Dylan Hefflinger
PBR Senior Writer and Northwest scout

COLUMBUS – Newark Catholic moved within one win of its seventh state championship with another dominating performance. The Green Wave, which had run-ruled every opponent in the tournament, were forced to play seven innings for the first time, but pounded out 11 hits in a 9-1 win over Crestview in the Division IV state semifinals on Friday.

Senior Drew Buchanon threw a four-hitter for Newark Catholic, which advances to face the winner of No. 4 Tinora and No. 17 New Middletown Springfield on Sunday at noon in the state finals. Green Wave ace Mitch Cox (Ashland recruit) will be on the mound for head coach John Cannizzaro, who picked up his 400^th career win against Crestview.

Buchanon got all the runs he needed in the first inning when Mike Lohr hit a lead-off single and Hunter Nance and Chayce Crouch had RBI base hits.

No. 11-ranked Newark Catholic, competing in an Ohio record 10^th state tourney, pushed its advantage to 4-0 with a pair of runs in the third. James Young opened the frame with a double to center, moved up on a wild pitch and came home on an infield single by Nance. An out later, Nance was plated on a infield ground out by Aaron Jurden.

The lone run by the Knights came in the bottom of the fourth when Jordan Roop hit a run-scoring single to bring in Jake Harmon, who reached on a one-out base hit.

After singles by Lohr and Nance, Crouch scored Lohr with an infield groundout and Jurden followed with a run-scoring single helping bring an end to the day for second-team all-state junior pircher Damian Helm, who topped out a 80 with his fastball.

With the game in hand, the Green Wave iced things with a four-spot in the top of the seventh. After a strikeout, Thomas ripped his second double of the contest and scored on a two-out single by Crouch, who finished with three RBIs. After Jurden got on base with an infield single, Cox lined a two-run double to right-center field.

Nance, an impressive junior center fielder, had three singles for the Green Wave (23-10).

Isaiah Simerman had a triple for No. 23 Crestview, which closes the season at 19-8.

LINESCORE

Newark Catholic  202 020 3 - 9 14 0

Crestview            000 100 0 - 1 4 1

Records: Newark Catholic 23-10, Crestview 19-8.

Winning pitcher: Drew Buchanan (7 innings, 1 run, 4 hits 2 strikeouts, 1 walk). 

Losing pitcher: Damian Helm (5 innings, 6 runs, 10 hits, 2 strikeouts, 0 walks). Other: Venice Roberts.

Leading hitters: (Newark Catholic, 14 hits) - Mike Lohr 2 singles; James Thomas 2 doubles; Hunter Nance 3 singles; Chayce Crouch 2 singles; Aaron Jurden 2 singles; Mitch Cox double; David Meurer 2 singles. (Crestview, 4 hits) - Isaiah Simerman triple.