CHICAGO — A new tune was introduced to the soundtrack of Wrigley Field on Saturday.

In a ballpark known for its seventh inning stretch and victory song, “Go Cubs Go,” Ohio State football fans echoed a new sound.

“O-H”

From the concession stand lines on the concourse to the packed streets of Wrigleyville, the popular response could be heard.

“I-O”

With Northwestern’s Ryan Field under construction, the Wildcats took homecoming to the city’s north side ballpark.

It provided a backdrop for an outpouring of Ohio State fans to take over one of the nation’s biggest cities and one of MLB’s oldest ballparks.

Scarlet and gray fills Wrigleyville

Wrigley Field’s centerfield hand-controlled scoreboard has been updated to reflect the sport taking place Saturday.

Its out of town scores are labeled to represent quarters instead of innings, with the Big Ten’s Week 12 slate displayed.

Behind the scoreboard, at the intersection of Sheffield Ave. and Waveland Ave., the popular bar Murphy’s Bleachers filled up early for an 11 a.m. local kickoff.

Its patio was flooded with scarlet and gray.

However, despite a small contingent of Northwestern fans, Ohio State fans were trolled just a couple buildings down from Murphy’s Bleachers.

A fan donning an Oregon shirt stood in a window — similar to a mannequin at a Michigan Ave. shop.

He had with him a sign that read, “Ohio St has not beat Michigan in 1,813 days.”

Signs of baseball remain at Wrigley Field

The infield was covered with turf, ensuring no play takes place atop dirt. However, small patches of the warning track provide a reminder that Wrigley Field is, still, a baseball stadium.

Fans in right field also had an opportunity to experience a baseball-centric moment during warm-ups.

The Allstate-sponsored netting that stops kicks from going into stands isn’t in place in the east end zone.

As kickers practiced pregame, field goals going that direction made it into the right field bleachers like a home run.

Ohio State coach Ryan Day said, ultimately, the game is about 100 yards of grass and not what surrounds it.

But for these in the stands, Saturday provided an experience unlike many in college football.

The only way these two promising young bats will have a shot to become the productive big league pieces they’re projected to be, is if they are given the chance to consistently hit against big league pitching.

And both Noel and Manzardo ended 2024 on high note, as they flashed their immense potential when the lights were shining brightest in October.

In limited at-bats, Noel hit for a .958 OPS in the ALCS. And in the same series Manzardo posted a 1.077 OPS which includes a huge early-inning homer in Game 3.

Given their opposite handedness at the dish, they could very well have Cleveland’s DH platoon locked up with Fry hitting the shelf. And with Noel’s ability to play both the corner outfield spot and at first base, along with Manzardo’s ability to hold his ground at first should Josh Naylor need a day off, the at bats seem as though they’ll be more plentiful for them in 2025.

Now is Not the Time for the Guardians to Sit Back

While the Guardians can take solace and feel good about capturing the 2024 AL Central Division title, there’s no time to dwell too long on it.

After all, that division will very likely be one of the best in all of baseball, with both the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers having just made the postseason, and the Minnesota Twins always seeming to have names that can keep them in the postseason hunt.

This Guardians team undeniably has some real strengths, but there’s also some legitimate holes that need to be addressed very soon if they want to remain competitive in 2025.

If they focus on the starting rotation, some of their biggest big league positional holes, and commit to really honing in on the development of some younger potential stars, then there’s no reason why this team couldn’t win 90+ games again in 2025.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Ohio high school football scores from the third week of the OHSAA playoffs, as provided by The Associated Press.

OHSAA Playoffs=

Regional Semifinal=

Division I=

Region 1=

Mentor 31, Can. McKinley 0

St. Edward (OH) 40, Perrysburg 24

Region 2=

Centerville 42, Dublin Coffman 7

Huber Hts. Wayne 31, Hilliard Davidson 7

Region 3=

Pickerington N. 10, Delaware Olentangy Berlin 7

Powell Olentangy Liberty 17, Cols. Upper Arlington 13

Region 4=

Cin. Moeller 28, Cin. Princeton 10

St. Xavier (OH) 16, W. Chester Lakota W. 13

Division II=

Region 5=

Akr. Hoban 48, Macedonia Nordonia 13

Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit 42, Austintown-Fitch 28

Region 6=

Avon 41, Wadsworth 10

Medina Highland 38, Whitehouse Anthony Wayne 14

Region 7=

Massillon Washington 48, Ashville Teays Valley 14

Sunbury Big Walnut 28, Ashland 10

Region 8=

Cin. Anderson 42, Cin. Mt Healthy 0

Cin. La Salle 37, Harrison 0

Division III=

Region 9=

Gates Mills Gilmour 35, Cuyahoga Falls CVCA 28

Youngs. Ursuline 29, Aurora 10

Region 10=

Parma Padua 42, Cle. Benedictine 28

Tol. Cent. Cath. 35, Lexington 7

Region 11=

Bishop Watterson 30, Newark Licking Valley 0

Steubenville 42, Dover 14

Region 12=

Bellbrook 24, Wapakoneta 21

London 30, St Marys 7

Division IV=

Region 13=

Cle. Glenville 28, Mentor Lake Cath. 0

Perry 45, Streetsboro 21

Region 14=

Ontario 49, Shelby 48

Sandusky Perkins 35, Napoleon 21

Region 15=

Gnadenhutten Indian Valley 42, New Lexington 23

St Clairsville 35, Millersburg W. Holmes 21

Region 16=

Cin. Taft 30, Cin. Indian Hill 14

Kettering Alter 37, N. Bend (Cleves) Taylor 13

Division V=

Region 17=

Canfield S. Range 42, Sugarcreek Garaway 14

Poland Seminary 24, New Franklin Manchester 13

Region 18=

Liberty Center 24, Oak Harbor 21

Milan Edison 49, Pemberville Eastwood 28

Region 19=

Ironton 41, Canal Winchester Harvest 13

Wheelersburg 30, Zanesville W. Muskingum 14

Region 20=

Lewistown Indian Lake 28, Jamestown Greeneview 13

W. Liberty-Salem 45, Waynesville 42

Division VI=

Region 21=

Dalton 25, New Middletown Spring. 0

Kirtland 41, Columbia Station Columbia 7

Region 22=

Bluffton 61, Tol. Ottawa Hills 22

Hamler Patrick Henry 35, Bascom Hopewell-Loudon 7

Region 23=

Cols. Grandview Hts. 27, Beverly Ft. Frye 0

Galion Northmor 21, W. Lafayette Ridgewood 7

Region 24=

Anna 56, Cin. Country Day 14

Coldwater 56, St Bernard-Elmwood Place 0

Division VII=

Region 25=

Cuyahoga Hts. 21, Warren JFK 19

Jeromesville Hillsdale 50, Malvern 48

Region 26=

Columbus Grove 35, Sycamore Mohawk 13

Delphos St John’s 21, Leipsic 13

Region 27=

Beaver Eastern 29, Bowerston Conotton Valley 22

Danville 46, Corning Miller 6

Region 28=

Maria Stein Marion Local 61, Ansonia 0

Minster 42, Cin. College Prep. 0