by Canton, OH: For the first time in school history, the Amherst Steele Comets will be playing in the State Championship game following a 3-2 win over New Albany. It did not come easily, as the Comets saw their two-run lead evaporate late in the game. But, with two outs in the tenth, a double by Cole Charles scored Cole Marquez to put Amherst up 3-2. Cael Charles sealed the deal in the bottom of the inning, retiring the side and picking up the win for Amherst.
With two outs in the top of the first, Caleb Melendez drew a walk. On the very next pitch, Landon Wolf hit a bomb to right field. It appeared as if the right fielder made the play, but he collided with the center fielder, and the ball hit the turf, allowing Melendez and Wolf to score. Initially ruled an error, that was later overturned to give Wolf a two-run homer that put the Comets up 2-0.
Quinn Blaney drew a lead-off walk in the bottom of the inning for New Albany, but starting pitcher Harrison Schneider retired the next three hitters to get out of the inning unharmed.
Both pitchers, Schneider and Cam Simmons, kept the opposing offenses at bay, keeping the score at 2-0. New Albany’s first real threat of the game came in the fourth, when a one-out double to right field gave the Eagles runners on second and third. Schneider got out of the jam again, getting a strikeout and a flyout to center to end the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, Grady Bush hit a one-out single to left, was moved to second on a balk call, and stole third base. With two outs, Cam Simmons laid down a bunt, and the throw from the pitcher got past the first baseman, allowing Bush to score and the Eagles to claw closer at 2-1.
Needing at least a run to stay alive, New Albany started the seventh drawing back-to-back walks. With one out, Jacob Richardson laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Blaney and tie the game at 2-2 at the end of regulation.
Both the eighth and ninth innings went by quickly for both squads, as neither offense could get going. In the top of the tenth, Marquez reached first on a throwing error by the second baseman. Three pitches later, Cole Charles hit a double to left center that scored Marquez and put the Comets back on top 3-2.
Quinn Blaney would draw a lead-off walk in the bottom of the inning, but Cael Charles retired the next three hitters to seal a 3-2 victory for Amherst Steele, sending the Comets to their first-ever state championship game.
Up Next
Amherst will look to put the cherry on top of their amazing season on Saturday night when they square off with Anthony Wayne. The Generals advanced to the title game with a 1-0 victory over Walsh Jesuit. The first pitch is scheduled for 7 pm at Canal Park in Akron.
Top Performers
Amherst Steele Comets
Harrison Schneider: 6 IP 3 H 1 ER 6 K 0-2 BB
Landon Wolf: 1-4 HR 2 RBI BB
Cael Charles: 4 IP 3 K 1 BB W
New Albany Eagles
Jate Hoovler: 1-3 2B
Cam Simmons: 8 IP 2 ER 8 K 4 BB
