by Akron, Ohio – A five-run sixth inning proved to be the difference Friday night as Chardon held off a furious rally from Bishop Hartley to win 6-5, to punch their ticket to their first ever state finals appearance in school history.
The Hilltoppers, making their first state semifinal appearance since 1950, jumped ahead, 1-0 in the first.
The Toppers loaded the bases, and scored on an errant throw on a pickoff attempt after a strikeout.
Hartley responded with a run of their own thanks to a wild pitch.
Chardon put a pair of runners on in the fourth inning, but could not take the lead.
The Hawks loaded the bases in the third inning, but Nolan Kirsh got out of the jam with a fielder’s choice grounder. They also put a runner on in the fourth, and Kirsh put the kibosh on those chances too.
Chardon took the lead in the top of the sixth. Freshman Stone Fawcett led off with a single. Sophomore Leo Colombi followed with a triple to the right field gap to score Fawcett and put Chardon ahead, 2-1.
Kyle Maronde followed with an RBI grounder to second to increase the lead to 3-1. Christian Hall (Alcorn State commit) hit a sac fly to left to make the score 4-1.
Starting pitcher Nolan Kirsh helped his cause out reaching on an error to make the score 5-1. Heath Fetchik added an RBI single to left, increasing the lead to 6-1.
Hartley got one back, thanks to a Rory Raison single to right field. A wild pitch cut their deficit to 6-3. Emmette Gilles reached due to a throwing error, and a run scored, cutting the deficit to 6-4. Gilles would score thanks to some heads up baserunning after Peyton Underwood got on base.
Nolan Kirsh worked out of the inning, preventing the tying run. He threw 110 pitches and struck out six hitters.
After a scoreless top of the seventh, Hartley came up with one last chance.
Senior reliever and Alcorn State commit Christian Hall worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh to give Chardon the win.
Sophomore Leo Colombi went 3-4 Friday night with the go-ahead triple.
Bishop Hartley starting pitcher Emmette Gilles worked six innings and struck out six hitters on 118 pitches.
Chardon takes on Archbishop Hoban Saturday evening in the Division II State Championship game.
Bishop Hartley finishes their season at 19-8.
