Badin comes up short in Ohio DII state baseball semi vs. Akron Hoban

AKRON, Ohio – Southwest Ohio despatched three prep baseball groups to the Ohio Excessive College Athletic Affiliation state semifinals in Akron for a second straight season.

By the point they took the sphere Friday, Badin was the realm’s final likelihood at a state baseball title. Ohio State commit Keegan Landstrom had silenced Mason’s bats within the Division I recreation and Akron Hoban’s Noah LaFine, a Vanderbilt commit, hoped to do the identical in opposition to the Rams. 

LaFine bought down early, however Hoban used a three-run third inning to take the lead in opposition to the Rams, one they’d by no means relinquish. The defending Division II champion Knights held off Badin 4-3 to advance to Saturday’s remaining.

Extra:OHSAA state baseball: Roger Bacon falls in 8 innings in Division III semifinal

Extra:OHSAA state baseball: Mason stopped in DI semifinal by Ohio State commit from Grove Metropolis

“We’re not prepared to depart,” Badin coach Brion Treadway mentioned. “We absolutely anticipated to win that ballgame.”

Badin outhit the Knights 6-5 and starter Nik Copenhaver and teammate Erik Rawlings teamed for 13 strikeouts, but it surely was all too little too late.

Junior Zack Zimmerman was the one participant with two hits within the recreation and Hoban sophomore Parker Falkenstein drove in two runs with the eventual game-winning hit within the Knights’ massive third.

Badin started the sport by scoring a pair of runs within the first which was already greater than Roger Bacon and Mason scored of their respective state semifinals. 

Landyn Vidourek walked and after a bunt by Lucas Moore and an error, he was headfirst throughout house simply minutes into the sport. Later Rodney Rachel’s bunt would plate Moore for the 2-0 benefit. 

“I assumed we put ourselves in an important place to place the strain on them and so they responded,” Treadway mentioned. “That is a troublesome workforce and so they by no means give up coming.”

 Zimmerman would reply for Hoban with a run-scoring hit within the first. Within the third,  Copenhaver would stroll in a run with the bases loaded, then Hoban’s Falkenstein despatched two extra Knights to the plate with a single to left.

LaFine left the sport after getting two outs within the fifth. Caleb Kepler got here in and would quit a run-scoring single to Diego DeCello as Badin pulled inside one.

Treadway pulled Copenhaver within the sixth for undefeated senior Erik Rawlings, the doubtless day two starter. He stored the Knights off the scoreboard to get Badin to the seventh.

“Erik warms up a bit bit higher out of the bullpen,” Treadway mentioned of his choice to start out Copenhaver. “Nik takes a short time to get going. We knew if we would have liked to go to at least one we might relatively go to Erik. They each had large seasons and have dominant stuff. On the finish of the day, we missed a pair pitches and we have got to place extra runs on the board.”

Penn State signee Jimmy Nugent would single in his remaining Badin at-bat, however the subsequent three Rams flew out ending their profitable season at 26-7. 9 seniors now depart this system.

Amongst these returning is Kentucky commit Moore who’s already hoping for a 3rd straight journey to the Division II semifinals for his senior season.

“Not the best way we wished to exit right here,” Moore mentioned. “We’ll flush it. I am glad I get the chance to come back again right here subsequent yr hopefully.”

Akron Hoban (23-9) performs the winner of Bishop Hartley/Chardon Saturday night time within the Division II state remaining at 7 p.m. again at Akron’s Canal Park.

“Anytime your season ends with a loss there’s numerous feelings,” Treadway mentioned. “It is simply onerous. I really like my guys. It is numerous enjoyable teaching at Badin for baseball. It is onerous when it is over. We have been prepared. we simply failed.”