By Dylan Hefflinger

 

COLUMBUS- Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller returned to the state championship game for the sixth time in school history, the other five resulting in a victory, while Westlake is at state for the first time. Whether it was the experience factor or not, Moeller came out on top with a 9-6 win in the Division I state championship game.

 

No. 21 Westlake fell behind early due to walks and bad defense, while No. 2 Moeller looked like they have been here before, scoring six runs in the first two innings. The Crusaders didn't exactly steal the victory, but did tie a state tournament record with 11 stolen bases in the game.

 

Moeller lead-off hitter Ryan LeFevers, an unsigned senior, started the game off with a walk and promptly stole second before advancing to third on a dropped third strike. With one out, junior Spencer Iacovone laced a single up the middle scoring LeFevers to put Moeller up 1-0.

 

Archbishop Moeller batted around, scoring five runs in the 2nd inning. Nick Edwards led off with a single and stole second on the first pitch. Junior Cameron Whitehead hit a routine grounder to short that resulted in two errors on the Demons middle infielder junior Matthew Leonard. With runners at second and third, sophomore nine-hole hitter Riley Mahan ripped a two-run double, advancing to third on the throw. A walk to LeFevers put runners on the corners and the Crusaders executed a double steal with Mahan scoring for a 4-0 advantage

 

However, the inning was not done yet, as LeFevers stole third and Ohio university recruit Ty Amann walked to put runners on the corners. A sacrifice fly to right by Iacovone plated LeFevers. After a strikeout, Furman recruit Jordan Simpson scored Amann with an RBI single bringing an end of the day on the mound for Danny Strodtbeck.

 

Down 6-0, the Demons cut into the deficit in the bottom of the frame. Leonard reached on a fielder's choice after senior Jonathan Brick reached via a walk. Nine-hole hitter senior Andrew Dunn ripped a triple into the right-center field gap plating Leonard to put the score at 6-1.

 

Moeller didn't let its foot off the gas, however, scoring two more in the 3rd. A two-out error by Leonard put Mahan on first. The third baseman stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. A walk to LeFeavers puts two runners on for Amann and the lefty blasted a triple onto the warning track in right-center plating two to put the Crusaders up 8-1. It was the eighth triple of the season for Amann, setting a Moeller school record.

 

Westlake tried to claw its way back, scoring one in the 3rd and 4th. Junior Jaime Lackner hit an RBI double to left in the 3rd to plate Strodtbeck who reached with a single. In the 4th, two consecutive singles by Leonard and senior Spencer Offredo started the frame and, after an out, two consecutive walks by seniors Corey Bowers and Andy Haders scored Lackner to cut the deficit to 8-3.

 

With the bases still loaded, relief pitcher Phillip Diehl, an Evansville commit, fanned the next two batters to end the threat. The lefty Diehl's fastball was in the 82-86 mph range.

 

Moeller added a much needed insurance run in the 5th as Whitehead led the inning off with a single and stole second. Whitehead moved to third on a single by LeFevers, who was caught stealing by backup catcher sophomore Kent Axcell, the only time Moeller was gunned out attempting a steal. After a walk, Whitehead scored on another Demon wild pitch, to put Moeller up 9-3.

 

Westlake's best chance for a comeback came in the 6th. A one-out single by Dunn, followed by two consecutive walks loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly by Strodtbeck plated Dunn. A single by Lackner loaded the bases, before the call of the game.

 

With the bases loaded, senior cleanup hitter Kevin Neumann hit a dribbler toward first. Moeller first baseman Brad Macciocchi, a Wright State University recruit, fielded the ball and flipped it to Diehl at the bag. Neumann appeared safe on the play, but was called out by the first base umpire to put Westlake coaches, players and fans in an uproar.

 

The Demons did not give up after the very questionable call, scoring two in the bottom of the 7th to cut the deficit to 9-6. But a fly out ended the game.

 

Moeller (26-5), now with six state championships in school history, is tied with Newark Catholic and Cincinnati Reading for second place behind only Cincinnati Elder (12) for most championships. The Crusaders also tied the record for most stolen bases in a game with 11.

 

Westlake (24-7) reached state for the first time in school history for Hall of Fame coach Jeff Short, who has announced his plans to retire. If this is it, Short finishes with a career record of 344-242 in 23 seasons at Westlake.