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(6-3-17) – (Huntington Park – Columbus)  In a dramatic ending  Minster beat Russia 2-1 in the OHSAA D IV ‘Backyard Battle’ State Baseball Championship.

Minster’s John Niemeyer hit a 2-out opposite field single to score Jared Huelsman from second in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs to secure the state title for the Wildcats.

The other scoring in the game would come early for Russia,  in the top of 2nd inning, when yesterday’s star in the Dalton win, Evan Monnier would single and score Hunter Cohee for the 1-0 lead. It was the first time during the playoffs Minster would trail in a game.

Minster would even the score in the bottom of the 4th inning when Adam Knapke would single in Bryce Schmiesing,  Knapke’s hit would break up Russia’s Daniel Kearns’ no-hitter.

The Raiders out hit the Wildcats 5-4, Minster also had an error.

Jack Heitbrink picks up the complete game win for Minster, giving up the just one earned run, walking 1 and striking out 5. Russia’s Jack Dapore picks up the loss in relief, giving up 2 hits and striking out 2 in 1.2 innings, starter Daniel Kearns went 5 innings, walking 3, hitting two batters, with no strikeouts on the day,  both gave up an earned run.

With the win Minster ends the season with a 25-7 record and Russia finished the year at 24-7.

The win gives the Wildcats their third (2012 and 2011) OHSAA state D IV baseball title.

The Walk-Off Winner by John Niemeyer

2017 D IV BOX SCORE - 6-3-17
2017 D IV BOX SCORE – 6-3-17

A Twitter Look At The D IV ‘Backyard Battle’ State Baseball Championships

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