AKRON, Ohio — You might call this a David vs. Goliath matchup: the defending state champions against a team that has never even played for a title.
That's exactly what we will get Saturday night in Akron, as Archbishop Hoban will take on Chardon in the OHSAA Division II baseball finals. It will be a virtual home game for the Knights, who are searching for their second consecutive state title after taking their first just last year.
Hoban (23-9) mostly breezed through the North Ridgeville district and regionals before earning a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over Father Badin in Friday's semifinals. The Knights were down 2-0 in the first inning before taking the lead on Parker Falkenstein's two-run single in the third, and Caleb Kepler held off a late Rams rally with 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief.
Chardon (23-9) won its first five tournament games by a combined score of 41-13 to reach the state semis for the first time since 1950, and appeared to be on the verge of another blowout tonight after four errors by Bishop Hartley gave the team a 6-1 lead in the sixth. However, the Hawks fought back with four of their own in the bottom of the inning to cut the deficit to one, but Nolan Kirsch left the tying run stranded before pitching a 1-2-3 seventh to send the Hilltoppers to the finals.
This will be the second game in Saturday's championship quadrupleheader to feature only Northeast Ohio teams, as Milan Edison and Waynedale will also face off for the D-III title. First pitch in the D-II showdown is set for 7 p.m.
