Division I State Semifinal: No. 5 Massillon Jackson vs No. 3 Cincinnati Moeller
June 7, 2014
By Dylan Hefflinger
Managing Editor/NW Scout
COLUMBUS, OH – Two of the most impressive and talented teams that played at Huntington Park in Massillon Jackson and Cincinnati Moeller. The Polar Bears knock off the back-to-back state state champions 4-2 to advance to its first State Championship in school history.
Jackson used a one-two punch of Sam Miller (pictured left) and Tim Turner (George Mason commit, pictured right) to hold Moeller's bats in check.
Jackson got on the board in the first off of University of Kentucky commit Zach Logue.
Unsigned senior Kyle Mottice singled up the middle, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Tim Turner. Jake Miller singled between short and third to score Mottice and put the Polar Bears on top 1-0.
Moeller tied the game in the fourth.
A one out single by sophomore Kyle Butz got things started for the Crusaders. Butz stole second and after a strikeout Butz scored on a throwing error from short to tie the game at 1-1.
Jackson answered with two in the fifth and one in the sixth.
In the fifth, Brennan Dingler singled to center and Jake Pollatta walked to put two on with nobody out.
Mottice executed a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners and Turner hit a sacrifice fly to advance both runners.
After an intentional walk, Seth Velluci singled to center to scored Pollatta and put the Polar Bears on top 3-1.
In the sixth, senior Jake Sima roped a one out single to center, later scoring on a Pollatta single to left.
Moeller just couldn't get anything going and it started in the first when junior Kent State commit Josh Hollander got thrown out at home (pictured below).
Down 4-1, the Crusaders had six more outs remaining for a chance to three-peat.
In the bottom of the sixth, junior Joe Varansic walked and the pinch runner Adam Wilson advanced to second on a walk to junior Kyle Dockus. Junior University of Cincinnati commit Jordan Ramey put down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners.
However, Moeller was unable to capitalize as Cole Proia grounded out.
In the seventh, University of Kentucky commit Riley Mahan tripled to right center and after back-to-back ground outs Mahan eventually scored.
With two outs Soth singled up the middle and Butz walked, but a fly out ended the game.
Moeller left 10 runners on base in the 4-2 loss.
Top Perfomers:
- Sam Miller, picked up the win on the mound while going four innings, allowing one run (0 ER) on four hits and two walks while striking out three.
- Tim Turner, went three innings allowing just one run on two hits and four walks while striking out two. At the plate Turner had an RBI single.
- Jake Miller, had two singles and an RBI.
- Zach Logue, had the loss but still went five innings allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out six. At the plate Logue had am RBI single
- Riley Mahan, had a double, triple and run scored.
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