Division I
Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller Claims Ninth State Baseball Title
AKRON, Ohio - Zion Theophilus allowed just one run on six hits and struck out seven in a complete-game effort as Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller defeated Lewis Center Olentangy Orange, 4-1, in the Division I state championship game at Akron’s Canal Park.
The state title is Moeller’s ninth all-time—tied for the second most in OHSAA history—and first since 2015. The Crusaders, who are 9-0 all-time in state championship games, finish the season 31-3 overall. Orange, making its first appearance in a state championship game, finishes with a 23-11 overall mark.
Moeller scored once in the first, once in the third and twice in the fifth, while Theophilus held Orange to one baserunner or fewer in six of the seven innings.
CJ Richard scored Moeller’s first run in the bottom of the first, reaching on an error and eventually scoring from second on a throwing error during a pickoff play. Two innings later, Moeller’s Toby Hueber stole third and came home on a throwing error to extend the lead to 2-0.
Orange cut the deficit in half in the top of the fourth; Diego Astacio singled to lead off the inning and later scored the Pioneers’ only run on Keegan Knupp’s groundout to short.
Hueber doubled to lead off the Moeller half of the fifth, stole third, and scored on Clay Burdette’s single. Burdette then stole second and eventually scored on a Connor Christenson base hit. That made the score 4-1, and Theophilus retired six of the final Orange hitters he faced to close out the win.
Richard, Hueber and Christenson all had a pair of hits for Moeller, while Astacio was 2-for-3 and scored to lead the Orange offense.
Division IV
Berlin Hiland Tops Russia, 14-4, in Division IV Championship Game
AKRON, Ohio - Berlin Hiland scored six runs in the fifth inning to break open a tie game and defeated Russia, 14-4, in the Division IV state championship game at Canal Park.
Hiland (30-1) wins its second baseball state title and first since 2016. Russia (26-7), the 2022 state champion, finishes runner-up for the third time (2023, 2017, 1975) in school history.
Russia had just scored four times in the bottom of the fourth, knotting the score at 4-4, before Hiland broke out for six runs in the decisive fifth inning. Nolan Yoder doubled, Colin Coblentz singled, and Isaak Yoder doubled them home to open the inning. Then with two outs, Alec Weaver was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, Cody Yoder singled home Brady Yoder, and Nolan Yoder doubled in Weaver and Connor Beachy.
Hiland added three more runs in the sixth, one on a Braden Kaufman single that scored Isaak Yoder and two more unearned runs that followed Russia errors, and another in the seventh when Nolan Yoder scored on a wild pitch.
Hiland led 4-0 early in the game before Russia evened the score with four runs in the bottom of the fourth. The first eight Russia batters reached to open the inning, Xavier Phlipot drew a bases loaded walk, and Zane Shappie, Braylon Cordonnier and Brayden Monnin all had run-scoring hits in the frame. Isaak Yoder struck out the final two Russia batters to strand the bases loaded and keep the score knotted at four.
Hiland took control from there, scoring 10 runs over the final three innings while Russia was held hitless over its final three turns at bat.
Isaak Yoder earned the win in relief for Hiland. He surrendered just one run on three hits, struck out eight—including the final five Russia hitters—and walked two over the final 3-2/3 innings. At the plate, he was 2-for-5 with a double, scored twice and drove in a pair.
Nolan Yoder was 3-for-5 with a double and a triple, scored three times and drove in three for Hiland, while Cody Yoder was 3-for-5, scored once and drove in two.
Division II
Chagrin Falls Kenston Fends Off Late Ontario Rally to Secure Inaugural Baseball State Title
AKRON, Ohio – Chagrin Falls Kenston’s defense sealed the Bombers’ first state championship game in school history with a game-winning double play to defeat Ontario, 4-3, in the 2023 Division II state championship game at Canal Park on Saturday evening. Kenston led, 4-1, entering the sixth inning before Ontario plated two runs prior to the final inning of the game.
Ontario jumped out to an early lead, 1-0, in the top of the first inning when senior Gage Weaver hit a sacrifice fly to score senior Colten Ramion. In the bottom of the second inning, Kenston sent seven batters to the plate and the Bombers scored three runs. To start the second inning, Tommy Pecoraro was walked then was moved along to second base from senior Parker Munday’s sacrifice bunt. Then, Ontario starting pitcher and senior Peyton Dzugan committed a balk, advancing Pecoraro to third base. Kenston senior Nikko Georgiou hit an RBI single to left scoring Pecoraro making it a 1-1 tie. Dzugan committed his second balk of the day allowing Georgiou to advance to second base. Bomber junior Bridger Bischof knocked in Georgiou on an RBI double, giving Kenston their first lead of the day 2-1. Bischof reached third base on a wild pitch and scored when junior Grant Beclay laid down a sacrifice bunt, adding to the Kenston lead, 3-1.
