By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
When the game is on the line, there is one man that the Galion Graders Manager turns to in order to get the last three outs of the ball game: closer Kent Axcell.
As of Saturday, Axcell lead the Graders in strikeouts with 28 and ERA with 2.25. Through the season, Axcell has also posted a 1-1 record, along with 2 saves. Axcell explained what his goals are for the rest of the season with the Graders.
“Hopefully, we can turn our season around,” Axcell said. “We had a slow start, but hopefully we can finish up strong.”
Coming to the Galion Graders from The Ohio State University, Axcell explained how he made his way to Galion.
“Our assistant coach, who is the pitching coach as well, pretty much assigned you a team for the summer,” Axcell said. “So he let me know that I was coming to the Graders, so I looked it up, and I am happy to come here.”
Axcell spoke of the differences between college ball and the summer league.
“It is pretty seamless,” Axcell explained. “It is just a new group of guys, and you have to learn how to play with each other’s strengths and weaknesses, but no major differences really.”
Axcell’s hometown is Westlake, Ohio where he played at Westlake High School. It was while pitching as a closer for the Demons that the righty had his favorite memory on the diamond.
“My sophomore season in high school I was the closing as a pitcher for the regional game to go to state and I struck the last dude out for the last inning to win it. That was a dog pile moment, it was pretty cool,” Axcell recalled.
Axcell has enjoyed his time in Galion so far, noting that it is much better than the last summer league team he played for.
“I’ve liked it really nicely,” Axcell said. “Last year I was on a team in New York, which this is a big step up from the team in New York. I like it here a lot better, it’s a great city, and it is fun to be with the guys.”
A junior at The Ohio State University, Axcell is currently studying Biochemistry pre-med.