by Akron, Ohio – Russia defeated Lincolnview, 10-4 in the OHSAA Division IV state championship Saturday morning.
After a scoreless first inning, Lincolnview jumped ahead, 1-0, thanks to a two-out RBI single from Brandon Renner.
Russia followed up with a pair of runs in their half of the second inning. Braydon Cordonnier reached with a lead-off single. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and scored, thanks to a Zane Shappie single.
With two out, Jude Counts hit an RBI single to right field to give Russia the 2-1 lead, scoring Zane Shappie.
Lincolnview tied it up in the top of the third when Cole Binkley reached on an error. He would later come around and score when Caden Hanf beat out a fielder’s choice, and the throw got past the first baseman.
Hayden Quinter led off the bottom of the third with a single to right. He scored on an Aiden Shappie single to right field.
Russia looked to extend their lead in the fifth inning. Hayden Quinter led off with a walk, and got all the way to third, but a failed suicide squeeze attempt thwarted their chance.
Xavier Philpot worked a scoreless sixth, and the Raiders did their damage in the bottom half.
The Raiders loaded the bases off starter Landon Price, forcing him out of the game after 125 pitches.
Xavier Philpot drew a walk to increase the lead to 4-2. Hayden Quinter followed with a two-run single to left to increase the margin to 6-2. Grant Saunders added an RBI single to left, and Braylon Cordonnier followed with a two-run RBI triple to right center to break it open.
Aiden Shappie followed with another RBI single to make the gap 10-2.
Lincolnview added a pair of runs in the top of the seventh thanks to a triple from Cole Binkley, and an RBI grounder from Dane Ebel.
From there, junior starting pitcher Xavier Philpot finished the job, and Russia secured their first state title since 1971. Philpot threw 109 pitches Saturday morning.
Freshman shortstop Braylon Cordonnier went 3-4 with a pair of RBI. Senior Aiden Shappie went 3-3 with a pair of RBI, as did sophomore Hayden Quinter.
