Division VII State Championship: Delphos St. John’s Run Rules Leipsic

Akron, OH: A six-run second inning proved to be the difference, as the Delphos St. John’s Blue Jays took down the Leipsic Vikings 10-0 in six innings. Junior Andrew Elwer was dominant on the hill, pitching a complete game with eight strikeouts and only five hits. Elwer got it done at the plate as well, going 2-3 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. For Leipsic, Myles Camareno led the way offensively, going 2-3 with a double.

Bats Hot Early

The Blue Jays wasted no time getting their offense going, as Tyce McClain got things started with a leadoff hit-by-pitch. Eventually, a sacrifice fly by Andrew Elwer brought him around to score, putting St. John’s up 1-0 after one.

The second innings is when the offense became scorching hot. Drake Fittro led off the inning with a single, and back-to-back walks loaded the bases. Up came Aidan Swick, who hit a single to centerfield, scoring Fittro and extending the lead to 2-0. Duncan Logan would score on a wild pitch, an RBI single from Tyce McClain scored Swick, and Cam Elwer laced a double to the outfield, scoring two more. When all was said and done, the Blue Jays held a 7-0 lead after two.

Myles Camareno would get his second hit of the game in the fourth, a single, but other than that neither side could produce any offense in the ensuing innings. That would change in the fifth, as the Blue Jays’ offense came alive again.

Finishing Touches

Andrew Elwer kicked off the fifth inning with a double to right center. Hank Walpole would enter the game to run for Elwer, and came around to score on a single by Fittro, who was thrown out trying to stretch it to a double. With two outs, Duncan Logan hit a single and was replaced as a baserunner by Evan Martz. Martz advanced to second on a balk, third on a wild pitch, and crossed the plate courtesy of an error at first base. When the dust settled, St. John’s held a 9-0 lead.

The Leipsic bats came alive in the sixth, as Aaron Hazelton hit a single to center and Colin Niese followed it up with a double, giving the Vikings runners on second and third with no outs. After recording a strikeout, Andrew Elwer snared a line drive back to the pitcher and threw it to third, completing the double play and ending the threat.

Only needing a run to clinch the title, Andrew Elwer hit a one-out single to left. After a throwing error moved him to second, a single by Maddox Kroeger brought him in to score, clinching a 10-0 victory and giving the Blue Jays their first baseball state championship.

Post Game Thoughts

The Leipsic Vikings fell into a huge hole early in the contest, going through two pitchers before recording an out in the second inning. That’s a difficult spot for any pitcher to go into, but Julian Zuniga locked in and retired the next nine Blue Jays in order. The score could have gotten even more lopsided but the sophomore locked in and kept his team in the game.

Delphos St. John’s claimed their first ever baseball state championship and the school’s second title this year after boy’s basketball brought home the crown. A lot of kids are specializing in one sport these days, but the Blue Jays’ roster is stocked full of players who won two rings this year. Multi-sport athletes are a dying breed but are alive and well in Allen County.

Top Performers

Leipsic Vikings

Myles Camareno: 2-3 2B

Julian Zuniga: 4.1 IP 9 H 3 ER 2 K   0-2

Aaron Hazelton: 2-3

St. John’s Blue Jays

Andrew Elwer: 6 IP 5 H 8 K 1 BB   2-3 2B RBI R

Cam Elwer: 1-4 2B 2 RBI

Drake Fittro: 2-3 RBI R

Box Score: https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=661289