by Over the past decade or so, the Hoban Knights have dominated on the gridiron, having won five state championships in the last six years. Coming Friday, the baseball team is looking for their first ever title in school history.
It was an up-and-down regular season for the Knights, who on May 1 sat at 8-9 after back-to-back losses against Hoover and Massillon Washington. However, the Knights have not lost since, and are currently riding a 14-game winning streak into Friday’s contest against Vermilion.
Their playoff road started with a win by forfeit over Warrensville Heights. Next, they beat archrival SVSM on the road, 4-0, to advance to the Revere District.
In the sectional semifinals, the Knights defeated Triway, 11-1 in five innings, and held off host Revere, 2-1, for their first District championship since.
In the Canton regional semifinal, they defeated CVC Chagrin Division champion Chagrin Falls, 4-2. They beat Salem, 4-1, in the final, to make their first state appearance since 2013.
Also included are victories against Division III State Semifinalist Canton Central Catholic (avenging a 5-4 loss earlier in the season), who will be competing Friday afternoon, and Massillon Regional semifinalist Gilmour Academy.
This isn’t even Hoban’s first trip to Canal Park this season! Earlier in the year, they beat rival St. Vincent-St. Mary’s, 6-1, on April 18th, and lost to Division I State Semifinalist Walsh Jesuit, 2-0, four days later.
Players to watch include senior pitcher and John Carroll baseball commit Dylan Feltovich and senior Thomas Crowe. Also included is junior multi-sport athlete Shawn Parnell, who is a University of Cincinnati baseball commit.
Friday night, the Knights will be playing against the Vermilion Sailors, who defeated Firelands, 17-14, in their regional championshp game. The winner will advance to the state championship game Sunday afternoon.
Thanks for the preview Tony. Go Knights!