Chardon vs. Akron Hoban baseball: Hilltoppers rally to win Division II state title
Jun. 12—AKRON — Someone has some rearranging to do in the Chardon High School trophy case.
They need to make room for another state championship trophy.
Powered by a five-run outburst in the sixth inning — the second day in a row the Hilltoppers did that — Chardon defeated defending Division II state champion Akron Hoban, 8-5, on June 11 to record the first baseball state championship in program history.
State championship! @ChardonBaseball pic.twitter.com/TLa7tSlHZs
— News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) June 12, 2022
Chardon third baseman Nolan Kirsh hauled in a one-out liner in the bottom of the seventh inning, then fired across the diamond to double-up a Hoban baserunner at first for the final out of the game. Players and coaches stormed the field and celebrated wildly with the gold trophy they had just won.
PHOTOS: Chardon vs. Akron Hoban baseball, June 11, 2022
That trophy will go right next to the back-to-back gold trophies the Chardon football team won the past two falls.
"To get to this stage, finally win a ring and leave a legacy ... " Coach Brian Long said, still somewhat out of breath from the postgame pandemonium. "We wanted to hang a banner in the gym, hang signs outside of town and most importantly get a ring.
"As we drove down here we were saying how cool it would be to win a ring."
Now the Hilltoppers know.
For the second day in a row, Chardon had to battle back from a fifth-inning deficit. The Hilltoppers also scored five runs in the sixth in a June 10 state semifinal win over Bishop Hartley.
"We were a little down in the dugout. But someone said, 'A comeback makes it more legendary,'" said Chardon athletic director Doug Snyder.
Legendary it was.
BIG knock by Jacob Barker drives in two, @ChardonBaseball leads @HobanAthletics 8-5 in the sixth, pic.twitter.com/1hBQdm3Tmd
— News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) June 12, 2022
Leo Colombi, who had five hits this weekend, singled to start the rally and then moved up when Ethan Faber was hit by a pitch. Will Francis was then hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Hoban pitchers hit eight Chardon batters throughout the game.
Next, Hall singled to score Colombi, whittling Hoban's lead to 5-4.
This single by Christian Hall of @ChardonBaseball cut @HobanAthletics lead to 5-4. pic.twitter.com/Vnp94T9Up5
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Nolan Kirsh, who had previously exited the game in favor of reliever Brandon Fatur, was hit by a pitch to force in Faber to tie the score.
With two outs, Francis scored on a wild pitch. Jacob Barker then ripped a two-run single to left to plate Kirsh and Hall to make it 8-5.
"When we were down two, we knew we were going to have a big inning at some point," Francis said. "As soon as we got that five-run inning, we knew we had it."
Will Francis of @ChardonBaseball Says winning a championship with his teammates tonight was special. pic.twitter.com/0RsLEYP2Vv
— News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) June 12, 2022
Leading, 8-5, going to the bottom of the sixth, Chardon brought Hall back to the mound. He started the game, but failed to get out of the second inning when Hoban took a 4-2 lead.
Hall responded by getting the save in the game he started.
While he gave up a single in the bottom of the seventh, the liner to Kirsh and double-up at first got him out of the jam — and won the game.
Christian Hall of @ChardonBaseball Holds back some tears after he and his teammates won a baseball state championship tonight. pic.twitter.com/12mMOquJVK
— News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) June 12, 2022
"No. Not at all," Hall said when asked if he imagined he'd get to pitch again after being removed in the third. "I didn't expect to go back in. I had to come in and throw strikes and get the last six outs."
He said the last play was bang-bang, but took forever.
"When I saw it off the bat, I thought it was getting down," Hall said. "As soon as I saw him dive to the ball, I was like, 'Oh, we've got him.' (The throw to Barker) was like 2 miles per hour."
Chardon outhit the defending champions, 10-7. The Hilltoppers committed four errors, but turned two double-plays to get out of jams.
Kyle Maronde of @ChardonBaseball discusses the special nature of winning a state championship in baseball tonight. pic.twitter.com/1IFrnXv3JF
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Barker, Colombi and Kyle Maronde each had a pair of hits.
"It's amazing. This is what we've been looking for all year," Maronde said. "It's great to play Hoban. I love public beating private. I'm glad we were able to do it here."
Clutching the state championship trophy in his arms, Long smiled.
"This is the king right here," he said, tapping the trophy.
The @ChardonBaseball Hilltoppers get their state championship awards. pic.twitter.com/g3LD15pBxM
— News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) June 12, 2022
The @ChardonBaseball Receive their state championship trophy. pic.twitter.com/IZuYDFjXC6
— News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) June 12, 2022
