Dylan Hefflinger
PBR Senior Writer and Northwest scout

HAMLER - Justin Rohrs hit two home runs, including a long blast to right field in the sixth inning to break a 2-2 tie helping Northwood get past Delphos St. John's 4-3 in the Division IV regional semifinal.

The Rangers advance to play Defiance Tinora, an 11-1 win over McComb, in Friday's 2 p.m. regional championship game.

The second homer by Rohrs put Northwood in front 3-2 and the Rangers added another run in the inning. Myles Habel hit a single and Jacob Davenport reached with a sac bunt error. Brandon Hoffman was then hit by a pitch and, after a strikeout, another HBP scored a run.

That proved a key when the Blue Jays scored one in the top of the seventh. With one away, Andrew Metzger reached on a dribbler down the third-base line but was forced out moments later. An error put two on base and Drew Wagner pulled DSJ within 4-3 with a sharp single to right field.

But with runners on first and third, Northwood senior right-hander Nick Russell recorded his eighth strikeout of the game to improve his season record to 7-3. The senior hurler hit four batters, walked two and gave up six hits in gaining the win, topping out at 79 MPH with a 69-71 MPH breaking ball.

Rohrs, who now has six home runs and 30 RBIs on the season, tied the game at 2-2in the fourth with a home run to right field in nearly the identical spot his sixth-inning shot landed.

Ryan Buescher had a pair of singles for the Blue Jays (11-15),which lost despite a four-hit performance by Curtis Geise, who fanned seven in a complete game effort, reaching 85 on the fastball with off-speed pitches between 67-72.

LINESCORE

Delphos St. John's  200  000  1  -  3  6  1
Northwood              100  102  x  -  4  4  3
Records: Northwood 18-10, DSJ 11-15.
Winning pitcher: Nick Russell (7 innings, 3 runs, 6 hits, 8 strikeouts, 2 walks, 4 HBP).
Losing pitcher: Curtis Geise.
Leading hitters: (DSJ, 6 hits) - Ryan Buescher 2 singles. (Northwood, 4 hits) - Justin Rohrs 2 home runs.