Kovach’s catch seals victory for Firelands

With two outs, runners on second and third and a trip to the district semifinal on the line, Firelands’ catcher Nathan Kovach made the play of the game to secure the Falcons’ 2-1 sectional

final win over Bay May 9.

At the plate for the Rockets was Connor Shell who hit a towering foul ball near the Bay dugout before Kovach made a play for the ball, falling as he made the catch and watching the ball pop out of his glove before hanging on for the out.

“I still can’t believe I managed to catch that,” Kovach said. “It was the craziest play of my life.

“I wasn’t really expecting to get it, either. I figured the first baseman would come up and get it . ... I was so shocked.”

Bay’s Kevin Linder, thinking Kovach dropped the ball, came charging into home, and for a split second it seemed both sides thought the Rockets tied the game before realization hit and Firelands erupted into celebration.

“I don’t even know how the

hell he did that,” Firelands coach Dan Ransom said with a laugh. “However we got it done, the end result is what matters.”

To no one’s surprise, Firelands ace Trevor Damron put on yet another impressive performance on the mound, throwing a complete-game one-hitter with 15 strikeouts, but the outing was bittersweet for Damron who had just attended his grandmother’s funeral earlier that day.

“It was tough for sure,” Damron said. “The game was for her, honestly. I had a pretty emotional day, so it was good to get a close game like that and it was definitely a fun one. You can’t write that. It just happened. It’s exciting.”

Damron said he’s not quite used to going the distance, though, and at 117 pitches, Ransom said no matter what, that would’ve been the last batter he faced — it just so happens he came through and got the out.

“I was a little raggedy today but I’m happy with the outcome,” Damron said. “I got ice in the veins. That’s what everybody says, I can walk everybody around but when I need to get an out, I definitely get the out.”

Kovach went 3-for-3 with an RBI while Alex Brill had two hits, Clayton Lucki had a double and Calvin Stull had a hit and an RBI for the Falcons.

Jack Lee had Bay’s (1010) lone hit — a bunt-single in the fourth inning — and the Rockets stranded six runners.

Firelands (13-7) advances to face No. 8 Buckeye in a district semifinal at Cuyahoga Community College West on May 15.