For Kasen Baun, it’s Division I ballparks from now on.

 

The Ohio University signee and Bridgeport senior will complete his high school career, win or lose, at Marshall’s Jack Cook Field when the Class AAA state tournament begins on Tuesday, June 9.

 

Bridgeport is still awaiting its bracket and matchup for the tournament, which will feature eight teams in each class for the first time, but is expected to be the No. 1 seed after spending most of the season atop the MetroNews power rankings and finishing regionals with a 30-4 record.

 

“It's a great group of guys,” Baun said. “We finally made states after four years, so it feels really good.”

 

Even though the team is on the younger side, they have bonded.

 

“We go by the word ‘Together’ and we’re really one group,” Baun said. “We have a good relationship with one another. We play together. We do everything together. It’s just a good solid group.”

 

Baun is part of a four-player class that will extend a long string of Bridgeport senior classes that have qualified for at least one state tournament.

 

“These are my brothers. We’ve done everything together growing up,” Baun said. “It just means a lot to work with them every day and get better.”

 

Baun has spent a lot of time fielding behind two of his classmates, Blake Butcher and Owen Sondericker, over the years.

 

The pair are the likeliest candidates to start Bridgeport’s state quarterfinal.

 

“Those two are stud arms, some of the best arms in the state if not the two best,” Baun said. “It’s awesome playing defense behind them. It makes my job a little easier.”

 

Baun himself could also be called upon to take the mound.

 

“Throwing strikes, that’s my big thing. Getting that first strike helps get batters out. I want ot limit my walks,” Baun said. 

 

It means more after BHS fell a win short in regionals the last two years.

 

“Ever since the end of last year, through our winter workouts, it’s been our No. 1 goal,’ Baun said. “We’re not letting up now. We’re ready.”

 

Baun, who earned his spot at shortstop and in the pitching rotation early in his high school career, was front and center and learned from the classes in front of him.

 

“They taught me a lot of things about leadership. Just being around Bridgeport baseball and knowing what it means to them, I’ve taken that with me as a senior,” Baun said.

 

Guy Avolio, Baun, Butcher and Sondericker will all play college baseball next year.

 

“All four of us have worked our butts off since forever playing this game,” Baun said. “We all deserve it. It’s awesome to think we have a lot more baseball after this, too.”

 

And, they hope, three more games in a BHS uniform.

 

The Class AAA semifinals are Friday, June 12 and the championship game is Saturday, June 13.