by Akron, Ohio – The Kenston Bombers locked up their first state championship with a 4-3 win over Ontario in the Division II State Championship at Canal Park Saturday afternoon.
Peyton Dzugan took the mound for Ontario, and Nikko Georgiou did the same for Kenston.
Colten Raimon reached base with a single, and got to second due to a wild pitch. He later scored on a Gage Weaver sacrifice fly to put the Warriors ahead, 1-0.
Kenston responded with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Tommy Pecoraro led off with a single, and advanced to second on a sac bunt from Parker Munday. He moved to third on a balk, and Nikko Georgiou drove him home with an RBI single to tie the score. Bridger Bischof followed with a single of his own to bring in Georgiou and give Kenston the lead, 2-1. Grant Beclay had a sacrifice squeeze play to score Bischof and increase the lead to 3-1.
The Bombers added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth. L.A. Mighton drove a flyball to right field that got past a diving Colten Raimon. He ended up at third base with a triple. After a Drew McKenna popout, Jimmy Cerha followed with an RBI groundout to score Mighton and increase the Kenston lead to 4-1.
Ontario was not done yet, as they put together a rally in the top of the sixth. Jayden Leach led off with a single to right field. Gage Weaver followed with a walk, and Carter Weaver hit a grounder to third. Jayden Leach evaded the tag attempt at third base, and the bases were loaded. Carter Walters followed with an RBI single to plate Leach and Gage Weaver, cutting the Warrior deficit to 4-3.
Nikko Georgiou induced a flyout to center field for the first out. He then struck out the next two hitters to escape further danger.
Ontario came up once more in the top of the seventh, looking to either tie or take the lead. Peyton Dzugan had a lead-off single to right. Colten Raimon followed with a sacrifice bunt to get Dzugan to second. Jayden Leach then hit a liner to Tommy Perocaro, who made a diving grab, and tossed the ball to Carter Flynn to end the game and set off a wild celebration.
Senior pitcher Nikko Georgiou threw a complete game, giving up six hits, two earned runs, walking one, and striking out seven on 89 pitches. Tommy Pecoraro went 2-2 with a walk and a run scored.
Carter Walters went 2-2 for Ontario with a two-run single and a walk.
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