Dylan Hefflinger
PBR Senior Writer and Northwest scout

COLUMBUS - Jonathan Alder capitalized on Harrison Central miscues and steamrolled to an 11-1 victory to put the Pioneers in the Division II state championship game for the third time in school history (won the championship in 2010 and 1998).

After a scoreless first inning the Pioneers stayed patient at the plate, scoring four runs on just one hit in the second inning.


Connor Headings drew a one-out walk and was sacrificed to second on a two-strike bunt by Bret Yutzy. With two outs the Pioneers got an RBI single by Trent Kaltenbach, who was followed by four straight walks to put Alder on top 4-0.

No. 24-ranked Jonathan Alder added one in the fourth and two in the fifth.

In the fourth, starting pitcher Brad Miller roped a double to left and scored on a squeeze bunt by Pete Whitmer.

In the fifth, Kaltenbach laced a two-out double and was followed by a walk and hit by pitch by Luke Nees and Miller to load the bases for the Pioneers and ending the day for Harrison Central starter Rashaen Mitchell.

Junior two-hole hitter Casey Graber greeted the Huskies reliever Dustin Redish with a two-run single up the middle to put the Pioneers on top 7-0.

No. 16-ranked Harrison Central got its only run of the game in the fifth as Rashaen Mitchell laced an RBI single, plating Kalub Mitchell to cut the lead to 7-1.

Jonathan Alder added four insurance runs in the seventh to put them up 11-1, which excited its fans (pictured).


Kaltenbach led off a walk with the big hits coming from Graber and Whitmer. Graber ripped a two-run double and Whitmer followed with an RBI double.  

Jonathan Alder's starter Ben Miller (pictured right) went the distance on the mound allowing one run on six hits and two walks while striking out eight.

Alder plays the winner of No. 1 Defiance and Akron Hoban on Saturday at 7 p.m. in the championship game. 

LINESCORE

Jonathan Alder    040 120 4 - 11 9 0

Harrison Central   000 010  - 1 6 0

Records: Jonathan Alder 24-8, Harrison Central 23-7.

Winning pitcher: Ben Miller (7 innings, 1 run, 6 hits, 8 strikeouts, 2 walks). 

Losing pitcher: Rashaen Mitchell (2.1 innings, 5 runs, 3 hits, 3 strikeouts, 6 walks). Others: Dustin Redish, Nick Pelegreen.

Leading hitters: (Alder, 9 hits) - Brad Miller single, double; Casey Graber single, double, 4 RBIs; Pete Whitmer double; Scott Peters 2 singles; Trent Kaltenbach single, double. (Harrison Central, 6 hits) - Blake Smith 2 singles; Rashaen Mitchell single, double.