By JOHN KEREZY, eyeoncleveland.com Founder
This package contains:
- PREVIEWS of all four teams in “Game One” and “Game Two” sections
- ROSTERS of all four teams
- DETAILS about Canal Park for fans who are attending.
- DETAILS about Downtown Akron
- LINKS to other details about the State Championship tournament.
FOR HILAND FANS: Note that WKLM will be carrying the Hawks’ games from Canal Park this weekend. Tune into 95.3 FM or on the internet at https://wklmfm.com to follow the baseball action that way if you cannot be there in person.
You can download rosters of all four teams here:
GAME ONE
FORT RECOVERY (15-12) vs. No. 3 (Jeromesville) HILLSDALE (19-11)
Timely hitting and great pitching have propelled the unranked Indians to the state tournament. No. 1 starter Alex Dues (7-3) has a 2.18 ERA and has also hurled about one-third of the total innings for Fort Recovery. Dues yielded only one earned run in Ft. Recovery’s 14-4 win against Montpelier in the Regional semifinal game.
No. 2 starter Caden Grisez was one of the heroes of the team’s 5-1 Regional final upset over Leipsic on May 31 when he tossed a five-hitter, striking out seven and walking only one batter. Grisez has a 3-0 mark and a 1.97 Earned Run Average (ERA). Grisez and Gavin Faller also pounded out doubles in beating Leipsic.
On offense, Reece Wendel (.301 Batting Average, or BA), Grisez (.267 BA), Caden Homan (.243 BA and 23 RBIs) and Troy Homan (.275 BA) are the team’s leaders. Caden also has 7 doubles and a team-high 23 RBIs. Troy has 2 doubles, a triple and 10 RBIs as well. Indian hitters are well above their season average in hits and runs in their tournament run. That is one reason why the Indians, who finished sixth in the Midwest Athletic Conference, are heading to Akron for the State Championship tournament.
Ft. Recovery Coach Kevin Eyink also credits terrific team chemistry and the work of his pitcher-catcher batteries for the team’s success. “(It’s) players willing to accept any role has helped us reach the state semifinals. These players are playing great together and playing for each other,” he says.
“The lineup, really hitting well all the way through the order, has been a big part of our success in the post season as well,” he adds. “Great catching by Riggs Tobe, and great pitching by Alex Dues and Caden Grisez have been key.”
Eyink adds that the team will need to continue hitting the ball well, and rely on strong pitching and great defense in the State Championships.
He also believes Fort Recovery will have a not-so-secret weapon at Canal Park – rabid fans.
“Our players, fans, town, and staff are all really excited to be back in the state semifinals after last being here in 2015 and 2016,” he says. “In a small town when a team is having success everyone really takes pride in that team and shows their support. It has been really fun to see everyone’s support and appreciation for this group of players.”
* * * *
Many Division IV baseball fans believed Hillsdale had a good shot at getting to Akron for the State Championships. The Falcons have a perennially strong program even before their 2019 State tournament appearance, where they finished as runner-up.
“We have had some ups and downs, and we have hit a positive stretch now,” says Hilldale Coach Jason Snow, explaining his squad. “I love our confidence and focus right now. We are playing hard and enjoying the game.”
Hilldale did just about everything right in its Regional tournament, defeating No. 1 Lake Center Christian 2-1 in the semifinal contest, then beating Warren JFK 3-0 to earn the right to compete for a state championship.
In the Regional final, pitcher Gavin Casdorph induced 14 ground ball outs and needed only 79 pitches to dispense with the talented hitters from Warren JFK. He has a 2.03 ERA, and he’s the No. 2 starter.
Hillsdale’s All Ohio athlete Jack Fickes is the No. 1 starter (2.83 ERA) and centerfielder on days when he’s not on the mound. Aiden Hoffman (2.66 ERA) is another of the Falcons’ top pitchers.
Fickes leads the team in hitting with a .402 batting average, but fellow seniors Owen Hoffman (.400) and Brock Bower (.370) are not far behind. An opportunistic team on the basepaths, Fickes (14 steals) Braylen Jarvis (also 14 steals) and Bower (12 steals) are always looking for that extra base.
Fickes also paces the Falcons with 32 RBIs. 36 runs, 10 doubles and 41 hits. As a team, Hillsdale has an eye-popping .329 and also has an 0.834 OBPS (On base plus slugging percentage.)
Coach Snow also likes his team’s enthusiasm, and the energy which emanates from the Hillsdale dugout in games. “We just kept saying, ‘we have to keep at it,’” he said in an interview. “They were pushing each other. Somebody might have a bad at bad, but they are trying to keep everything positive.” (Story continues below.)
