By Dylan Hefflinger

 

COLUMBUS- A battle of top 15 teams resulted in a thrilling 6-4 victory for No. 13 Cuyahoga Heights over No. 15 Berlin Hiland.

 

Cuyahoga Heights jumped on top early in the top of the 1^st scoring three runs with two outs. Troy Janashak ripped a single to left and was followed up by Andrew Tesler's single to put runners at first and second. Austin Lane blasted a long fly to left for a three run bomb to put the Redskins up 3-0.

 

Berlin Hiland answered with two in the bottom half of the frame. With one out Luke Burch laced a line drive single to left, and moved up to second on a wild pitch. After a fly out first baseman Dylan Kaufman ripped an RBI single up the middle scoring Burch. Kaufman moved to second on a stolen base, and scored on an RBI single up the middle by catcher Jeremy Schlabach to cut the deficit to 3-2.

 

The Hawks tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the second. Todd Ropp got it started with a one-out single to left, moving up to second on a walk to second baseman Richie Mast. After a strikeout Burch roped a single to left that Ropp scored on, due to a misplay in left.

 

Score would remain at 3-3 until the 6^th when Cuyahoga Heights jumped back on top with Ryan Rosenlieb scoring after reaching via the walk to start the inning.

 

With the Redskins up 4-3 Lane provided a little insurance blasting his second home run on the night. This blast went off the foul pole in left field to plate two and put Cuyahoga Heights up 6-3.

 

The Hawks rallied to scored one in the bottom of the 7^th. Grant Troyer laced a double down the line in right and scored on an RBI single by BJ Miller.

 

Berlin Hiland finished the season with a 26-6 record.

 

Cuyahoga Heights moves on to face No. 6 Minster who put a drubbing on No. 2 Tinora 12-2. The Division IV state championship will start at 7 p.m.