The Berlin Hiland Hawks (30-1) came out of the gate hot en route to a 14-4 victory over Russia (26-7) in the Division IV State Championship. The Hawks got contributions from every part of their lineup, including a three-hit, three RBI performance from senior Nolan Yoder as Hiland claimed their second state championship in school history.
Hiland Starts Hot
Photo by Al Kornspan
Hiland, the number one team in the final Division IV OHSBCA poll, wasted no time making their mark on the championship game. Leading off the first, Alec Weaver reached first on an error and would find himself on third after a steal and a wild pitch. With nobody out, Cody Yoder singled to right, scoring Weaver and putting the Hawks up 1-0.
With one out in the third, Cody Yoder came through again, this time hitting a single back up the middle. Up came Nolan Yoder, who tripled down the right field line, scoring Cody Yoder and pushing the Hawks lead to 2-0. Not done yet, Colin Coblentz took the first pitch he saw down the left field line, increasing the Hiland lead to 3-0.
In the top of the fourth, Grady Monigold led things off with a single to center field. After a sacrifice bunt and groundout moved him up to third, Weaver hit a high fly ball to second that was dropped, allowing Monigold to score and make it 4-0.
Raiders Tie It Up, Hawks Pull Away
Photo by Al Kornspan
Facing a 4-0 deficit, the Russia offense came alive in the bottom of the fourth. With runners on second and third with one out, Xavier Phlipot drew a walk and ball four sailed by the catcher, allowing Ross Fiessinger to score and put the Raiders on the board. Zane Shappie followed it up with an infield single that scored Cooper Unverferth to make it 4-2 Hiland. The bats stayed hot as Braylon Cordonnier doubled to right and score Phlipot, and Brady Monnin hit a single to score Shappie and tie things up at 4-4 after four innings.
As soon as Russia got back in the game, the Hawks’ offense exploded. Leading off the fifth, Nolan Yoder doubled to right center and Coblentz followed it up with a single, advancing to second on the throw. Up came Isaak Yoder, who doubled to center, scoring Nolan Yoder and Coblentz to make it 6-4 Hiland. Brady Yoder kept the inning rolling with a single to right and after a walk to Connor Beachy, the Hawks had the bases loaded with two outs.
Photo by Al Kornspan
Weaver was then hit by a pitch, scoring Isaak Yoder, and Cody Yoder hit an infield single, scoring Brady Yoder to make it 8-4 Hiland. Coming up clutch yet again, Nolan Yoder hit a single to left to bring home Weaver and Beachy to extend the lead to 10-4.
The Hawks’ bats stayed hot in the sixth, as Isaak Yoder led off the inning with a single. With two outs, Braden Kaufman singled to right center to score Yoder and extend the lead. Beachy followed that up with a single to right field and an error on the outfielder allowed runners to move up to second and third. Weaver reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Kaufman and, on a steal attempt of second, the ball sailed into the outfield allowing Beachy to score, making it 13-4 Hiland.
Finishing Touches
Photo by Al Kornspan
Hiland would strike for one more in the seventh after a bases-loaded wild pitch allowed Nolan Yoder to score his third run of the game. With the Hawks just three outs away from a state championship, Isaak Yoder got three straight strikeouts to end it, giving Hiland a 14-4 victory and the second state championship in school history, the first coming in 2016.
@HilandBaseball Wins OHSAA Division 4 State Championship.@NEOSportsInside pic.twitter.com/EjPiZOu2zb
— Alan Kornspan (@careersinsports) June 10, 2023
Top Performers
Berlin Hiland
Nolan Yoder: 3-5 2B 3B 3 RBI 3 R
Isaak Yoder: 2-5 2B 2 RBI 2 R SB W 3.2 IP 3 H 2 BB 8 K 1 ER
Cody Yoder: 3-5 2 RBI R SB
Alec Weaver: 0-4 2 RBI 2 R 2 SB
Russia
Zane Shappie: 1-3 RBI R BB
Braylon Cordonnier: 1-2 RBI 3 IP 6 H 0 BB 2 K 2 ER
Brayden Monnin: 1-3 RBI BB
Xavier Phlipot: 0-2 R 2 BB
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | R | H | E | |
| Hiland | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 15 | 1 |
| Russia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
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