Hartley makes state for 1st time since 1996
Called on to start his first game of the postseason, Hartley senior pitcher Dimitri Boumis looked more than ready in the Hawks' Division II regional final against Steubenville.
Boumis struck out seven and walked none while giving up four hits during a 5-0 complete-game victory over the Big Red, leading Hartley to its first state tournament appearance since it won the Division IV title in 1996.
The Hawks, who improved to 19-9 while Steubenville finished 17-12, will play Chardon in a state semifinal at 7 p.m. Friday in Akron. It will be the Hilltoppers' first state appearance since 1950.
“It was my first time actually biggame throwing so I just wanted to go out there and throw strikes, fill up the zone and let my defense play for me,” Boumis said. “The fastball and slider were working very well. I was getting them second-guessing on the slider and was painting the outside.”
With Alex Blain on third base and Boumis at first in the top of the first, Boumis stole second and Blain came in to score on a delayed double steal for the game's first run.
In the second, Warren Markwood reached on a one-out infield single, stole second and moved to third on an error. Dushaun Tucker then hit a deep fly that the left fielder couldn't handle, scoring Markwood.
“I'm assuming he didn't really see it (because of the sun), but I just know it fell in, and that's all we really needed,” Tucker said.
Hartley made it 3-0 when Emmett Gillies singled, moved to second on a single by Blain and scored on a single by Boumis.
Tucker singled in the sixth, stole second, moved to third on a single by Alex Ramicone and scored on a sacrifice fly by Gillies.
Brendan Laret added an RBI single in the seventh.
Hamilton Badin 11, Buckeye Valley 1
Badin was seeking its 14th state tournament appearance and Buckeye Valley was hoping for its first when the teams met in a Division II regional final at Mason.
The Barons will have to wait. Badin scored four runs in the third inning and five in the fourth before Diego Decello tripled to drive in Cooper Fiehrer from first base with the sixthinning run that produced a mercy-rule win.
Before a crowd that included Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame outfielder George Foster, the Rams won their second regional title in a row.
“It never gets old,” said Badin coach Brion Treadway.
Rodney Rachel's homer, Decello's and Lucas Moore's triple, Jimmy Nugent's double and three hits by No. 9 hitter Brycen Fox allowed Badin to take full advantage of nine walks and two hitby-pitches. Moore drove in three runs and Fox scored twice.
Badin plays in a state semifinal Friday.
Buckeye Valley finished 20-6. —Mark Schmetzer, Cincinnati Enquirer sports@thisweeknews.com @Thisweeksports