Tag Archive for: OHSAA Playoffs

HERALDS SEASON COMES TO END IN DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP LOSS TO HILLSDALE

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Parma, OH- The St. John Heralds saw their season come to a disappointing end on Thursday, losing 16-1 to the Hillsdale Falcons in the District Championship game of the OHSAA playoff tournament.

The game started promisingly for the Heralds, with Anthony Severino singling in the first inning to give them an early 1-0 lead. However, the Falcons quickly responded in the bottom of the first, scoring two runs on an Owen Hoffman ground out, a Brady Heller single, and a Heralds error to take a 2-1 lead.

Hillsdale extended their advantage to 4-1 in the second inning thanks to RBI singles from Brock Bower and Hoffman. But the fourth inning proved disastrous for the Heralds, as the Falcons erupted for 11 runs on eight hits to blow the game wide open.

The Falcons’ fourth-inning onslaught was keyed by hits from Braylen Jarvis, Kael Lewis, Heller, Aiden Hoffman, Gavin Casdorph, Bower, Hoffman again, and Chase Clutter. When the dust settled, Hillsdale had a commanding 15-1 lead.

On the mound, Aaron Wychock took the loss for the Heralds, allowing nine hits and 10 runs (nine earned) over three innings. Casdorph earned the win for Hillsdale, surrendering just one run on five hits over five frames.

Offensively for the Heralds, Brady Cole, Bryson Vennitti, Severino, Ezra Campbell, and Will Anderson each collected one hit. But they could never string together a rally against the Falcons’ pitching.

Bower led the way for Hillsdale’s potent offense, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs. Jarvis, the two Hoffmans, and Casdorph also had multiple hits for the Falcons, who finished with 14 hits total. They also stole six bases and played error-free defense.

The loss ended the Heralds’ season with a final record of 16-6. While the District Championship game was a disappointment, the team should be proud of an excellent overall campaign.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

HERALDS BATS STAY HOT IN DISTRICT SEMI WIN OVER MCDONALD

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Photo Credit: Joclyn Nicholas

Parma, OH- The St. John Heralds looked sharp against the McDonald Blue Devils, winning 12-2 in the District semi-final game of the OHSAA playoff tournament on Tuesday. The Heralds wasted no time in establishing their lead, getting on the board in the bottom of the first inning. Ryan Williams walked, Anthony Severino singled, and the Heralds scored their first run on a wild pitch. Kyle Hejduk and AJ Henslee followed with RBI singles, giving the Heralds a 3-0 lead.

The Heralds extended their lead to 6-0 in the bottom of the second inning, courtesy of a double by Williams. They continued to pile on the runs in the bottom of the sixth, scoring five more on four hits. Joe Cappuzzello induced Aaron Wychock to hit into a fielder’s choice, but two runs scored. Henslee drew a walk, scoring another run, and Will Anderson and Brady Cole each added an RBI single.

Will Anderson started the game for the Heralds, allowing four hits and two runs (one earned) over six innings, while striking out nine and walking two. Klase, the starting pitcher for the Blue Devils, surrendered 10 hits and seven runs over four innings, striking out three and walking four.

The Heralds’ offensive onslaught was highlighted by a 15-hit performance. Henslee, the number nine hitter, led the way with two RBIs, going 2-for-2 on the day. Cole, Bryson Vennitti, Williams, Henslee, Severino, Ezra Campbell, and Hejduk each collected two hits for the Heralds, who showed patience at the plate, amassing six walks.

For the Blue Devils, Logan Presco, Hickox, Zach Shobal, and Brady Klockner each collected one hit. Presco and Shobal drove in the team’s only two runs. The Blue Devils played flawless defense, not committing a single error, with Avery Maley handling the most chances in the field with six.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The Heralds will move on in the tournament to play the Hillsdale Falcons on Thursday 05/23/24 at 5pm at Cuyahoga Community College in Parma for the district championship.

HERALDS MAKE IT A EARLY KNIGHT IN SECTIONAL FINAL

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Photo credit: Joclyn Nicholas

Ashtabula, OH- Will Anderson’s commanding performance on the mound propelled the St. John Heralds to a resounding 11-0 victory over the Medina Christian Knights in the sectional final of the OHSAA playoff tournament on Thursday. Anderson struck out 11 batters, allowing no hits and no runs over five innings while walking only one batter.

