Orange comes up short in final to state power Moeller
Saturday, June 10, 2023
By Michael Rich
mrich@cbussports.com
Olentangy Orange senior pitcher Jacob Tabor leaves the mound for the final time and gets a hug from head coach Tom Marker during the Pioneers’ 4-1 loss to Cincinnati Moeller in the Division I state championship game June 10 in Akron. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Getting to the state championship game is difficult. But winning it is a whole other beast.
The Olentangy Orange baseball team, who reached the program’s first state final, couldn’t overcome an opportunistic Cincinnati Moeller team and fell 4-1 in Division I play on June 10 at Canal Park in Akron.
“After the year we had last year – getting knocked out in the district semis – playing in the state final means a lot to us and how we responded,” senior first baseman Diego Astacio said. “Losing sucks – especially in the playoffs. But if you put it into perspective, we’re the first team from our school to be here. Against the No. 1 team in the state, we battled. We punched back a couple of times.”
The Crusaders won their ninth state championship, tying Newark Catholic for second all-time, trailing only Cincinnati Elder, which has 13. It was their first since 2015.
Moeller (31-3) finished the year with wins in each of their last 16 games and 26 of its last 27.
The Crusaders scored runs in the first and third that were each set up by errors.
CJ Richard reached on an error by shortstop Charlie Scholvin in the first inning and scored later on an errant throw to third by Astacio.
Olentangy’s Orange third baseman Keegan Knupp celebrates his defensive play during the Pioneers’ state championship game with Cincinnati Moeller June 10 at Akron’s Canal Park. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Toby Hueber, who reached on a fielder’s choice in the third, stole third and scored for Moeller when catcher Casey Covert’s throw went wide left.
Astacio and Tyler Fuller each singled to start the fourth inning for the Pioneers. Keegan Knupp drove home Astacio for Orange’s only run on a slow bouncer to short.
“Obviously, we didn’t play a clean game,” Orange coach Tom Marker said. “(Moeller) will make you pay. The run in the first put us on our heels, but I thought we responded. We had opportunities. They’re aggressive on the bases and then they have guys that can hit.”
Richard, Hueber and Connor Christenson each finished with two hits to lead Moeller. Richard and Hueber each had two stolen bases and Hueber scored two runs and had the game’s only extra base hit on a double in the fifth inning.
“Those two guys (Richard and Hueber) on base stealing bases and forcing the action,” Moeller coach Tim Held said. “Orange didn’t handle a couple of balls and we turned them into runs. That’s all a piece of it. That’s how we want to play.”
Zion Theophilus, a sophomore who is committed to Louisiana State, went the distance for the Crusaders, allowing an earned run on six hits and a walk with seven strikeouts.
Moeller’s Toby Hueber tags Orange’s Jacob Lattig out at second base during the Crusaders’ 4-1 win in the Division I state championship game June 10 in Akron. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Theophilus, who threw just 88 pitches, including 60 for strikes in the state final game, also pitched against the Pioneers in an 8-2 Moeller victory on April 22.
“There’s no secret,” he said. “When you have a great team like I do and I believe in myself, you can do anything. I think I mixed my pitches very well and played my offspeed stuff off my fastball. I think I executed very well – they got a few hits here and there.”
Jacob Tabor also went the distance, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits, a walk and a hit batter. He struck out three while throwing 63 of his 97 pitches for strikes for the Pioneers, who reached the state tournament for the second time, losing in a state semifinal in 2017.
“It hurts,” Tabor said. “I knew coming into the game they were going to hit me a little bit. They just beat us. They’re a good team and I tip my cap to them.”