Lions Pounce on Falcons 6-4 to Advance to Regional Championship

Photo by Al Kornspan

Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin (18-11) made the most out of a few costly Falcon mistakes to take down Field (23-8) 6-4 in Thursday’s regional semifinal in Canton. The Lions used three different pitchers to get the job done, with junior Sam Huffman picking up the win in a 4 ⅓ inning, six-strikeout performance. 

Offenses Shine Early

After staving off a slight threat from Field in the top of the first, NDCL wasted no time getting on the board. The Lions would strike for three early runs in the home half of the first. Phil Davidson, Gianni Spetic, and Nick Deitrich would all hit singles and come around to score, putting NDCL up 3-0 after one.

Instead of being shocked, the Falcons answered right back with a big inning of their own. Caden Kolesar led off the inning with a single and would score on a wild pitch to make it 3-1 Lions. Logan Lonzrick, who drew a walk, scored on a single from Garit Greene. A bunt single from Braxton Baumberger and an RBI sac-fly from Kayden Smith scored Garit and his brother Gavin to give Field a 4-3 lead after two innings. 

Mistakes Prove Costly for Field

After going quietly in the second, NDCL capitalized on a Falcon mistake in the third. After hitting a one-out single, Spetic would come around to score once again, this time on an error to tie things up at 4-4. The Lions would get two more runs in the fourth, thanks to a wild pitch and another error, giving NDCL a 6-4 lead heading into the fifth.

The Field offense would find some life in the top of the seventh. Caleb Gartner hit a one-out single and Grady Eader followed that up by drawing a walk. That’s when the Lions went to the bullpen for the second time in the game, this time bringing in Gianni Spetic from right field. Spetic got a flyout to first on his very first pitch and, five pitches later, forced a groundout to second to end the game and pick up the save.

#RoadToAkron

The win sends Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin back to the regional finals for the first time since 2014, where they will square off with the Kenston Bombers (18-12). The Bombers advanced to the regional final with a 4-2 win over Gilmour Academy. The first pitch is scheduled for 5 pm at Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium in Canton. 

Top Performers

Field

Braxton Baumberger: 3-4 RBI     3 IP 2 H 3 BB 1 ER

Caden Kolesar: 2-4 R

Garit Greene: 1-4 RBI R

Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin

Gianni Spetic: 2-3 2 R     ⅔ IP Save

Phil Davidson: 1-3 2 R 2 SB

Sam Huffman: 4 ⅓ IP 3 H 3 BB 6 K 0 ER W

 

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	R	H	E
Field	0	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	8	2
NDCL	3	0	1	2	0	0	X	6	7	0

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