The Heralds wasted no time in asserting their dominance, getting on the board in the bottom of the first inning. After a Knights error, Ryan Williams singled, and Anthony Severino doubled, each scoring a run to give the Heralds an early 2-0 lead.

The offensive onslaught continued in the bottom of the second inning as the Heralds scored five runs on two hits. Brady Cole singled, driving in two runs, Ezra Campbell was struck by a pitch, bringing in another run, Bryson Vennitti was also hit by a pitch, scoring another run, and Aaron Wychock drew a walk, adding another run to the Heralds’ tally.

The Heralds added to their lead in the bottom of the third inning when Campbell singled, and Severino hit a sacrifice fly, each scoring a run to make the score 9-0.

Tyler Jones took the mound for the Knights but struggled to contain the Heralds’ potent offense. The right-hander allowed six hits and 10 runs (nine earned) over three innings, striking out five and walking three.

The Heralds collected nine hits in the game, with Cole and AJ Henslee each contributing two hits. Cole, Severino, and Campbell each drove in two runs, while Anderson showcased his baserunning prowess, stealing two bases. The Heralds swiped four bases in total and did not commit a single error in the field, with Kyle Hejduk handling a team-high 11 chances.

With their dominant performance, the Heralds will move on to face the McDonald Blue Devils in the District Semifinals of the OHSAA playoff tournament on Tuesday at Cuyahoga Community College, with first pitch scheduled for 2 pm.

WARRIORS COMEBACK FALLS SHORT AGAINST AVIATORS

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Photo Credit: Edgewood Athletics

 

Alliance, OH- The Alliance Aviators secured a 9-6 victory over the Edgewood Warriors in the OHSAA sectional final playoff game on Wednesday, advancing to the next round of the tournament.

The Edgewood Warriors drew first blood in the opening inning when Alex Sperduto’s single brought home a run. However, the Alliance Aviators responded swiftly in the bottom half, with Bo Davis’ single and Lincoln Reese’s sacrifice fly each driving in a run to take a 2-1 lead.

The Aviators extended their advantage in the second inning when Brady White hit into a fielder’s choice, making the score 3-1. Undeterred, the Warriors battled back to tie the game at 3-3 in the top of the third, courtesy of a walk by Zane Naylor and a hit-by-pitch.

The momentum shifted once again in the bottom of the third, as Michael Blackwell’s line-out scored a run for the Aviators, giving them a 4-3 lead.

DiAngelo Fisk was the winning pitcher for the Aviators, allowing five hits and two runs over two and two-thirds innings, striking out one and walking one. Geno Measel took the loss for the Warriors, pitching one inning and surrendering two runs on four hits, with one strikeout.

The Warriors’ offense mustered 10 hits, led by Mason Feather’s three RBIs from the ninth spot in the lineup. Feather went 2-for-4, while Logan Kray, Riley Baldwin, Caleb Johnson, and Feather each collected two hits. The Warriors demonstrated patience at the plate, drawing six walks.

For the Aviators, K’Vaughn Davis, Samuel Gress, and Fisk each had two hits, with Davis, Fisk, and Reese driving in two runs apiece. The Aviators showed exceptional discipline, drawing 11 walks, with Ryan Bruni and Fisk leading the way with two walks each. The Aviators played flawless defense, committing no errors, with Bruni making the most plays with four.

With this hard-fought victory, the Alliance Aviators advance in the OHSAA playoff tournament, while the Edgewood Warriors’ season comes to a close.

WEST BRANCH HANGS ON IN SECTIONAL FINAL AGAINST FALCONS

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Beloit, OH- The West Branch Warriors held off a late comeback attempt by the Jefferson Falcons to secure a 6-4 victory in the OHSAA sectional final on Wednesday. The Warriors looked to be in control after building a 6-0 lead, but had to fend off the Falcons who closed to within two runs by the end of the contest.

West Branch jumped out to the early advantage, plating four runs in the bottom of the third inning. Hunter Shields kicked off the scoring with an RBI single, and Beau Alazaus followed with a three-run double to make it 4-0 Warriors. They tacked on two more in the fourth to extend the lead to 6-0.

The Falcons finally broke through against Alazaus in the late innings, scoring single runs in the sixth, seventh, and ninth frames to make it a 6-4 game. But Alazaus and reliever Jaxon Robb were able to slam the door, securing the sectional championship for West Branch.

Alazaus was masterful on the mound, earning the win after allowing just two hits and no runs over six shutout innings. He struck out seven and didn’t issue a walk. Luke Lambert took the loss for Jefferson after surrendering six runs (four earned) on four hits and seven walks in four innings of work.

