by Akron, Ohio – Berlin Hiland defeated Russia Local, 14-4, to capture their first Division IV state championship since 2016.
Berlin Hiland took a 4-0 lead, scoring a run in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly, and a pair of runs in the top of the third inning.
Russia scored on a wild pitch to cut their deficit to 4-1 in the bottom of the fourth. Zane Shappie with a base hit off relief pitcher Isaac Yoder to cut the deficit to 4-2. Braylon Cordonnier hit a double to right field to cut the deficit to 4-3, scoring Xavier Philpot from first base.
Brayden Monnin hit a single up the middle to tie the game and raced to second on the throw home. A hit batter loaded the bases. Berlin Hiland relief pitcher Isaak Yoder struck out the next hitter to end the inning.
From there, the Hawks offense took over.
Nolan Yoder led off the top of the fifth with a double. He later scored on a double from Isaak Yoder to give the Hawks the lead, 5-4. He scored on a Brady Yoder single to increase the lead to 6-4. A two-out walk loaded the bases, and Alec Weaver drew a hit-by-pitch to increase the lead to 7-4.
Cody Yoder then followed up with an RBI single to make the score 8-4. Nolan Yoder then followed up with a two-run single, increasing the lead to 10-4.
In the top of the sixth inning, Isaak Yoder reached base due to a walk. He would score on a Braden Kaufman RBI single to increase the lead to 11-4. Alec Weaver followed with an RBI single to increase the lead to 12-4. Another run scored on a wild pitch to increase the lead to 13-4.
The Hawks then scored another run in the top of the seventh. Nolan Yoder reached on an error at short, then scored on a passed ball.
The offensive outburst was more than enough for junior pitcher Isaak Yoder. He pitched 3.2 innings, allowing just three hits and one run. He also struck out eight hitters and walked just two. At the plate, he went 2-5 with a pair of hits, a pair of runs scored, and a pair of RBI. Eight different Hawk players had at least one hit, three had two, and a pair of Hawks had three.
Nolan Yoder went 3-5 with three RBI and three runs scored. Cody Yoder went 3-5 on the day as well, with a pair of RBI and a run scored.
The Hawks finished the season as the #1 ranked team in Division IV.
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