(6-7-21) The D IV State Baseball semifinal on Friday finds Warren John F. Kennedy (JFK) playing in their first ever State Finals, while Ft. Loramie will be making their 7th trip since 1985, their last trip was in 2018 when they beat Hicksville for the D IV State Title 8-4.

Both teams made it to the Final 4 thanks to a reliever who entered the game very early and finished it out for a Regional title win in impressive form.

Warren JFK is headed to the OHSAA Baseball D IV state semifinals after the Eagles beat Tiffin Calvert 7-2 in the Strongsville Regional final.

Cam Hollobaugh led the way with a 1st inning home run, 2 RBIs and 2 runs. Freshman Caleb Hadley went 2-for-3. Aidan Rossi, Alex DeSalvo and Gavin Schrum each had a RBI.

Tiffin Calvert Coach Matt Coleman told the Advertiser-Tribune –

“We thought we had him (Hollobaugh) struck out. He is a stud and a great player. He just took a pitch the other way after a great at-bat. You just tip your cap to a good hitter like that.”

One of the turning points of the game was when (Gavin) Shrum came in to relieve starting pitcher Jaden Rishel after 2 1/3 innings. Shrum would pitche 4 2/3 innings of relief, allowing no runs, no hits, one walk and struck out four.

Ft. Loramie won their seventh regional title since 1985, 7-1, over Shelby County Athletic League (SCAL) rival Russia to advance to the State Final 4 in Akron.

Derek Meyer (LHP-Jr) pitched 5.1 innings of no-run, two-hit baseball and striking out 3 after replacing SCAL Player of the Year starter Mack Fortman in the 2nd inning.

Ft. Loramie Coach Jeff Sanders told pressprosmagazine.com –

“Derek did what Derek does,. All kinds of looks, all kinds of arm angles…and I just wasn’t comfortable with what I saw from Mack (Fortman) and the kinds of swings they were getting. I didn’t see it getting any better, and I made the move. No disrespect to Mack because he’s been wonderful all year. There’s a reason why he’s the league player of the year. But the change of pace and that contrast with Derek today was a difference in the game. He’s bulldog, and once he got the momentum and the lead he wasn’t going to let go.”

Small ball offense was the key component for the Redskin offense, including three suicide squeeze bunts to score runs.

The winner will face the winner of Valley-Lincolnview game on Saturday afternoon.

Division IV State Semifinal Schedule

  • Lucasville Valley (20-11) vs. Lincolnview (23-8), Friday, 10 a.m.
  • Warren John F. Kennedy (19-6) vs. Fort Loramie (27-3), Friday, 1 p.m.

RELATED:

Lincolnview and Valley Have Waited A Long Time To Return To State Finals

Advertisement