Watch Hoban live in a Division II baseball semi-final

Archbishop Hoban’s baseball team defeated Vermilion 4-3 tonight in a Division II semi-final at Canal Park, leaving the Knights with a win ahead of their first national championship in baseball.

Hoban is back at the state baseball tournament for the fifth time in program history, having finished second in 1993 and 2011, and second in 1987 and 2013.

More:High School Baseball: Hoban is gearing up for a state tournament, with a lot of freshman influence

The Knights have won 15 games in a row, improving to 23-9. Vermilion finished its season at 26-7.

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Hoban leads 4-3 through five innings

Freshman Parker Falkenstein delivered an RBI single in the lower part of the fifth inning to meet senior Dylan Feltovich and give Hoban a 4-3 lead.

Vermilion even pulls 3: 3 in the top of the fifth inning

Vermilion even drew 3-3 in the top of the fifth inning after four battering in a row reached base.

Mason Shultz and Jack Wells each hit a single and Jacob Krausher went to load the bases. Ethan Hendrickson followed with a single that Shultz scored.

Carter Klausing scored in a fly out and then Hoban pitcher Dylan Snyder pitched Ethan Young to force Wells to make it 3-2.

Snyder got out and Knights pitcher Noah LaFine stepped into the game with relief. His first pitch was in the dirt and the Sailers equalized the result 3: 3 when Krausher crossed home plate.

LaFine knocked out Konnor Clark and got Jaden Fox to fly out to end the inning.

Hoban claims 3-0 lead over three innings

Hoban entered the fourth inning 3-0 ahead of Vermilion. Dylan Snyder stays on the hill for Hoban and Jacob Krausher stays on the hill for Vermilion.

Snyder works with bases loaded jam, Hoban retains the 3-0 lead

Vermilion knocked out the bases in the top of the second inning, but Hoban senior pitcher Dylan Snyder worked out of the jam by pulling out a force at home plate and a strikeout.

Hoban takes a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning

Hoban took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, with newcomer Michael Ciavolella, senior Alex Givens and junior Nolan Holmgren each scoring a run.

The big hit of the inning came from Holmgren’s racket when he hit a triple left into midfield that scored Ciavolella and Givens.

Senior Dylan Feltovich followed with a sacrificial fly into the right field, which Holmgren scored.

Hoban’s scheduled starters

• Newcomer Michael Ciavolella – Solid leadoff hitter and left fielder who was a mid-season addition to the college team after the start of the season on the junior college roster. It creates a spark with its stroke and its speed.

• Senior Alex Givens – A reliable leader in second place in strike order with good offensive and defensive skills at third base. He is supposed to play at the University of Findlay.

More:High School Baseball: Hoban Seniors Enjoy “Electric” Run to Division II State Tournament

• Junior Nolan Holmgren – A high quality catcher with a good arm and speed behind the plate. He’s also a dangerous hitter.

• Senior Dylan Feltovich – A John Carroll University recruit in the cleanup spot who is in his sophomore year as a starter. He is generally a designated hitter who also logs innings in the outfield.

• Senior Thomas Crowe – A 6-foot-6 first baseman with a perfect 36 ACT who can hit and play basketball. He was accepted as a student at the University of Notre Dame.

• Freshman Parker Falkenstein – Fast midfielder who continues to make a big impact even as a newcomer.

• Junior Shawn Parnell – A University of Cincinnati baseball recruit who brings athleticism to the shortstop, batter’s box, and pitcher’s mound. He also started as a wide receiver and defensive back on Hoban’s Division II State Championship football team in 2020.

More:High School Baseball: Hoban, Walsh players enjoy the prospect of winning a state championship at Akron

• Junior Caleb Kepler – A talented batsman who tries to play the right field. He also hits.

• Junior Matt Terzola – Confident infielder who plays the second baseman and shortstop.

• Senior Dylan Snyder – Right-Handed is the ace of Hoban’s pitching team. He is supposed to get the ball in Canal Park on Thursday.

Hoban’s other pitchers

Right-handed Noah LaFine, a Vanderbilt recruit, continues to improve as a freshman who is pitcher and closer.

Parnell, Kepler and the seniors Dillon Walsh and Connor Butler are also important throwers for the Knights.

More about the Knights winning streak

Hoban’s 14-game winning streak began with regular season wins over Youngstown Cardinal Mooney, Boardman, Warren Howland, Gates Mills Gilmour Academy, Ellet and Lake before the tournament began. Regular season wins over Northwest and Canton Central Catholic followed after tournament play began.

Hoban’s postseason run began with a section semi-final win over Warrensville Heights (lost) and a section final win over St. Vincent-St. Mary (4-0) at George Sisler Field in Summit Lake Park.

Hoban then won a district title at Revere and a regional championship at Joe Gilhousen Field at Oakwood Middle School in Plain Township. The Knights won a district semi-final 11: 1 against Triway (19: 8), a district final 2: 1 against hosts Revere (22: 8), a regional semi-final 4: 2 against Chagrin Falls (24-7) and a regional final 4-1 over Salem (27-4).

The skipper

Andrew Bonnette is in his third year as a Hoban baseball coach. This is the second season of coaching in games after last season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bonnette is a graduate of Tallmadge High School and Walsh University.

Information about tickets to the OHSAA State Baseball Tournament

Tickets for state tournaments – including Hoban’s game – are available from Akron RubberDucks at: https://www.milb.com/akron/tickets/single-game-tickets

Children under 5 do not need a ticket, and fans can stay for multiple games / sessions on one ticket, but there is no re-entry to the stadium.

Will the Hoban Vermilion game be broadcast live?

For this game and the remainder of the state tournament, paid live video streaming will be offered by the NFHS network. Visit www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/ohsaa/gam170e97a352 for this game.

Live statistics and other information can also be found at www.ohsaa.org/Sports-Tournaments/Baseball/Baseball-2021/2021-Baseball-Tournament-Coverage

Next up for the Hoban Vermillion winner

The Division II state championship will take place on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Canal Park.

Remainder of the OHSAA Baseball State tournament schedule

Here’s a look at the matchups in the other three divisions this weekend:

Department III

Barnesville (24-7) vs. Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (9-8), Friday, 10 a.m.

Canton Central Catholic (23-5) vs. Erzbold (22-11), Friday, 1 p.m.

Championship game, Sunday, 10 a.m.

Department IV

Lucasville Valley (20-11) vs. Van Wert Lincolnview (23-8), Saturday, 10 a.m.

Warren JFK (19-6) vs. Fort Loramie (27-3), Saturday, 1pm

Championship game: Sunday, 4 p.m.

First League

Toledo St. John’s (24-6) vs. Cincinnati Elder (24-8), Saturday, 4pm

New Albany (27-5) vs. Walsh Jesuit (26-3), Saturday, 7pm

Championship game: Sunday, 7 p.m.

Check for live updates while you play.

Follow BeaconJournal.com for news from the state baseball tournament. Michael Beaven can be reached at [email protected]. Follow Beaven on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MBeavenABJ for live updates from the state baseball games.