Hopefully, losing the GMC puts a little fire in us and we want to win state even more.”

WINDING DOWN

With the sectional tournament ready to begin, pressure comes with the territory.

“There are a little nerves … and a lot of emotions,” Pittman said of being a senior come tourney time. “Everything’s amped up.”

After all …

“One loss and you’re done,” Renollet said. “In previous years at least you get to come back (for another season).”

But this group has never tasted tournament defeat until state.

“We get a little more excited come tournament time,” Drewes admitted. “We know what’s at stake.”

Unlike in the GMC during the regular season, a loss in the tourney means the end of the line for the Tinora seniors.

“Baseball’s a funny sport,” the Tinora head coach said. “Just because you do something yesterday doesn’t mean you will do it today.”

LEGACY

No matter what happens in the tourney, the 2014 class will certainly be remembered at Tinora.

“Hopefully, we’ll be remembered for helping the younger kids and future teams get better,” Pittman said.

Added Reid Renollet: “I’d like to be remembered as a good teammate … somebody who was not just a good baseball player but a good person that would do anything for anybody.”

The Tinora head coach has thoughts on that.

“These are good kids,” BR said. “You can trust them off the field and trust them on the field to give their best effort. That doesn’t always equal a win, but that’s secondary. You know you’ll get their best effort.”

An effort that has ended in Columbus three years running, something Drewes hopes continues one more time.

“Hopefully, our legacy will be as part of the first state championship team at Tinora.”

Pics below from Paul Brown:

Photo courtesy Emilie Parsons at:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558061846836

Autographs of the 2014 Champions below, it may be a one of a kind item.
Thanks to Dakota Stark for getting these for my daughter back then.

My daughter Emily fell in love with baseball with this team, a few years later she went on to keep book for the Rams & BR up to her senior year.

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The 10-year reunion show below:

This episode features an interview with members of the 2014 Tinora Baseball State Championship Team. Listen to players and coaches, including Head Coach Brent Renollet, Assistant Coach Chuck Cary, Players: Logan Bailey, Clay Pittman, Reid Renollet, EJ Kissel, Logan Dickerson, and Brevin Renollet (prerecorded), reminisce about the magical 2014 season. Keith Brown helps co-host and lead the podcast. Thank you again to all of our sponsors for their support of NWO Sports: Batt & Stevens Body Shop, Tinora Rams Live, Fairchild Family Chiropractic, Jimenez Basketball Academy, Optimal Performance Fitness, The Drop Zone Pizzeria, Loren Brown of Truland Equipment, & Smart Tools.