MCDONALD BLOWS THE DOORS DOWN INTO DISTRICTS

ELYRIA OH- McDonald took down Open Door Christian 17-2 in a blowout sectional final on Thursday, ignited by a monster third inning that saw 12 runs cross the plate.

The game kicked off with Wyatt Wolford tagging and scoring to put McDonald on the board early. Dylan Drop’s groundout leveled the score for Open Door in the bottom frame, but that tie didn’t last long. McDonald responded quickly with Wolford smashing a double in the second, and a costly error by Open Door let McDonald grab the lead again.

The third inning was where McDonald blew the doors off. They racked up 10 hits and 12 runs in a dizzying display of bats. Chayse Hickox and Jaxson Candel both tagged up for scores, Shovel and Avery Maley ripped doubles, Josh Srock singled in a run, Logan Presco doubled, and Nate Metzinger walked one in. The flurry included a dropped third strike and hits by Wolford and Maley driving in multiple runs each.

On the mound, Srock bagged the win for McDonald, dealing five hits and two runs across four innings with five Ks. In the other dugout, Charlie Murphy felt the heat for Open Door, getting hammered in just one inning on the hill for eight runs.

Ben Comer and Tyler Reaser were the bright spots for Open Door, each nabbing a couple of hits.

Overall, McDonald showcased a strong offensive game with 14 hits. Wolford and Maley led the charge, with Wolford knocking four RBIs and going 2-for-4, while Maley topped the hit chart at 3-for-4. The team also showed hustle on the bases, swiping six bags, with Wolford grabbing two himself. They played a tight game defensively too, notching zero errors with Maley involved in nine plays.

McDonald advances to the District Semifinals on Tuesday against Ashtabula St John.  That game will be in Parma at 2:00.