By Will Swary

COLUMBUS- A terrific season for the No. 6 Minster baseball team continued Friday and one ended for the No. 2 Tinora team as Minster used their explosive offense to eliminate Tinora 12-2 in the Division IV state semi-final.

 

Already up 1-0 after an inning of play, Minster exploded in the 2nd inning for five runs off Tinora starter Tyler McKenney. The rally got started with one out when a single by Ethan Wolf was followed by an RBI double by Rob Wente, which was then followed by an RBI triple by Drew Elson. Another single by Jay Eilerman plated Elson before a double by Adam Niemeyer would move Elson to third and both players would come home on a 2 RBI single by Devon Peoppelman to complete the five run inning.

 

The six run padding was enough for Minster starting pitcher Doug Huber to settle down and attack the hitters. Huber went right after a tough Tinora lineup striking out seven batters in the first four innings.

 

Huber would help himself out in the 4th when he stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and one out and delivered an RBI single to right field. His single was followed by another RBI single by Ryan Hoying. Minster would also get a SAC fly by Ethan Wolf before the inning was over for a total of three runs in the 4th making it 9-0 after four innings.

 

Tinora would finally get on the board in the 5th when Minster centerfielder Jay Eilerman mishandled a ball of the bat of sophomore Derek Drewes that allowed senior Austin Farrington to come home after reaching on a walk.

 

Minster answered that run though in the top of the 6th after a leadoff double by Peoppelman, who would move to third on a single by Huber and then came home on a SAC fly by Wolf for Minster’s tenth run of the game.

 

The Wildcats would add two more in the 7th for good measure on RBI singles by Niemeyer and Peoppelman to walk away with a 12-2 victory. For the game Devon Peoppelman finished 3-3 with 4 RBI in leading Minster’s offensive charge.

 

Tinora unsigned senior Tyler McKenney ends his season taking his first loss of the year. The fine prospect moved to 10-1 on the season. Doug Huber moved to 6-2 with the win and his Minster Wildcats move themselves in to the State finals on Saturday, where they’ll play No.13 Cuyahoga Heights at 7:00 for the state championship.