Dylan Hefflinger
PBR Senior Writer and Northwest scout

COLUMBUS – Newark Catholic captured its seventh state championship and fifth since 2002 after defeating New Middletown Springfield 2-1 behind a complete game from senior Mitch Cox (pictured). 

Cox, an Ashland University recruit, allowed just one run on eight hits and one walk while striking out seven.  The 6'2'' righty stranded eight runners, including five in scoring position, throwing in the mid-80s topping at 86.

No. 17-ranked Springfield jumped on top in the first. Sophomore centerfielder Ryan Kohler ripped a one-out single, senior Cody Pitza and junior Joey Wrask followed with bloop singles to load the bases with one out.

Sophomore catcher Hunter Snyder drove Kohler in with a single through the left side, but Cox was able to get a popout and strikeout to get out of the jam, holding the Tigers to just one run in the first.

Down 1-0, Newark Catholic tied the game in the third, and took the lead in the fourth.

In the third a lead-off walk to nine-hole hitter David Meurer started the frame. Third baseman Mike Lohr, a junior lead-off hitter, then laid down a perfect bunt for a hit to put two on with none out.

After a fly out, junior centerfielder Hunter Nance (pictured) laced an RBI single to score Meurer and knot the game at 1-1.

In the fourth the Green Wave took a 2-1 lead.

Junior designated hitter Conor Keck had a one-out single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from senior Ollie Evans, which ended the day for New Middletown Springfield starter Jordon Peterson. 

Meurer greeted the Tigers' relief pitcher James Hillyer with an RBI double to score Keck and put the Green Wave on top 2-1.

“I was just looking to protect the plate with two strikes,” Meurer said. “The pitch was down and outside and I just threw my bat out and found a gap. This feels great because we couldn’t close in football (losing in the championship game). Today we closed.”

New Middletown Springfield threatened in the third, sixth and seventh, but were unable to get a run across. 

In the third, Kohler reached third with nobody out on a single and error, but was stranded there as Cox struck out the next two batters and finished off the frame with a groundout to get out of the jam. 

In the sixth, the Tigers had two different runners reach second, but each time Springfield was unable to score. 
 

With the Tigers down to its last three outs, Springfields nine-hole hitter Jojo Caraballo (senior) drew a lead-off walk and eventually reached third with two outs. Cox got out of another sticky situation with a pop out on a 2-2 count to the Green Wave first baseman Chayce Crouch (pictured) for the final out of the game. 

“It was such a critical situation and everybody told me to just throw strikes because they would have my back,” Cox said. “That’s my team. They’ve always had my back. They’ve always made plays behind me. I was confident.”

No. 11-ranked Newark Catholic now has an impressive 28 state championships in all sports combined, including seven in baseball, which is tied for second all-time with Cincinnati Moeller, which won the Division I title this season.

“Each sport thrives on each other ... it’s just expected,” said baseball coach John Cannizzaro, who has 402 career wins and five of the seven state baseball titles. "The fact it’s been seven years since the last one makes this one more special. But every one is special."

The Green Wave were dominant throughout the entire tournament outscoring its opponents 110-8.

Linescore 

New Middletown Springfield 100 000 0 - 1 8 0

Newark Catholic                  001 100 x - 2 8 1

Records: Newark Catholic 24-10, New Middletown Springfield 21-8. 

Winning pitcher: Mitch Cox (7 innings, 1 run, 8 hits, 7 strikeouts, 1 walk). 

Losing pitcher: Jordon Peterson (3.2 innings, 2 runs, 6 hits, 0 strikeouts, 1 walk). Other: James Hillyer. 

Leading hitters: (Springfield, 8 hits) - Ryan Kohler 2 singles; Joey Wrask 2 singles; Brandon Chamberlain 2 singles. (Newark Catholic, 8 hits) - Hunter Nance 2 singles; Conor Keck 2 singles; David Meurer double.