ALL OHIO SELECTIONS
Five of the players competing in the OHSAA Division IV State Championship Tournament have been named All Ohio by the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association (OHSBCA). There are four First-Team selections in Russia senior Felix Francis and junior Braylon Cordonnier, Berlin Hiland senior Cody Yoder, and Hillsdale senior Jack Fickes. Additionally, Hiland junior Colin Coblentz is a Second Team All Ohio performer. Congrats to all!
GAME TWO
Revenge-minded Russia to tangle with Hawks once again
From the perspective of the Russia HS team and coach, the only thing that has stood in the way of Russia winning (possibly) three consecutive State Championships are the Hiland Hawks.
The Raiders took the state title in 2022. In the 2023 state championship game, their team rallied from a 4-0 deficit to tie Hiland at 4-4 in the bottom of the fourth. But in a base-loaded, one-out situation, relief pitcher Issac Yoder struck out two Russia batters to end the comeback. Hiland proceeded to score six times in the top of the fifth, then never looked back. Final score was 14-4, and the Hawks dethroned the Raiders.
On Saturday at 7 p.m. in Akron’s Canal Park, 27-4 Russia tangles with 25-5 Hiland once again, this time in the second of the two OHSAA Division IV State Semifinal games.
If Russia triumphs, it goes on to the finals gunning for its second title in three years. If the Hawks win, they advance to the final contest seeking their second consecutive title. This appearance also marks the second time Hiland has appeared in the State Championship in back-to-back seasons. They did it last in 2016 (state title) and 2017.
In remarks given to reporters after Russia defeated Troy Christian 12-3 in its Regional final, Raiders Head Coach Kevin Philpot defined the upcoming game in crystal clear terms.
“We play Berlin, and I guess we’ll have a chance to return a favor,” Philpot said about his team. “So, we’re going to have to play better than we played yesterday (Friday 5/30) and today (5/31). Some have better pitching, some have better hitting. Some teams are more complete than us. So, I don’t care who we play.”
Philpot points out that his Raider team, paced by several seniors, has had an outstanding four-year stretch. “I think they’ve won something like 104 games in the last four years,” he added. “…this is not something to take lightly.”
Russia is a veteran, record-setting team. Leadoff batter Felix Francis set new marks for runs (48) and stolen bases (36) in a season. Hayden Quinter has the Raiders’ mark for carer hits (137) and Branden Monnin for career runs (113). All three are seniors, as is Ben Rinderle, one of Russia’s two probable starting pitchers for the tournament, The other, junior flame thrower Braylon Cordonnier, already has secured a baseball scholarship to Marshall University. There’s little doubt that he’ll start on the mound for the Raiders on Saturday night.
Then there are the Hawks.
Coach Chris Dages credits the excellent effort and constant improvement of his players as the main reason why Hiland is back in the State Championships.
“They have worked extremely hard to put themselves in this position,” said Dages. “We set ourselves high expectations at the beginning of the year …. Being able to compete (again) for a state championship. These players have the opportunity to experience it twice .., but it didn’t happen by accident.”
Dages praised the work of pitchers junior Caden Coblentz and senior Finn Schneider and also the backstop efforts of junior catcher Danny Hostetler, calling pitches and keeping the opposition’s running game in check. “Defensively, we need to keep playing clean and not allow the other team to get extra outs in inning or take extra bases,” he added.
On offense, everyone knows how explosive the Hawks have become. When a team scores 31 runs in its two Regional tournament games, the whole State of Ohio takes notice.
“Our bats are extremely hot right now. Particularly in the middle of our line-up,” Dages stated. “Cody Yoder (.478 average), Colin Coblentz (.402 average) and Brady Yoder (.363 average) are doing a lot of damage every time they come to the plate.”
Combined, this trio has accounted for 110 hits, including 29 doubles, eight triples, and seven home runs, in the Hawks’ offense. But Dages also praises his hurlers for Hiland’s return to the State tournaments.
“On the flip side, our pitching has been very sharp, keeping hitters of balance with their ability to execute any pitch they throw.”
Expect a fiercely-contested and spirited game two between Russia and Hiland on Saturday night.
