Chris Valentine
PBR Ohio Scouting Director

CINCINNATI, OH – With the lights shining down at Marge Schott Stadium, Loveland High School (1-4) faced it’s toughest challenge of the season as they square off against DIII No. 1 ranked Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (5-0) and the state’s top pitcher, Cameron Varga.

Loveland, No. 25 in the latest Division I rankings, came out swinging in the top of the first inning, but they couldn’t hold off a late comeback as CHCA walked away with a 6-3 victory.

Freshman Luke Waddell, who is quickly making a name for himself as a talented two-sport athlete, induced a leadoff walk. After a series of errors plated two runs, sophomore Jay Wilson helped his own causing drilling a first pitch fastball down the left field line putting the Tigers in front 3-0.

CHCA responded in the bottom of the first. Junior shortstop Cameron Murray advanced on an error and then moved up on a wild pitch and eventually to third base on a sacrifice bunt. His brother Chase Murray, a recent Georgia Tech commit, followed with a ground ball to the right side to put the Eagles on the board.

Meanwhile, Varga responded in the middle innings by keeping the Loveland hitters at bay as he effectively mixed the use of his fastball and breaking ball.

Loveland, who features one of the area’s top pitching staffs, countered with sophomore right-handed pitcher Jay Wilson, who limited the Eagle’s potent offensive attack until the 5^th inning.

Sophomore Daniel Vezdos induced a walk and sophomore Jon Edelman followed with a single. Junior Cam Murray delivered an RBI single. A throwing error on the play allowed the runners to move to second and third.

With the score now tied at 3-3, Loveland made a call to the bullpen as junior right-handed pitcher Jake Albin came on in relief.

CHCA’s Ryan Smith greeted Albin with a well executed squeeze scoring the runner and advancing to first base on the play.

After Smith was caught stealing, sophomore Chase Murray, a recent Georgia Tech commit, singled through the left side while senior catcher Kyle Davis, a West Virginia recruit, connected with a RBI triple to deep left-center.

CHCA 1B Ricky Silvestri (pictured right), a Mars Hill recruit, extended the rally with a single through the right side to bring home Davis and stretch the lead to 6-3.

Loveland did not go down easy as they picked up a run, making the score 6-4 and proceeded to load the bases with two outs in the top of the 7^th.

But, Varga shut the door as he collected the win in a complete game performance. On the day, the right-hander allowed four runs, one of which was earned, five hits, and one walk while striking out 10 batters. 

Wilson took the loss allowing four runs on four hits and three walks in four innings of work.

Albin allowed three runs on four hits while striking out one batter in two innings of work.

Game Notes

• CHCA senior 1B Ricky Silvestri (Mars Hill recruit) went 2 for 3 on the day.
• Loveland senior catcher Darren Sackett (Lake Erie recruit) was 2 for 2 throwing out runners on the day.

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