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Ohio Spotlight Game: D-III State Semifinal - #1 Hiland vs #8 CHCA



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By: Bruce Hefflinger
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Ohio Spotlight Game: D-III State Semifinal - #1 Hiland vs #8 CHCA

COLUMBUS – It took an extra inning, but the only defending state champion to make this year’s Final Four field stayed alive.

Andy Miller’s RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning scored Derek Burke with the game-winning run in Hiland’s 2-1 triumph over Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy in the Division III state semifinal on Thursday afternoon.

It set up a confrontation between the top-rated Hawks and third-ranked Champion in Saturday’s 10 a.m. D-III title game.

Braden Mast and Bryan Yoder combined to allow an unearned run while surrendering five hits for Hiland, with Yoder picking up the victory in one inning of relief.

Griffan Smith was the hard-luck loser, pitching into the eighth before being pulled for Max Ripperger.

Tyson Gingerich singled to open the last of the eighth for the Hawks and advanced to second on a throwing error that also allowed Yoder to reach first on a sacrifice bunt.

With Ripperger coming on in relief, Gingerich was thrown out at third on a hopper to the mound. However, Andy MIller followed with a liner that fell in between left and center permitting Burke, who came on to pinch run for Yoder, to score the game-winning run.

CHCA scored first to go up 1-0 in the third. Grayson Hodges walked and moved to second on an Adam Rakestraw single to center before a sac bunt from Griffin Hughes. After a ground out, Hodges came home on a pickoff attempt at second by the Hiland catcher.

An inning later the Hawks made it 1-1 on a sac fly to right by Derek Miller to score Andy Miller, who led off the inning with a single, went to second on a balk and third on a Mast infield hit.

The Eagles left five runners on base in the next four innings, four in scoring position. A double play ground out finished off the CHCA final at-bat, setting the stage for Hiland’s heroics in the last of the eighth.

Hot Takes

Key to the game: Defense wins championships and Hiland did its part with CHCA hitting into 10 outs via ground balls, including a double play in the top of the eighth. The only error by the Hawks was the wild pickoff throw.

Nine is fine: Never overlook the number nine hitter in the lineup. Rakestraw, a left-handed hitting sophomore center fielder, was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate for CHCA. Meanwhile, Derek Miller drove in the game-tying run for Hiland in the fourth from out of the nine hole for the Hawks..

Big again: After going 4-for-6 with four RBIs and two runs scored in last year’s two state games, Gingerich was hitless in his first three plate appearances before the big hit to open the last of the eighth for Hiland.

Miller time: For a squad that features five players with the last name Miller it was fitting that one came up with a key performance. Andy Miller had a base hit and scored the first run for the Hawks on a sacrifice fly from Derek Miller, Andy then had the game-winning knock in the eighth.

Player of the game: Edging out Andy Miller for the honor is Mast, who not only had two of Hiland’s six hits, but did not give up an earned run in throwing the first seven innings for the Hawks. The senior righty struck out five and surrendered four base on balls..

Season finale: Smith was impressive in defeat, giving up just one earned run and five hits in seven-plus frames against a Hiland team that had scored nine or more runs in 19 games this season, including four of five tourney contests. The senior righty had eight strikeouts in slipping to 3-3 on the campaign. 

What’s next?: With two state appearances the last four years, CHCA has become a state power and expectations remain high, The Eagles have six starters back including the middle trio of catcher Oakley Tippen, shortstop Blake Sheffer and Rakestraw in center. Hiland, now 31-0 and just the third team to reach state unbeaten with 30 or more wins, will play in the finals for the third time in the past decade.

Linescore

CHCA    001 000 00 - 1 5 2
Hiland   000 100 01 - 2 6 1

Records: Hiland 31-0, CHCA 23-8.

Winning Pitcher: Bryan Yoder (1 inning, 0 runs, 0 earned, 1 hit, 1 strikeout, 1 walk). Other: Braden Mast (7 innings, 1 run, 0 earned, 4 hits, 5 strikeouts, 4 walks).

Losing Pitcher: Griffan Smith (7 innings, 2 runs, 1 earned, 5 hits, 8 strikeouts, 2 walks). Other: Max Ripperger.

Leading Hitters: (CHCA) - Griffin Hughes single; Clay Brock single; Adam Rakestraw 2 singles, double. (Hiland) - Christopher Kline single; Tyson Gingerich single; Andrew Miller 2 singles; Braden Mast 2 singles.