Offensively, Alazaus and Shields led the way for the Warriors, each driving in two runs. Shields collected two of West Branch’s four hits. The Warriors worked eight walks and stole five bases to manufacture their runs. For the Falcons, Giovanni Matticola had two RBIs while Devin Salinas and Lambert recorded two hits apiece.

With the victory, West Branch advances to take on Notre Dame Cathedral Latin in the district semifinal on May 20th. The Warriors kept their season alive by surviving this dramatic sectional final against Jefferson

CRUSADERS OVERPOWER HERALDS IN SECTIONAL FINAL

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Canton, OH- In a sectional final OHSAA tournament game, the St John Heralds faced off against the Canton Central Catholic Crusaders, ultimately falling short with a final score of 10-0 on Wednesday.

The Canton Central Catholic Crusaders wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, with Avery McMahon hitting a home run in the first inning, driving in two runs.

They continued to build their lead with two more runs in the third inning, courtesy of Brigid Burke’s groundout.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Crusaders exploded offensively, scoring five runs on two hits. Violet Ellerbrock’s single and Baylor Grant’s walk contributed to the rally, while an error allowed three more runs to cross the plate.

Isabelle Holler took the loss for the St, John Heralds, pitching four and two-thirds innings and surrendering 10 runs (six earned) on 11 hits. Alyssa Cevera and Rylee Frasure managed to collect one hit each for the St. John Heralds.

The Canton Central Catholic Crusaders showcased their offensive prowess, amassing 11 hits in the game. Grant and McMahon proved to be key contributors, each driving in two runs. Alicia Varacky led the Crusaders at the plate, going 3-for-3, while Ellerbrock and Presley Trbovich also made significant contributions with multiple hits.

With this victory, the Canton Central Catholic Crusaders advance to the District Semifinal, where they will face the Western Reserve Blue Devils.

FALCONS OUTLAST WILDCATS IN SECTIONAL SLUGFEST

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Photo Credit: Tanya Jean Photography

Jefferson, OH- Rylee DeMattia collected three hits in four at-bats, as the Jefferson Falcons defeated the Struthers Wildcats 9-6 on Tuesday. DeMattia singled in the second inning, singled in the first inning, and singled in the fifth inning.

The Jefferson Falcons got on the board in the bottom of the first inning after Adrianna Brass singled, scoring one run, and M Minno induced Gabby Barress to hit into a fielder’s choice, but two runs scored.

The Struthers Wildcats captured the lead, 4-3, in the top of the second after the Jefferson Falcons committed an error, and E Morris homered to center field, each scoring two runs.

The Jefferson Falcons flipped the game in the bottom of the second, scoring five runs on five hits to take an 8-4 lead. The biggest blow in the inning was a single by DeMattia that drove in two. A single by Lani Zeman extended the Jefferson Falcons’ lead to 9-6 in the bottom of the third inning.

Olivia Lewis started in the circle for the Jefferson Falcons. She gave up five hits and six runs (three earned) over four innings, striking out six and walking two.

Minno took the mound for the Struthers Wildcats. The starting pitcher allowed 15 hits and nine runs (six earned) over six innings, striking out two and walking none. Ada Sirrine pitched three innings of scoreless relief for the Jefferson Falcons. The right-handed pitcher gave up two hits, striking out two and walking four.

The Jefferson Falcons amassed 15 hits in the game. Mia Contenza and DeMattia each collected three hits for the Jefferson Falcons. Allison Hill, Zeman, and Brass each collected multiple hits for the Jefferson Falcons.

E Mcdowell, Morris, and G Smiley each collected two hits for the Struthers Wildcats. R Guy and Morris each drove in two runs for the Struthers Wildcats. The Struthers Wildcats showed patience at the plate, amassing six walks for the game. V Marker and K Morris led the team with two bases on balls each. The Struthers Wildcats ran wild on the base paths, piling up four stolen bases for the game.

Next up, the Jefferson Falcons will play the Mogadora Wildcats on the road in the OHSAA sectional finals.

WARRIORS GET TOURNAMENT WIN OVER WOLVERINES

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Chesterland, OH- In an OHSAA Sectional playoff game, the Edgewood Warriors secured a 10-6 victory over the West Geauga Wolverines on Tuesday.

