The Roy C. Ketcham baseball team poses after winning the Section 1 Class AA title.
Ketcham’s Ryan Murphy delivers a pitch to a Corning batter during Saturday’s Class AA state quarterfinal at Corning Community College.
Pat Mealy faced his team after the game was over Saturday.
The Roy C. Ketcham High School baseball team, Class AA champions of Section 1, had beaten Section 4’s Corning 8-2 in the New York State regional final at Corning Community College.
The Indians’ coach had some words for his players.
“I said to them, ‘You won this game back in January and February’ — when we put time in for these moments,” Mealy said. “We had three incredible days of practice and I attribute our performance so much to that.”
Ketcham (24-1) was well-prepared for the regional final, and moves on to play in the state semifinals on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Section 5’s Webster Schroeder at Binghamton University.
READ MORE: Ketcham tops Mamaroneck to reclaim Section 1 Class AA crown
It’s the first trip to the state final four since 2014, where the Indians lost in the semifinal to Shenendehowa. Ketcham last won the state title in 2005.
“It feels amazing,” said Erik Merrill, who started the Indians’ offensive strike against Corning with an RBI single in the third inning and finished with two hits. “This is what we play for, this is why. We’re ready to go out and kick some butt!”
Corning’s Brendan Walker dives back to first as Ketcham’s Stephen Merrill awaits a pickoff throw during Saturday’s Class AA state quarterfinal at Corning Community College.
The Indians did just that in the third inning against Corning. Following Merrill’s RBI single, Nick Nevins came up with a two-run single.
Holding a 4-0 lead after the fourth, Dave Henry cracked a pinch-hit, two run single to help pad the lead in the fifth.
“It was a great team win for us,” Merrill added. “We were hitting up and down the lineup.”
And the Indians received good pitching to go with the offense.
Ryan Murphy started and worked five shutout innings. He allowed one hit and struck out five.
“He was brilliant,” Mealy said of his starting pitcher.
READ MORE: Ketcham to face Fox Lane after beating New Rochelle
That brilliance has stemmed from confidence, which has been a byproduct of hard work by the Indians.
Ketcham second baseman Matt Lynch recives the ball from shortstop Jonnathan Cepeda to force out Corning’s Zach Turner during Saturday’s Class AA state quarterfinal at Corning Community College.
And, it’s been noticeable.
“There’s no doubt you can see the kids have so much confidence,” Mealy said. “With what we’re doing on the mound, in the field defensively and offensively. It’s a beautiful thing to watch.”
Like Mealy, Merrill credited the team’s success to the practice the players have put in. To him, the great prep work has led to success in the Indians’ run.
“All the big spots we come up in big games — it all goes back to the reps we take in practice,” Merrill said. “Our program has put a lot of work in. We gained an advantage through that, and it shows in times like these.”
Ketcham’s Stephen Merrill slides into home plate with the third run of the third inning against Corning during Saturday’s Class AA state quarterfinal at Corning Community College.
Ketcham’s path to the state final four has been paved with tough opponents. The Indians defeated New Rochelle, Fox Lane, John Jay and Mamaroneck to win the section title.
Mealy is happy his team was tested throughout its postseason run.
He feels his team benefited from it.
“It’s really a credit to Section 1. The road we had to travel to get here made us ready,” he said. “Our kids are locked in and we’re a very confident group. We know we can beat anybody.”
A.J. Martelli: amartelli@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4836, Twitter: @AJM_PoJoSports