by Akron, Ohio – The Kenston Bombers used a seventh inning rally to defeat Chaminade Julienne, 4-2, in the Division II state semifinals at Canal Park Friday morning.
Senior pitcher and Akron commit Parker Munday took the mound for Kenston, and junior Jackson Frasure did the same for Chaminade Julienne.
The Eagles got on board in the bottom of the second, starting with a one-out walk from JP Peltier. Peltier then stole second after a strikeout, and advanced to third when the throw to second went into the outfield. He scored on another errant throw from center, and Chaminade Julienne led 1-0.
The pitching from both sides was stellar, to say the least. Neither side had a hit until the bottom of the fourth inning, when Jacob Brunner hit a single to center field. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Charlie Hoagland, and scored on an RBI single to right from Patrick Gonter-Dray. This made the score 2-0 in favor of Chaminade-Julienne.
Junior pitcher Jackson Frasure took a no-hitter into the sixth inning. Senior first baseman Drew McKenna hit a double to left field for the first Kenston hit of the game. However, Frasure got out of the inning without further damage.
The Eagles got a pair of walks in the bottom of the sixth, looking to add to their 2-0 lead. But Munday induced an inning-ending double play to get out of the frame and keep the Bombers within striking distance.
Kenston made their charge in the top of the seventh. Parker Munday led off with a single. After a Nikko Georgiou popout, Bridger Bischof laced a single to left to put runners at first and second. Pinch hitter Avery Siperke worked a 2-0 count, and Chaminade Julienne starting pitcher Jackson Frasure was pulled for reliever Charlie Hoagland. Siperke managed to work a walk to load the bases, setting the stage for Carter Flynn.
The Ohio Wesleyan soccer commit delivered, hitting a single to left field to score Munday and Bischof, tying the game at 2. L.A. Mighton then followed up with a single to score Siperke and give the Bombers the lead, 3-2.
The Bombers added a much-needed insurance run when Parker Munday raced home on a pick-off attempt throw to first base.
Now pitching with the lead, Parker Munday worked around a walk and struck out the final two batters to put Kenston in their first state championship game in school history.
Kenston, now 20-13, advances to take on in the Division II state semifinal Saturday afternoon. Munday threw a complete game, striking out 12 hitters on 113 pitches. He allowed just one earned run and walked four. They will face Ontario in the Division II state championship on Saturday, June 10th, at 4:00pm.
Chaminade Julienne finishes their season at 27-6. Jackson Frasure threw 6.1 innings, allowing just three hits, walking three, and striking out four.
Extended highlights here:
Kenston vs. Chaminade Julienne (OHSAA Div. II State Semifinal) (Baseball) (06/09/2023) – YouTube
