Posted by Bryan Fair for the Beacon Journal 

The Tallmadge Blue Devils defeated the Archbishop Hoban Knights 4-3 in 10 innings in a Akron Division II district semifinal on Thursday at Summit Lake Park.

 Tallmadge scored the winning run on an error in the bottom of the 10th inning to advance to a district final against Walsh Jesuit, which beat Field 2-1 in the other semifinal.

 The first two Blue Devils were retired in the 10th before back-to-back singles from juniors Jon Campriana and Ryan Mace set up the game-winning play.  Campriana dove across home plate to seal the victory after the misplayed ground ball.

Mace pitched nine innings, allowing three unearned runs on five hits, while striking out 15.  His brother, Nate, picked up the win in relief.

Ryan Mace also had three singles and an RBI at the plate.

Hoban junior starter Kyle McMillen, who struck out nine, settled in after a rough three-run first inning.  He retired 13 Blue Devils in a row between the second and sixth innings and left the game after the seventh with the score tied at 3.

Tallmadge and Walsh Jesuit meet in the district championship at 5 p.m. today at Summit Lake.

Posted by Michael Beaven for the Beacon Journal

The Walsh Jesuit baseball team is ranked No. 1 in the final Division II Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association poll.

The Warriors, who have won Division II state championships in 1999, 2004 and 2006, have never won the poll heading into the state tournament until now.

Walsh has been led this season by seniors Dan Sherwood, Taylor Hoisington, Josh Raggi and Matt Bigach under the direction of coach Chris Kaczmar. Junior Ross Brunello and sophomore James Toland have also been key contributors for the Warriors.

Walsh plays Field Thursday in a district semifinal game at Summit Lake Park’s George Sisler Field. Archbishop Hoban and Tallmadge play in the other semifinal game. 

The district final game is Friday.

Posted by Michael Beaven for the Beacon Journal 

The Wadsworth boys and girls track and field teams won the Suburban League meet Saturday at Green. Each squad scored 163 points to win.

Copley, Green and Highland rounded out the top four on the boys side. Green, Cloverleaf and Tallmadge rounded out the top four on the girls side.  

The Wadsworth girls team won in dominating fashion, winning 11 of the 17 events contested. Sophomore sprinter Jessica Grant won the 100 meters in 12.13 seconds and the 200 in 25.01. Grant was also on two relays which placed first, the 400 relay and 800 relay.

The Grizzlies won all four relays; the 400 (Grant, Amanda Pallija, Jaimie Grindle, Annie Grindle), the 800 (Grant, Brittani Peltz, J. Grindle, A. Grindle), the 1,600 (Jenny Harsh, Elana Cole, J. Grindle, Peltz) and the 3,200 (Harsh, Nicole Cargill, Cole, Kristen Havens).

Other Wadsworth girls first places came in the: 400 (Peltz), 800 (Harsh), high jump (J. Grindle), shot put (Holly Gospodinsky) and long jump (Jennifer Thomas).

Green was second behind first place finishes from Carolyn Payne (1,600 and 3,200) and Kelsie Ahbe (pole vault). Cloverleaf’s Cassy Maxwell won the discus and Highland’s Brooke Hutchings won the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles.

The Wadsworth boys team won eight events, with junior Sean Kemmerer winning the 110 hurdles and the high jump. Other individual Grizzlies champions were: Aarick Jones (100), Anthony Schrock (300 hurdles), Austin Healey (shot put), Darnell Davis (long jump) and Kenny Owens (pole vault).

The Grizzlies 3,200 relay (Jon Tomko, Nick Burton, Dan Houston and Chris Glockner) also won.

Copley was second behind individual first place finishes from Jeff Brauning (200), Kerrington Smith (400), Chris Fallon (800 and 1,600). The 400 relay team (Terry Foster, Darius Evans, Brauning, Johnnie Legrair) and the 800 relay unit (Evans, Brauning, A.C. Samson-Akpan, Legrair) also won. 

Green’s Brian Dudek won the 3,200.