Vote Now: What was the top play from the 2023 OHSAA baseball state tournament?

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

AKRON, Ohio -- The Ohio High School Athletic Association held the baseball state tournament this past weekend at Canal Park in Akron with Austintown Fitch, Tallmadge, Wheelersburg and Strasburg-Franklin 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 some of the best (listed in chronological order). Read through the nominees and cast your vote. Voting will conclude Sunday, June 18 at 11:59 p.m.

(Photo: Archbishop Moeller players hoist the Division I state championship trophy after defeating Olentangy Orange 4-1. Credit Ryan Isley)

Conlan Daniel sliding catch, Archbishop Moeller

With the Crusaders leading Walsh Jesuit 2-0 in the seventh inning of the Division I state semifinals, Walsh had runners on first and second with one out when Topher Salek hit a fly ball to short right field. Conlan ran in on the play and made the catch to get the out and hold the runners. Moeller won 2-0.

Charlie Scholvin diving stop, Olentangy Orange

In the sixth inning of the Division I state semifinals, Anthony Wayne led 1-0 and had a runner on first with one out. Jack Behnfeldt hit a ball up the middle that looked destined for the outfield, but Scholvin ranged to his left, dove, made the stop and flipped to Ian Dando at second base for the force out.

Dominic Carlson double play, Anthony Wayne

With the Division I state semifinal against Olentangy Orange tied 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh, the Pioneers had the bases loaded with one out. Diego Astacio hit a line drive back up the middle that Carlson snagged on the mound and threw to first baseman Jack Behnfeldt for an inning-ending double play.

Keegan Knupp game-winning squeeze bunt, Olentangy Orange

With Orange and Anthony Wayne tied 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth, Cole Cahill led off with a triple for the Pioneers. After an out and two intentional walks, Knupp laid down a bunt up the first base line that scored Cahill for the game-winning run in a 3-2 victory.

1-4-6-5 double play, St. Henry

In a scoreless game in the third inning of the Division IV state semifinal game, Russia had the leadoff runner on first base. Xavier Phlipot laid down a sacrifice bunt fielded by St. Henry pitcher Devin Delzeith. He threw to second baseman Ethan Nietfeld covering first for the out. Then Nietfeld threw behind the runner at second, who had taken a wide turn. Shortstop Logan Link threw to third baseman Bryce Brookhart to record the second out of the play.

Brayden Monnin throws out runner at the plate, Russia

With the Division IV state semifinal against St. Henry still scoreless in the top of the sixth inning, Russia had a runner on third with one out. Hayden Boeckman hit a chopper to second baseman Brayden Monnin, who jumped to make the play, came down and made the throw to catcher Cooper Unverferth who applied the tag. Russia went on to win 1-0 in eight innings.

Xavier Phlipot walk-off single, Russia

With Russia and St. Henry scoreless in the bottom of the eighth inning in the Division IV state semifinals, Jude Counts led off with a bunt single and moved to second on a wild pitch. Phlipot came to the plate and sent the first pitch to right field for a walk-off RBI single for a 1-0 victory.

4-6-3 inning-ending double play, Hiland

With Tiffin Calvert leading Hiland 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth, the Senecas had bases loaded with one out and were looking to add to their lead. But Hiland pitcher Nolan Yoder induced a ground ball to second baseman Connor Beachy by AJ Shoemaker. Beachy made the play, flipped to shortstop Alec Weaver at second base for one and he threw on to Grady Monigold at first base for the double play to keep the score 1-0. Hiland went on to win 4-1 in eight innings.

AJ Dallmayer diving catch, Washington Court House Washington

With the Division II state semifinal game against Ontario scoreless in the third inning, Ontario had a runner on second with two outs. Jayden Leach lifted a fly ball to right center that looked like it was going to drop to score a run, but Dallmayer tracked it down and fully extended to make the diving catch.

Peyton Dzugan throw to the plate, Ontario

With Ontario leading its Division II state semifinal game against Washington Court House Washington 1-0, Washington’s John Wall hit an RBI single up the middle but Dzugan cmae up with the ball in center and fired home to catcher Jake Chapman to cut down the potential go-ahead run. Ontario went on to win 2-1.

Treston Nemeth pickoff, Harrison Central

With Harrison Central holding a 2-1 lead ion the sixth inning of its Division III state semifinal against Heath, the Bulldogs had runners on first and second with two outs. Nemeth lifted his leg and saw the runner break from second, so he turned and fired to pick off the runner and end the inning. Harrison Central held on to win 2-1.

Nathan Manley catches runner stealing, Archbishop Moeller

In the fifth inning of the Division I state championship game against Olentangy Orange, Moeller led 2-1 but the Pioneers had a runner on first with one out and were at the top of their lineup. The runner tried to steal second, but the Wright State commit came up throwing to second baseman Toby Hueber, who applied the tag for the out. Moeller went on to win the game 4-2.

Isaak Yoder two-run double, Hiland

After Russia scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game 4-4, Yoder came off the mound and got rwady for his at-bat. He delivered with a two-run double that started a six-run rally in the inning and Hiland won the game 14-4.

Grant Beclay squeeze bunt, Kenston

With Kenston leading the Division II state championship game 2-1 in the second inning, the Bombers had a runner on third with one out. With the runner sprinting towards home plate, Beclay laid down a perfect squeeze bunt on the first base line to score Bridger Bischoff to make it 3-1. The Bombers went on to win 4-3 to claim their first state title.

Tommy Pecoraro and Carter Flynn double play, Kenston

With a runner on second and one out for Ontario in the seventh inning with Kenston leading the Division II state championship game 4-3, Ontario’s Jayden Leach hit a soft liner to the left side of the infield. Pecoraro dove to make the catch, got up, started jogging towards second and flipped the ball to Flynn for a double play to clinch the state title.