Edgewood got off to a strong start, with Makenna Rhodes drawing a walk in the top of the first inning to put them on the scoreboard. They extended their lead with another run in the second inning, courtesy of Mckenna Vencill’s groundout. In the top of the third inning, Faith Vencill’s triple contributed to Edgewood’s early lead, with the team scoring on a passed ball.

West Geauga showed resilience, highlighted by Shaylynn Rogaski’s solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Despite West Geauga’s efforts, Lucianna Paolillo’s pitching performance led Edgewood to victory. Paolillo allowed six runs on 14 hits over seven innings, striking out 10 batters. On the mound for West Geauga, Lely Percassi took the loss, pitching seven innings and surrendering 10 runs (four earned) on 13 hits.

Edgewood’s offense was led by Vencill, who went 3-for-4 at the plate, while Rhodes and Vencill each drove in two runs. Natalie Ianetta also contributed with two hits.

For West Geauga, Rogaski and Ava Bors provided offensive firepower, each driving in two runs. Percassi led West Geauga’s hitting efforts with three hits in four at-bats, supported by Dayana Malone, Malory Lear, and Morgan Atwara with multiple hits.

Looking ahead, Edgewood will face the West Branch Warriors on Thursday in their next tournament game.

RED DEVILS LEAVE SPARTANS BLUE

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Conneaut, OH- Crestwood Red Devils secured an 11-1 victory over the Conneaut Spartans on Tuesday in an opening round game of the OHSAA playoff tournament. The Red Devils were red hot at the plate, highlighted by a commanding performance with six runs in the fifth inning.

The Red Devils wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, as Bella Hunter’s homer in the first inning drove in two runs, setting the tone for the game.

Their offensive onslaught continued in the fifth inning, where they scored six runs on four hits. Contributions from Mia Gullatta, Kaitlyn Huffman, Ashlyn Weaver, and Erin Hallis fueled Crestwood’s momentum.

Adding to their lead, Grace Harper’s home run in the sixth inning further solidified Crestwood’s dominance.

Hunter, the starting pitcher for Crestwood, delivered a stellar performance, allowing only one run over six innings while striking out 10 batters.

On the Conneaut side, Alexis Brown took the loss despite a commendable effort, pitching six innings and striking out five batters.

Despite the loss, Maddy Drew stood out for the Spartans, driving in one run and going 2-for-3 at the plate.

For Crestwood, Harper led the team with three RBIs, while Huffman’s 3-for-4 performance at the plate anchored their offensive production. The Red Devils will move on to play Marlington in the Division 2 Sectional Championship game. The Spartans will exit the OHSAA tournament with this loss.

HERALDS OVERPOWER TROJANS AT THE PLATE

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Ashtabula, OH- The St. John Heralds opened their OHSAA softball playoff run with a dominant 13-3 victory over the Sebring Trojans on Monday. Isabelle Holler, the Heralds’ right-handed pitcher, was the star of the show, striking out an impressive 13 batters in five innings of work.

The Trojans drew first blood in the top of the first inning. Keira Berger smacked a double, driving in two runs, and Kristal Giron followed with an RBI single to give Sebring an early 3-0 lead. However, the Heralds responded swiftly in the bottom half of the frame, as Nadia Lagoa drew a walk, and Caitlyn Carney singled to tie the game at 3-3.

The second inning proved to be the turning point, as the Heralds erupted for five runs on five hits to seize an 8-3 advantage. Alyssa Cevera delivered the decisive blow, a triple that plated one run. The Heralds added another run in the third when Emma Hutchins worked a walk, extending their lead to 9-3.

Holler was masterful on the mound, allowing just four hits and three runs while issuing only one free pass. Allison Hoschar, Sebring’s starting pitcher, struggled with her control, surrendering 10 hits and 13 runs (nine earned) in four innings, striking out one and walking 11.

Rylee Frasure led the Heralds’ offensive charge, driving in three runs while going 2-for-2 at the plate. Cevera, Frasure, and Carney each collected two hits apiece, while Holler, Gianna Torres, and Frasure displayed patience at the plate, drawing two walks each. The Heralds’ aggressive baserunning also paid dividends, as they swiped seven bases, with Holler and Frasure accounting for multiple steals.

For the Trojans, Berger provided a bright spot, going 1-for-2 with two RBIs. Raegan Wynn, Blake Thomas, Berger, and Giron each recorded one hit in the losing effort.

With the victory, the St. John Heralds advance to the Sectional Finals of the OHSAA playoffs, where they will face the Canton Central Catholic Crusaders on Wednesday.