by Akron, Ohio – Mike Ciavolella’s sacrifice fly in the top of the tenth inning gave Hoban a 2-1 victory over Bloom-Carroll in the Division II State Championship at Canal Park.
Sunday’s win was Hoban’s first baseball championship in school history, and their fourth in the school year. They also won states in football, dance, and boys golf.
Both teams traded zeroes throughout the game, thanks to tremendous pitching.
Bloom-Carroll put a runner on in the bottom of the second, but Noah LaFine got a grounder and a strikeout to end the frame. The Bulldogs did the same thing in the third, but LaFine got a strikeout and flyball.
Hoban struck first in the top of the fourth.
Nolan Holmgren was hit by a pitch, then Dylan Feltovich reached with a bunt single. Thomas Crowe also reached, thanks to catchers’ intereference. Parker Falkenstein then capitalized with a sac fly to right, plating Holmgren, and putting Hoban up, 1-0.
Senior pitcher Joshua Moore got out of the inning with a strikeout and popout to prevent any further damage.
In the bottom of the sixth, Bloom-Carroll outfielder Ayden Anderson led off with a double to left. After a walk, two wild pitches tied the score at one.
After a scoreless seventh inning, the game went into extras.
Hoban put a runner on in the top of the ninth thanks to a Dylan Feltovich single. A sac bunt looked to move him to second. The first-base umpire ruled there was interference on the play, forcing the runner back to first.
Also, a possible balk was not called, and Hoban head coach Andrew Bonnette was ejected for arguing the call.
After the scoreless ninth, Hoban broke through in the top of the tenth.
Leadoff hitter Matt Terzola drew a walk. He advanced to third thanks to two wild pitches, and later scored on a sac fly by Mike Ciavolella.
Senior pitcher Dillon Walsh, who came on in relief in the seventh, earned the win. He went four innings, allowing just one hit and struck out one.
Freshman starting pitcher Noah LaFine threw an outstanding game Sunday afternoon. The freshman went six innings giving up just one run on five hits, walked two, and struck out seven.
Bloom-Carroll senior pitcher Joshua Moore threw eight innings, allowing just one run on three hits, and struck out five.
Congratulations to both teams on an outstanding contest!
