CANTON — The Division II state baseball semifinal between Walsh Jesuit baseball and Anthony Wayne was a classic pitchers’ duel.
In the end, Wayne found just enough offense to edge the Warriors 1-0.
A walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh provided the game’s lone run, as the Generals (24-4) beat Walsh (19-9) to advance to the state title game at 7 p.m. June 14 at Canal Park in downtown Akron.
Wayne’s Ben Nieckarz hit a fly ball to right, driving in pinch runner Kaden Rouser with the winning run.
“We knew it was going to be like that,” said Walsh coach Joe Bowers. “We tried to scratch a run across early, but we just couldn’t get anything going. [Wayne pitcher Owen] Graf just pitched his butt off today.”
Graf was dominant, pitching a complete-game shutout, allowing one hit with six strikeouts.
Zach Swiderski got Walsh’s lone hit, a double, in the third.
However, Walsh starter Shawn Sullivan was just as good, if not better. In six shutout innings, he did not allow a hit with nine strikeouts and three walks.
Sullivan did get out of a bases-loaded jam in the third inning.
“I just kind of got out of sync,” Sullivan said. “I just had to step out, take a deep breath and get back to it. Once I did, I was able to get back into it.”
Both Bowers and Sullivan said he was tired after six innings and 98 pitches, so Bowers sent in Josh Pierson.
“I was tired. I put all my faith in Josh,” Sullivan said. “I always say baseball is the most 50/50 thing. Anything can happen.”
Wayne got a double from Max Crandell and a bunt single from Jeff Smith to set up the winning run.
Here are live updates from the state semifinal.
Wayne defeats Walsh 1-0 on a walk-off sacrifice fly in state semifinal
Jeff Smith with a bunt single for Wayne. Pinch runner Drew Cunningham running at first. Ben Nieckarz up with Walsh’s infield in.
Niecharz with a fly out to right field and Rauser beats the throw home to win the game 1-0.
Anthony Wayne will face Amherst Steele in the Division II state title game.
Walsh makes pitching change; Wayne gets first hit
Walsh relieves Shawn Sullivan with Josh Pierson. Sullivan goes six innings of scoreless, no-hit ball with nine strikeouts.
Wayne leads off with Max Crandell. He hits a single to left center and turns it into a double. Pinch runner Kaden Rauser comes on at second base, as the rain starts to fall here at Thurman Munson Stadium.
Walsh retired in order in the seventh, as the score remains tied at 0-0
Alex Ramon-Johnson leads off with a ground out for Walsh. Matthew Mansbery flies out to the shortstop. Carlos Smith strikes out. Make it 14 consecutive Walsh Jesuit batters retired.
Wayne strikes out twice; state semifinal remains 0-0 heading to the seventh inning
Wayne right fielder Tommy Kec leads off, but is robbed of a hit by the first baseman. Lukas Potkanowicz up. He strikes out looking. Cole Biedenharn up. He strikes out looking. Make it nine strikeouts for Sullivan, as it goes to the seventh inning scoreless.
Walsh retired in order again; state semifinal scoreless in the sixth inning
Zach Swiderski strikes out to open the sixth inning for Walsh. Dom Romanini bunts but is thrown out. Colin Lucigno up. He pops out to the catcher. Walsh retired in order. Graf has retired 11 straight Warriors, as it remains scoreless in the middle of the sixth.
Wayne unable to score, as the score remains 0-0 through 5 innings
Ben Nieckarz leads off for Wayne and walks on four pitches. Crue Carroll up. Wild pitch moves the runner up. Carroll strikes out as he bunted foul for strike three.
Runner on second, one out for Mason Dzierwa. Fielder’s choice has Nieckarz thrown out at third base.
Man on first, two out for Eli Dowana. He strikes out swinging. The game remain scoreless through five innings.
Walsh retired in order; game remains scoreless in the fifth inning
Jeff Brubaker strikes out looking for Walsh. Jagger Dalton up. He flies out to right. Catcher Andrew Holcomb up. He fouls out to the catcher.
Walsh retired in order. It remains 0-0 in the middle of the fifth inning.
Wayne retired in order; OHSAA state semifinal still scoreless through 4 innings
Cole Biedenharn leads off for the Generals. He grounds out to second. Max Crandell steps up. He grounds out to second. Jeff Smith up. He strikes out. Sullivan with five strikeouts through four innings.
The Generals go down 1-2-3 and it remains scoreless through four innings.
Walsh unable to get a hit; game remains scoreless in the fourth inning
Alex Ramon-Johnson leads off for Walsh. He grounds out to second. Matthew Mansbery up for Walsh. He pops out to third base. Carlos Smith up.
Smith reaches on a throwing error, but is then thrown out at second base.
No runs, no hits, one error, none left on base, as it remains scoreless in the middle of the fourth inning.