ABOUT THE TOURNAMENTS
The Ohio High School Athletic Association will crown champions in all four of its baseball divisions this weekend. It’ll also be the final season for the four-division alignment as well. The OHSAA through Bryan Hefflinger of Prep Baseball has done an excellent profile of all 16 teams — four finalists in each division. Link to it is just below:
“SNIPPETS” ON ALL FOUR TEAMS AND PROGRAMS
RUSSIA
The Russia HS Raiders were ranked No. 1 in the Cincinnati Regional, and also finished in first place in the Shelby County Athletic League. Russia is about 40 miles north of Dayton, and it’s about 200 miles from Russia HS to Canal Park Stadium. This is the team’s third consecutive trip to State Semis/Finals in Division IV. Russia’s Raiders, 27-4 on the season, defeated Troy Christian 12-3 to advance to State Semifinals on Friday (May 31). Russia was state champions in 2022. It lost to Hiland 14-4 in the 2023 State Championship game.
See story about Russia’s most recent victory here: https://pressprosmagazine.com/2024/06/01/russia-three-peats-as-regional-champs-will-meet-berlin-in-state-semis/
(Berlin) HILAND
The No. 1 (Lancaster Regional) ranked Hiland, 25-5 defeated Fairfield 18-0 to advance to State Semifinals. Berlin Hiland is about 50 miles south of Canal Park Stadium. Hiland finished first in the South Division of the Inter Valley Conference. This is the Hawks’ first back-to-back State Semis/Finals appearance. In 2023, Hiland defeated Russia 14-4 for the state title.
See story about Hiland’s most recent victory here:
(Jeromesville) HILLSDALE
The Hillsdale OH Falcons, finished in third place in the Wayne County Athletic Conference. The No. 3 (Louisville Regional) ranked Falcons, 19-11, defeated Warren John F. Kennedy Catholic HS to advance to State Semis. Hillsdale is in Jeromesville, which is about15 miles west of Wooster and about 50 miles from Canal Park Stadium. They were last in the State Semis/State Finals in 2019, and were state runnersup in that tournament. See a story about Hillsdale’s regional victory here:
FORT RECOVERY
No. 6 ranked Fort Recovery, 15-12 , advanced to State Semis by upsetting Leipsic High School 5-1. The Fort Recovery Indians finished sixth in the regular season in the Midwest Athletic Conference. Near the Indiana border in Mercer County, Fort Recovery is about 210 miles west of Canal Park Stadium. It was last in the State Semi/Finals in 2016.
See a story about For Recovery’s regional triumph game here: https://www.limaohio.com/sports/2024/06/01/fort-recovery-upsets-leipsic-for-trip-to-state/
ALSO
Maxprep’s “preview” of Russia vs. Hiland is here: https://www.maxpreps.com/games/6-8-2024/baseball-24/hiland-vs-russia.htm?c=Id2eF1uW4EiPeGnpEjRhhw&returnurl=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubWF4cHJlcHMuY29tL2xvY2FsL2NvbnRlc3QvZGVmYXVsdC5hc3B4P2NvbnRlc3RpZD0xNzllZGQyMS05NjViLTQ4ZTAtOGY3OC02OWU5MTIzNDYxODcmc3NpZD03Njk1NDkwMi02ZDMxLTRkNTktYjZmNC1kYmRmMzZmMzVmZjU#tab=matchup&schoolid=
CANAL PARK AND AKRON
Canal Park is located at 300 S Main Street, Akron OH 44308
Canal Park is a cashless facility. There are reverse ATMs in the ballpark that will convert cash to a debit card that’s good anywhere in the park.
Ticketing is also cashless. Digital tickets can be purchased on site via QR code or online in advance here: https://www.ohsaa.org/tickets
Parking information is near the bottom of this page: https://www.ohsaa.org/Sports-Tournaments/Baseball/2024-Baseball/2024-Baseball-State-Tournament-Coverage
All lots are controlled by the city of Akron, so there are various charges depending on the lot. Convenient
parking is in the State Street parking garage just beyond right field. (Easy in and out.)
Rain delays/schedule updates will be posted on the OHSAA twitter account, @OHSAAsports.
EA Graphics is the OHSAA’s merchandising partner. They will be on site at Canal Park and will take online orders here: https://ohsaa.eagraphics.com/ohsaa/shop/home
Tournament programs will be on sale at Canal Park (You can find them in the Guest Services Booth on the
concourse). After the event, OHSAA will accept online orders here: https://www.ohsaa.org/fanguide/programs
Canal Park opened in 1997. Here is the website for the ballpark: https://www.milb.com/akron/ballpark/canal-park-guide
Field dimensions to the fences are:
Left Field: 331 feet (101 m)
Left Center: 376 feet (115 m)
Center Field: 400 feet (120 m)
Right Center: 375 feet (114 m)
Right Field: 337 feet (103 m)
If you are staying in Akron and looking for things to do, here’s a guide from the Downtown Akron Partnership:
https://www.downtownakron.com/guide/free-and-low-cost-things-to-do-in-downtown-akron
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