2016 OHSAA Tournament: Road To Huntington Park - Division I State Semifinal Recap
June 3, 2016
By Dylan Hefflinger
Editor in Chief/NW Scout
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2016 OHSAA Tournament: Road To Huntington Park - Division I State Semifinal Recap:
****Rankings are based on PBR Ohio's Final Team Power Rankings
Game 1:
COLUMBUS - Cincinnati La Salle overcame a 4-2 deficit with two runs in the sixth and one in the bottom of the seventh to defeat #6 Solon 5-4 in Division I state semifinal action at Huntington Park.
Brady Reynolds, who led off the La Salle seventh with a walk, scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch with two outs for the Lancers, which won without the benefit of a hit in the inning.
Griffin Merritt and Jon Hambrick singled in the La Salle sixth, knocking out Solon starting pitcher Nathan Altstadt, an Alabama commit. Following a sacrifice bunt, Merritt scored on a grounder that turned into a throwing error. Hambrick evened the score at 4-4 on a Tim Casey sac bunt.
Hambrick hit a pair of singles and walked for No. 16 La Salle (25-7), which led 2-1 after three innings thanks to a two-run double by Kevin Browne, (pictured right) who also reached base twice in the game via free passes.
Will Meyer had a run-scoring triple and Johnny Mooney an RBI single to put Solon on top in the fifth. Meyer and Mooney each had a pair of hits for Solon No. 6 (25-5).
La Salle will face Pickerington North at 1 p.m. Saturday in the D-I championship game.
Game 2:
COLUMBUS - Unranked Pickerington North scored two unearned runs in the top of the eighth inning to beat Cleveland St. Ignatius 5-3 in Division I state semifinal action at Huntington Park.
Cole Loconsy had the lone hit in the eighth for North. The big play came with two-outs when St. Ignatius' left fielder was unable to catch a fly ball, leading to the two runs. The Panthers play No. 16 Cincinnati La Salle in the D-I state final on Saturday at 1 p.m.
St. Ignatius, which put two on with two out in the bottom of the eighth before a ground out ended the game, tied the contest at 3-3 in the last of the seventh on a two-out RBI single from Dennis Grosel, plating John Robinson who led off the frame with a single for No. 20 Ignatius.
Koebe Rush (Fairmont State commit) threw seven innings allowing 10 hits and two walks while fanning five for North (22-9), with Justin Grubb recording the save.
Alec Bradbury and Nick Whetnall each had two singles for the Panthers while Dillan Smith (pictured right) belted a triple.
George Asadorian had a single, double and two walks for Ignatius (22-11), which outhit North 12-9, while Tommy Grosel knocked out three singles.