OSU commit Graf leads Generals
By Bryce Hefflinger
Prep Baseball Report
AKRON — Within the Division II state baseball event, Northern Lakes League Buckeye Division champion Anthony Wayne confronted Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit in a semifinal sport Friday, and a Generals’ win would ship them in opposition to the New Albany-Amherst Steele winner within the championship on Saturday at 1 p.m. on the Akron RubberDucks’ Canal Park.
Right here is the Division II preview —
ANTHONY WAYNE: Mason Dzierwa singled in Ben Nieckarz within the backside of the eleventh to ship Anthony Wayne to state for third time in eight seasons with a 4-3 win over Loveland.
The Generals nipped Edgewood 3-2 within the regional semifinals after shutting out Sylvania Northview 2-0 in districts behind a two-hitter from Ohio State commit Owen Graf.
Carter Johnson was the profitable pitcher in each regional video games, throwing six innings of no-run aid permitting two hits whereas fanning eight.
Graf has tossed 14 innings within the event giving up six hits and two earned runs with 19 Ks for the second-ranked D-II squad. Anthony Wayne has by no means gained a state title, ending as runners-up in 2018.
WALSH JESUIT: Andrew Holcomb hit a house run within the backside of the seventh inning to present Walsh Jesuit a 2-1 walkoff win over Stow-Munroe Falls within the regional semis and the Warriors went on to clean Lakewood 7-0 within the finals to advance to state for the third time in 5 years and tenth total.
Alabama commit Shawn Sullivan has given up one earned run and 6 hits in 11 innings within the event whereas Harper Lann, a Wabash Valley JC signee, has fanned 18 in 7.1 frames.
Matthew Mansbury, a junior dedicated to Michigan, is 7-9 with 5 runs and 4 RBIs in tourney play for the fifth-ranked D-II group. Walsh Jesuit has gained 4 state championships (2008, 2006, 2004 and 1999) and completed second twice (2010 and 2009).
NEW ALBANY: Pitching has been dominant for New Albany, which has but to allow a run in 4 event video games, topping Mifflin 8-0 within the district semis, Watkins Memorial 10-0 within the district finals, Columbus St. Charles 7-0 within the regional semifinals and Huge Walnut 6-0 within the regional finals.
Trey Wentz fanned 15 in a one-hitter vs. Mifflin, Cam Simmons allowed three mixed hits with 20 Ks in 10 innings in opposition to Watkins Memorial and St. Charles, whereas Grant Thunberg fired a two-hitter within the regional finals.
Jacob Richardson is batting .556 within the event and Jate Hoovler .545. New Albany, ranked eleventh by Prep Baseball and twelfth by OHSBCA, gained a championship in its two earlier appearances at state, 2004 and 2021.
AMHERST STEELE: The primary Last 4 look in class historical past is a part of a memorable season for Amherst Steele, which defeated Inexperienced 6-3 within the regional semifinals and Oregon Clay 7-4 within the finals.
Cael Charles didn’t permit an earned run in six innings in opposition to Clay to select up his tenth win of the 12 months, a single-season file for this system, and twin brother Cole earned the save for the No. 1 group in Division II, which rallied from a 5-0 deficit to stun Riverside 6-5 on a Harrison Schneider walk-off house run within the district finals.
Landon Wolf, who holds the single-season mark for RBIs (52), walks (29) and HBP (14), had tied the sport with a three-run bomb. The 28 wins are a faculty file.