Badin’s habit of setting the standard on the diamond didn’t take a year off in 2024. That goes for both the baseball and softball teams as the Rams claimed GCL titles in both sports.
Brion Treadway’s baseball team has won at least a share of the GCL championship each of the last seven years, clinching a share of this season’s championship with Chaminade Julienne. The identity of this year’s team isn’t much different from past successful groups, with the Badin culture being continually passed down with each passing season.
However, the main difference is the amount of seniors. With only four seniors on this year’s team, much of the leadership has been spread out through all the players on the team, with senior Austin Buckle spearheading the cause.
Buckle’s leadership isn’t just emotional or mental, he’s also producing on the field. He’s hitting .379 with 22 RBI and 13 stolen bases which is tied with the team lead for swiped bags with junior Cooper Ollis.
You wouldn’t be able to tell there was such an infusion of youth in the records and stats. The Rams have compiled a 19-6 overall record with an 8-2 standing in the Greater Catholic League.
Juniors Kyle Anderson and Kade Bowling are having stellar seasons at the plate with Anderson leading the Rams with a .406 batting average. Bowling is the team leader in RBI with 23. Sophomore Chandler Taylor has provided a lot of power, hitting four home runs and four triples through the Rams' first 25 games.
Unfortunately, Badin’s loss to McNicholas sealed their fate of not winning the conference outright.
“There were some great conversations had, as a team, after that loss,” Badin Head Coach Brion Treadway said. “Since then we've beaten some really talented teams and it seemed to be a wake-up call. There were some things that needed to be said, and some things that needed to be corrected.”
After a tense players-only meeting, the Rams got back on track winning three games in three days. It was a reminder of the standard that has been set, as well as the fact that everything Badin wanted to accomplish was still in front of them. The Rams have proven the talent they have and their ability to beat good teams. Treadway says their performance in the PBR Ohio High School Invitational was vindicating to the coaching staff, proving that even though they don’t have a jam-packed senior class, they can still compete with great teams.
The Rams went 2-1 with wins over highly ranked Trinity High School (KY) and St. Ignatius in the aforementioned showcase. Juniors Kyle Anderson and Kade Bowling provided much of the offense in both wins. Badin’s regular season success was apparent, and the push toward the playoffs is a reminder that their goals go far beyond a dominant regular season or GCL championship, which has long been the standard.
The Rams have been a mainstay in the regional finals and state semifinals in the recent past, coming so close to the chance to win a state championship. Treadway’s 2024 team has the goods to do just that.
“Fortunately the culture has kind of been passed down throughout the years. I think that's the coolest part about coaching at Badin. The expectations are kind of unset.
“The older guys just do a phenomenal job of passing on the expectations and the culture. It's really cool to watch. This year's team is very similar to those that we've had in the past. Expectations are high for results, but also for each other.”
For Greg Stitzel’s softball team, the Rams have somehow gotten better and raised the bar from previous seasons. In 2022 and 2023, Badin combined to go 17-3 in conference play, winning the league in 2023 and falling short of Chaminade Julienne. Unfortunately for next year’s team, they’ll only be able to match what Badin did in conference play this season as Stitzel’s squad went a perfect 10-0 in GCL play.
The Rams are led by senior Halle Klaiber who has racked up a ridiculous 17 wins and 169 strikeouts on the season. That’s 10 more wins and 60 more strikeouts than the next-best GCL pitcher. Those numbers, and Badin’s overall record, could have looked very different, however.
Klaiber suffered a serious knee injury last fall while playing select ball in Columbus, OH. After surgery, doctors told Klaiber she likely wouldn’t be able to play her senior year for Badin. Stitzel was preparing to not have his lone senior and best player for the 2024 push.
However, Klaiber’s determination and want to play with her Badin teammates pushed her to do everything possible to rejoin them on the field.
“She worked her tail off for four solid months and got to the point where Doctor Kremchek had to sign off on her coming back,” Stitzel said.
“She came on crutches,” Stitzel said. “She would lead from the bucket sitting on the side. She would lead from sitting in a chair. She would try to go out and try to stretch some, even on crutches… She definitely still led these young kids even though she couldn't do anything herself. It was absolutely amazing that she was able to do all that. A lot of times when kids get hurt you don't see them.”
Badin started the season 0-3 before Klaiber was cleared to play. Stitzel eased her back in, giving her three innings against Roger Bacon in her first action back. Klaiber helped win that game giving Badin its first win of the season. From there, she was off. Klaiber helped Badin win 15 of its next 19 games including a sweep of the conference.
She wasn’t able to do it herself. While Klaiber is one of the Rams' leaders offensively with a .541 batting average, Olivia Harris, Erica Kuhnash, and Kira Rohan have had tremendous seasons. Kuhnash and Rohan have combined for 45 stolen bases helping this year’s team smash the previous stolen base record.
Like the baseball team, Badin is looking toward a long playoff run.
📸 Images courtesy of Betsey Miyahara
Note this article was filed on May 11 for the June Hamiltonian