(6-6-22) For Russia (24-6) they had been waiting for a year to play this game. Last season in the Regional final they lost to Ft. Loramie (25-7) 7-1…on Friday it paid off with a 7-1 win over the Redskins and a trip to the D IV State Final Four baseball championship in Canton.

Russia coach Kevin Phlipot after the win told Press Pros Magazine –

“We waited all year for this game. We played all year for this game. We knew it could have been taken away at any point. But this game was the focus of our season and our mindset. And we said today, ‘If you don’t believe that, you don’t belong in our dugout.’ And we believed.”

The Raiders Junior pitcher Xavier Phlipot pitched a complete-game seven hitter, striking out three and walking just one to pick up the win. His defense supplied him with four double-plays.

The Raiders had just five hits but benefitted from six Ft. Loramie errors to pick up the win.

Russia returns to the Final Four for the first time since since 2017.

Newark Catholic is heading to their first state tournament since 2016 after they beat Hiland 3-2 in the Regional championship at Beavers Field..

,Newark Catholic coach John Cannizzaro after the win told the Newark Advocate about the close win –

“Going into this game, we might have been a little tighter than yesterday. They knew what was at stake. I told them about the tradition — I probably shouldn’t have — of what we’ve had with Hiland. I basically told them every game’s been a one-run differential just like today. There is really no better way to win a game.”

WKLM-FM You Tube Video

Division IV

  • Russia (23-6) vs. No. 4 Newark Catholic (24-6), Thurs., 10 a.m.
  • Tiffin Calvert (18-12) vs. No. 3 Lincolnview (23-6), Thurs., 1 p.m.

Division IV State Championship Game: Sat., June 11 at 10 a.m.

Did you know…

In 1971 Russia won the OHSAA Class A State Baseball Championship, 51 years later they hope to add #2.

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