by Akron, Ohio – The Sandusky Perkins Pirates captured their first state championship in program history with a 5-1 win over the Bishop Fenwick Falcons in the OHSAA Division IV state championship.
Perkins got things going in the bottom of the first inning.
Senior Talan Walton got on base with a one-out single. Carter Koch followed with a triple to right field to score Walton and give the Pirates a 1-0 lead. Kash, Carter’s brother, followed with an RBI single to left to increase the lead to 2-0. After a single, walk, and strikeout, Dante Shipp drew a bases-loaded walk to increase the lead to 3-0.
Perkins would add to their lead in the bottom of the second inning when Talan Walton singled to left. He stole second and third, and scored on a wild pitch to increase the lead to 4-0.
Bishop Fenwick got the board with a two-out single from Hudson Kreke. Caleb McMonigle followed with an RBI double to left to plate Kreke and cut the Falcon deficit to 4-1.
The two teams traded zeroes in the fourth inning, and Fenwick looked to get a rally going, putting two on with two out in the fifth inning. Braxden Martin got out of trouble inducing a popout to second base.
Sam Schweinfurth led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a single for the Pirates. He stole second and advanced to third on a balk. Dante Shipp brought him home with a double to right field to increase the Perkins lead to 5-1.
Fenwick tried one last rally in the seventh inning, putting a pair of runners on once again. But Martin induced one more grounder to short to end the game and complete the Pirates’ dream season.
Perkins senior Talon Walton went 2-3 on the game with a pair of runs, a walk, and a pair of steals. Dante Shipp went 1-2 with an RBI walk and an RBI double. Senior Braxden Martin pitched a complete game, allowing just one run on six hits and striking out five on 108 pitches.
Caleb McMonigle came on in relief, throwing 4.2 innings for the Falcons, allowing two runs and four hits, and striking out five. He hand an RBI double for the team’s only run.
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