WARRIORS COMEBACK FALLS SHORT AGAINST AVIATORS

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.