Wayne loads the bases, but Walsh escapes; scoreless through three innings
Center fielder Ben Nieckarz leads off the bottom of the third. He grounds out to the mound. Designated hitter Crue Carroll steps up. He’s hit by a pitch to become Wayne’s first base runner. Mason Dziewa up. He walks.
Two on, one out for Eli Donawa. Fielder’s choice to the shortstop, Dzierwa out at second, Donawa safe at first. Carroll moves to third.
Two on, two out for Tommy Kec. He walks. Bases loaded for Lukas Potkanowicz. He strikes out swinging.
The Generals leave them loaded. No runs, no hits, no errors, three left on base. We remain scoreless after three innings.
Walsh’s Zach Swiderski gets first hit, but still scoreless in third inning
Walsh catcher Andrew Holcomb leads off the third inning. He strikes out swinging. Zach Swiderski up. He hits a double just inside of third base to become the game’s first base runner.
Dom Romanini up for Walsh. Passed ball moves Swiderski to third. Rominini strikes out looking. Top of the order for Walsh as Colin Lucigno up. He flies out to end the inning.
No runs, one hit, no errors, one left of base for Walsh. It’s 0-0 in the middle of the third.
Anthony Wayne retired in order; OHSAA semifinal scoreless through 2 innings
First baseman Cole Biedenharn flies out on the first pitch. Third baseman Max Crandell up. He strikes out looking. Catcher Jeff Smith up for the Generals. He flies out. We are tied 0-0 at the end of two innings.
Walsh Jesuit retired 1-2-3 in the second inning
Carlos Smith leads off the second inning. He strikes out swinging. Right fielder Jake Brubaker steps up. He flies out to right. Designated hitter Jagger Dalton up for Walsh. He grounds out to second. It’s 0-0 in the middle of the second inning.
Anthony Wayne out quickly, Walsh-Wayne tied 0-0 at end of 1 inning
Walsh Jesuit starting pitcher Shawn Sullivan is on the mound.
Eli Donawa leads off for Anthony Wayne. He lines out to the shortstop. Left fielder Tommy Kec up. He strikes out swinging. Lukas Potkanowicz up. He strikes out looking. We are scoreless at the end of one inning.
Walsh Jesuit set down quickly in top of the first inning
Walsh set down in onrder to start the game. It’s 0-0 in the middle of the first. Anthony Wayne coming to bat.
First pitch away in OHSAA state semifinal Walsh Jesuit vs. Anthony Wayne
We are live from Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium. Anthony Wayne with Owen Graf on the mound. Walsh Jesuit leads off with second baseman Coline Lucigno.
Starting lineups for OHSAA state baseball semifinal Walsh Jesuit vs. Anthony Wayne
OHSAA Walsh Jesuit-Anthony Wayne start moved to 1:30 p.m.
The start of the Walsh Jesuit-Anthony has been moved back a half-hour due to the first Division II state semifinal going into extra innings.
Amherst Steel defeated New Albany in 3-2 in 10 innings. They will play the winner of the Walsh-Wayne June 14 at Canal Park in the Division II state final.
How did Walsh Jesuit advance to the state final four?
Walsh Jesuit won the Division II Northeast 1 title by defeating Massillon Perry 3-1 May 29. In the Region 5 semifinals, Walsh pulled out at 2-1 win over Stow June 4. The Warriors then won the Region 5 title with a 7-0 win over Lakewood June 5.
How did Anthony Wayne advance to the state final four?
Wayne won the Division II Northwest 2 district with a 2-0 win over Sylvania Southview May 29. In the Region 8 semifinals, Wayne defeated Trenton Edgewood 3-2 June 3, followed by a 4-3 win over Loveland Jun5 at Xenia. The Generals record is 23-4.
Who are the top players for Walsh Jesuit and Anthony Wayne?
For Walsh, Michigan recruit Matthew Mansbery is having a huge season at the plate, Mansbery is batting .513 with a .567 on-base percentage, along with three home runs, 40 hits and 16 RBIs. Alex Ramon-Johnson (.333, 17 doubles) and Carlos Smith (.302, 17 RBIs) also have hit well. Andrew Holcomb had the biggest moment of the postseason for Walsh, belting a walk-off home run in the regionals semifinal win over Stow.
On the mound, Walsh’s ace is Alabama recruit Shawn Sullivan. Sullivan is 5-1 with an 0.714 ERA and 87 strikeouts this season.
Walsh Jesuit’s head coach is Joe Bowers.
Anthony Wayne is led by first-team All-Ohio outfielder Eli Donawa and second-team All-Ohio pitcher Owen Graf. Graf, an Ohio State recruit, has given up two earned runs in 11 postseason innings. Pitcher Carter Johnson won both of Wayne’s regional games, pitching six scoreless rleife innings.
The Generals are coached by Ryan Donley.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: OHSAA baseball | Live scores, recap from Walsh Jesuit-Anthony Wayne state semifinal
Reporting by Michael Leonard, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
