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Vote Now: What was the top play from the OHSAA baseball state tournament?

Here are the nominees for the top plays in the OHSAA baseball state tournament.

Ryan Isley, SBLive Sports

Vote Now: What was the top play from the OHSAA baseball state tournament?
Vote Now: What was the top play from the OHSAA baseball state tournament? /
Photo by Jeff Harwell
Photo by Jeff Harwell

The OHSAA held the baseball state tournament this past weekend at Canal Park in Akron with Sylvania Northview, Chardon, Waynedale and Russia taking home the top honors in their respective divisions.

There were plenty of great plays in the 12 games played across the four divisions and here are 15 of the best (listed in chronological order). Read through the nominees and cast your vote. Voting will conclude Sunday at 11:59 p.m.

Sam Muetzel, Tristan Gorius and Eli Morris 6-4-3 double play, Newark Catholic

In a scoreless game in the Division IV state semifinal game against Russia, Newark Catholic shortstop Sam Muetzel fielded the grounder, threw to Tristan Gorius at second, who fired to first baseman Eli Morris to complete the inning-ending double play.

Waynedale 1-4-6-3 double play, Waynedale

With Waynedale leading Liberty Union 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning of the Division III state semifinals, Liberty Union had runners on the corners and nobody out. But Cayden Carroll hit a line drive up the middle that deflected off pitcher Trey Barkman’s glove right to second baseman Dylan Raber, who threw to shortstop Ean Miller at second. Miller then fired to first to complete the double play.

“Dylan made a great play on that,” Barkman said. “And we turned two and we got out of it.”

AJ Meyer diving catch, Roger Bacon

In the first inning of the Division III semifinal game against Milan Edison, Meyer tracked down a ball hit by Dominic Dymond and laid out to make the catch to end the first inning.

Bryce Michaelis and Dominic Dymond double play, Milan Edison

In the bottom of the sixth inning of a scoreless game in the Division III semifinals, Roger Bacon had runners on second and third with just one out. Ty Brenner hit a fly ball to shallow center and Michaelis came in to make the catch. Michaelis came up firing to catcher Dominic Dymond who caught the ball and applied the tag to the runner trying to score from third base to end the inning.

“That was a big throw,” Edison coach Sean Hoover said. “It was a good test on their part, but he put it right on the money. He had one a few games ago it was kind of shallow like that, and he threw it wide left, so we worked on that.”

Benny Seals and Brodey Acres turn double play, Sylvania Northview

In the top of the first inning with a run already in, Kenston had the bases loaded with one out in the Division I state semifinals. But Northview pitcher Garrett Zimmerman induced a ground ball to second baseman Benny Seals, who flipped to Brodey Acres at second and Acres threw to Alex Dupree to complete the inning ending double play.

Ayden Hall scores on wild pitch, Sylvania Northview

With the Division I state semifinal game tied at 2-2, Northview had the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs. Kenston pitcher Jake Vasil delivered low, and the ball got through the legs of the catcher. Hall, who had entered the game as a pinch runner, took off from third and scored on the wild pitch to win the game.

“Oh man, I was hoping it would happen,” Hall said. “When I got there safe, I was in tears. I was so happy. There are so many high emotions right now. That was so cool.”

AJ Lefton makes play off Brenden Garula, Mason

In the fifth inning of the Division I semifinal game, Grady Speegle of Grove City hit a ball right back up the middle off Garula on the mound. The ball ricocheted to Lefton at second, who fielded it and threw out Speegle to end the inning.

Landyn Vidourek double play, Hamilton Badin

In the first inning of the Division II semifinal, Archbishop Hoban had the bases loaded with just one out and already had one run in. Nate Shimmel hit a ball to Vidourek at shortstop, who took it to second himself and then threw across to first to complete the double play.

Caught Stealing of home, Lincolnview

In the fifth inning of the Division IV state championship game, Russia led 3-2 and had a runner on third with one out. With Braylon Cordonnier at the plate, the Raiders tried a squeeze play. Lincolnview pitcher Landon Price threw it past Cordonnier and catcher Carson Fox tagged out the runner at home.

Josiah Raber, Jay Mast and Dylan Raber double play, Waynedale

With the game tied 1-1 in the top of the sixth inning of the Division III state championship game, Milan Edison had a runner on first with nobody out. Hayden Fry tried to bunt but popped out to catcher Josiah Raber, who tried to then throw out the runner at first. The ball went into right field and the runner took off for second. Jay Mast picked up the ball in right and fired to Dylan Raber at second. The runner was called safe but Dylan Raber then threw to Josiah Raber who was now at first, and the runner was called out for never tagging up on the original pop-up. The official scoring of the play was 2-9-4-2.

Connor Gatti walk-off winner, Waynedale

With the Division III championship game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Waynedale had the bases loaded with two outs. Gatti took a pitch on the outside part of the plate and lined it to right center to score Josiah Raber with the game-winning run.

“I said to myself ‘this is the moment,’” Gatti said. “Right now is when we are going to win the state title.”

Blake Bradford steals home, Sylvania Northview

In the bottom of the fifth in the Division I championship game, Sylvania Northview led 3-1 and had the bases loaded with one out. The Wildcats attempted a squeeze play, but the hitter didn’t make contact. Bradford continued to make his way to the plate and was able to avoid the tag for a steal of home.

Nate Shimmel and Shawn Parnell double play, Archbishop Hoban

With Hoban holding onto a 4-3 lead in the top of the fourth inning after already having given up a run in the inning, Chardon had runners on first and second with one out. Chardon’s Christian Hall hit a line drive that was caught by Shimmel at third base, who then threw to Parnell at second for the inning-ending double play.

Ethan Faber diving catch, Chardon

In the bottom of the seventh inning and Chardon just three outs away from its first baseball state title, Hoban’s Zack Zimmerman hit a fly ball to center that was dropping. Faber charged in and went all out for the catch to keep the Knights off the bases.

Nolan Kirsh and Jake Barker double play, Chardon

With one out in the seventh inning and Chardon leading Hoban 8-5, the Knights had a runner on first. Hoban’s Nate Shimmel hit a line drive to third that was gloved by Kirsh. The junior then threw to first to Barker to complete the double play and end the game.

“The double play man, it went in slow motion for me,” Chardon pitcher Christian Hall said. “I saw it off the bat, I saw him catch it and I didn’t even see the dude coming off first. As soon as I saw my third baseman turn to make that throw, I was like ‘ooh we got him, that’s game.’ My heart dropped and I was so excited.”

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Ryan Isley, SBLive Sports
RYAN ISLEY, SBLIVE SPORTS

Ryan Isley is a Regional Editor for SBLive Sports, covering Ohio and Pennsylvania. 

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