Despite only getting six hits in the game, the Ontario Warriors (17-14) made the most of their opportunities, squeaking past the Blue Lions (26-2) to advance to their first championship game since 1994. The Warriors got a four-inning, two-hit performance from starting pitcher Carter Weaver and a three-inning save from Carter Walters to seal the victory.
Pitcher’s Duel Early
Photo by Al Kornspan
Gage Weaver hit a two-out single up the middle but that would be the lone hit for the Warriors through the first three innings of play, as Lions starter Tanner Lemaster was locked in early. In the top of the third, the Warriors mounted their first threat of the game after Colten Ramion walked and then stole second with two outs. Jayden Leach hit a blooper to center that may have been good enough to score Ramion, but AJ Dallmayer made a diving catch to stop Ontario in their tracks.
Photo by Al Kornspan
The Lions would mount a threat of their own in the bottom half of the third after John
Wall was walked, Titus Lotz was hit by a pitch, and Dallmayer drew a walk to load the bases with two outs. Facing the toughest situation of the game so far, Carter Weaver got a pop-up to the shortstop to get out of the jam.
Teams Trade Punches
Photo by Al Kornspan
A scoreless game through three innings, the Warriors would finally crack through on the scoreboard in the fourth. Gage Weaver started off the top half of the inning with a single down the left-field line and stole second base right away. After a sacrifice bunt from Carter Weaver moved him to third, Gage would come around to score on a single from Braxton Hall to put Ontario up 1-0.
Trailing for the first time all game, Washington Court House answered the call in the bottom of the fourth. Bryce Yeazel drew a one-out walk and an error on a sacrifice bunt gave the Lions runners on second and third with one out. A Will Miller single to center scored Yeazel to tie things at 1-1. The Lions were primed to score another run on a single by Wall, but centerfielder Peyton Dzugan threw an absolute laser to the plate to get Miller at the plate and keep things tied after four.
Dzugan led off the top of the fifth, followed up by singles from Ramion and Gage Weaver loaded the bases for Ontario with one out. Carter Weaver would drive in Dzugan on a throwing error to give the Warriors a 2-1 lead.
Walters Slams Door Shut
Upon moving over from first base to pitcher in the fifth, Carter Walters shut down any comeback hopes that Washington Court House had left. In the final three innings, Walters allowed just one hit to seal Ontario’s 2-1 victory and send them back to the title game for the first time since 1994.
Championship Game Set
Photo by Al Kornspan
With the victory, the Warriors have a chance to win just the second baseball championship in school history (1994). Ontario will face a tough test in Chagrin Falls Kenston (2013) who advanced with a 4-2 win over Chaminade Julienne. The first pitch is scheduled for 4 pm Saturday at Canal Park in Akron.
Top Performers
Ontario
Carter Weaver: 4 IP 2 H 4 BB 5 K 1 ER W 0-2 RBI BB
Gage Weaver: 3-4 R SB
Carter Walters: 3 IP 1 H 0 BB 0 ER SV
Colten Ramion: 1-3 R BB
Washington Court House
Tanner Lemaster: 4.1 IP 6 H 2 BB 4 K 2 ER 0-3
AJ Dallmayer: 2.2 IP 0 H 2 BB 3 K 0 ER 0-2 BB
John Wall: 2-2 2 BB SB
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | R | H | E | |
| Ontario | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 2 |
| Washington Court House | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
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