After turning in a dominant performance in his team’s regional finals victory a week ago, Nikko Georgiou turned it on on the biggest stage, leading Kenston (21-11) to its first championship in school history with a 4-3 win over Ontario (17-15). The senior pitcher turned in a complete game effort on the mound and went 1-3 at the plate, scoring a run and driving one in.
Warriors Strike First, Bombers Strike It Big
Photo by Al Kornspan
Heading into the tournament Ontario was 10-14, rattling off six big wins to make it to their first championship game since 1994. Twenty-nine years later, the Warriors wasted no time finding their way onto the scoreboard. Leading off the first, Colten Ramion beat out an infield single. After a sacrifice bunt and a passed ball, Ramion was on third with Gage Weaver at the plate. The senior hit a fly ball to the center fielder, but it was deep enough to score the run and give Ontario a 1-0 lead.
Their lead would only last an inning as the Kenston offense got cooking in the second. After Tommy Pecoraro drew a walk and a sacrifice bunt moved him to second, pitcher Peyton Dzugan was called for a balk. With Pecoraro on third, Georgiou singled to left to tie the game. For the second time in the inning, Dzugan was called for a balk, moving Georgiou up to second. Bridger Bischof doubled to left center, scoring Georgiou and giving the Bombers a 2-1 lead. After a wild pitch advanced Bischof to third, Grant Beclay laid down a sacrifice bunt to increase the Kenston lead to 3-1 after two.
Georgiou Settles In, Kenston Extends Lead
Photo by Al Kornspan
After the Bombers took the lead in the second, Nikko Georgiou found his groove in the middle innings, allowing just two singles and getting out of both situations without much of a threat. In the bottom of the fifth, L.A. Mighton got things started for Kenston with a triple to deep right center. With one out, Jimmy Cerha hit a groundout to second that was enough to bring Mighton home and extend the lead to 4-1.
Ontario Rallies Late
Photo by Al Kornspan
Down to their last six outs, the Warriors had one last push left in them. Leading off the sixth, Jayden Leach hit the first pitch he saw to center for a single. The second pitch of the inning hit Gage Weaver, giving Ontario two on with nobody out. Carter Weaver hit a ball on the infield but the fielder couldn’t decide where to go, loading the bases for the Warriors. Carter Walters hit a single to left, scoring Gage Weaver and Leach to make it a one-run game at 4-3. Weaver and Walters would pull off a double steal, but Georgiou got a big strikeout to end the threat.
In the top of the seventh, Dzugan got aboard with a single to start the inning. After a sacrifice bunt moved him to second, Leach lined out to second leaving Dzugan caught in between, allowing the Bombers to get the double play to end the game.
Bombers Complete Comeback
Photo by Al Kornspan
After a heartbreaking loss to Sylvania Northview a year ago in their first-ever Final Four appearance, Kenston avenged last season’s defeat by winning the first baseball championship in school history. Following a late-season loss to Willoughby South, the Bombers rattled off ten straight wins to end the year.
@Bomber_baseKHS wins the OHSAA Division II State Championship.@NEOSportsInside @KenstonSchools @KHSBomberSports pic.twitter.com/eeIRJV7OtC
— Alan Kornspan (@careersinsports) June 11, 2023
Top Performers
Ontario
Peyton Dzugan: 2-3 L 6 IP 6 H 3 BB 2 K 4 ER
Carter Walters: 1-2 2 RBI SB
Gage Weaver: 1-1 R RBI
Colten Ramion: 1-3 R
Kenston
Nikko Georgiou: 1-3 RBI R W 7 IP 6 H 1 BB 7 K 2 ER
Tommy Pecoraro: 2-2 R SB
Bridger Bischof: 1-2 2B RBI R 2 SB
L.A. Mighton: 1-3 3B R
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | R | H | E | |
| Ontario | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| Kenston | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | X | 4 | 6 | 0 |
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