Kenston maintained its two-run lead until the bottom of the fifth. Bomber junior L.A. Mighton started off the fifth with a triple to right center field and scored when fellow junior Jimmy Cerha grounded out to second base, extending the Kenston lead to 4-1 heading into the sixth inning.
Ontario loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the sixth. Warrior sophomore Carter Walters hit an RBI single scoring both senior Jayden Leach and Weaver to cut Kenston’s lead to 4-3.
Ontario quickly got three outs after facing four batters in the bottom of the sixth, adding more momentum to their comeback effort. In the top of the seventh inning, Dzugan recorded an infield single to get on base for the Warriors to start. Ramion successfully hit a sacrifice bunt to move Dzugan to second base. However, the Bombers foiled the comeback attempt with a game-sealing double play. Leach lined out to Pecoraro and Dzugan left second base early so Pecoraro tossed the ball to Kenston senior Carter Flynn for the force out.
Georgiou was the winning pitcher throwing a complete game for the Bombers finishing with seven strikeouts, two earned runs and one walk using 89 pitches. Dzugan took the loss for the Warriors throwing six innings, allowing four Kenston earned runs, walking three batters and striking out two. Dzugan also went 2-for-3 with two singles while his teammate Walters led the team in RBIs with two.
Kenston’s Pecoraro went 2-for-2 with a pair of singles, a walk, stolen base, and scored a run. Four different Bombers recorded an RBI. Kenston finished the championship game with six hits, no errors, and six men left on base. Ontario also had six hits, no errors and left five stranded on base.
Kenston was making its second consecutive appearance in the OHSAA state tournament in 2023. The Bombers were a Division I state semifinalist in 2022.
Division III
Apple Creek Waynedale’s Big Second Inning Powers Golden Bears to Back-to-Back State Titles
AKRON, Ohio – Apple Creek Waynedale’s seven-hit and six-run second inning gave the Golden Bears total control in a 10-1 win over Cadiz Harrison Central in the Division III state championship game at Canal Park. It was the second consecutive state title for Waynedale, which became the 15th school to win back-to-back baseball state championships in OHSAA history.
Waynedale started hot in the bottom of the first inning with leadoff hitter and senior Dylan Raber singling to left. Sophomore Tristan Franks laid down a successful sacrifice bunt to advance Raber to second. Seniors Connor Gatti and Timmy Short then walked, loading the bases. Senior Trey Barkman hit into a fielder’s choice and reached first base but earned an RBI when Raber scored giving the Golden Bears a 1-0 lead.
In the second inning, the Golden Bears sent 12 batters to the plate with seven of them scoring a run. Waynedale kick started its big inning with a double from sophomore Shane Coblentz, junior Tate Venables’ walk, and another Raber single, loading the bases. Franks knocked in a two-RBI single scoring Coblentz and Venabales and increasing the Golden Bears lead to 3-0. Gatti added to the lead with a two-RBI double that plated Franks and Raber making it a 5-0 ball game for Waynedale, prompting a Harrison Central pitching change. After the change, Short doubled to left center allowing Gatti to score the Bears’ fifth run of the inning and increasing the Waynedale lead to 6-0. Barkman singled advancing Short to third and shortly after sophomore Jayden Schlabach hit an RBI single scoring Short, making it 7-0 in favor of Wayndale.
The Golden Bears scored three more runs the next three innings getting RBI hits from Short, Coblentz, and Barkman. The Huskies scored their only run in the top of the fifth inning when senior Kaden Jurosko hit an RBI single scoring sophomore Anthony Pelegreen.
Meanwhile, Golden Bears starting pitcher and junior Otto Solorzano threw a gem. Through six innings of work, Solorzano struck out seven, gave up six hits, walked one, and allowed only one earned run on 75 pitches. Short relieved Solorzano in the seventh inning striking out two and forcing the last batter of the game to ground out to the pitcher’s mound. Solorzano improved to 10-4 on the season with the win.
Raber led the Golden Bears in hits going 4-for-5 with three runs scored while Franks, Gatti, Short and Barkman combined for eight RBIs. Jurosko led the Huskies going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Four Huskies recorded one hit each for Harrison Central.
Waynedale finished the game with 15 hits, no errors, and 10 men left on base. Harrison Central tallied six hits, two errors, and left four runners stranded.