Redskins fall in state semifinal

AKRON — The long journey came to an end, one step shy.

Fort Loramie couldn’t quite find enough offense as they lost to John F. Kennedy 3-2 in the Division IV state semifinals on Saturday afternoon at Akron’s Canal Park.

The Redskins finish the season at 27-4. This was their fist loss since a 2-1 defeat to Anna, with the others coming at the very start of the season.

The contest was scoreless through 2 1/2 innings. The Eagles (20-6) then got to starter Caeleb Meyer for three runs.

Fort Loramie brought in Derek Meyer, who kept JFK in check after that. The Redskins got a run in the fourth, and then got one in the seventh but were not able to come up with another.

Manager Jeff Sanders said “These kids battled all year.” He added that “we needed to execute better. We got behind on counts. They (JFK) were just better than us today.”

Caeleb Meyer allowed three runs on four hits in his 2 2/3 innings. Derek Meyer allowed just one hit in the 3 1/3 innings of relief. Caeleb struck out two and Derek had three strikeouts.

Cameron Holobaugh tossed a complete game for the Eagles. He allowed four hits and walked two, with seven strikeouts.

Mack Fortman, Derek Meyer, Caeleb Meyer and Owen Pleiman had the hits for Fort Loramie, with Fortman’s and Pleiman’s producing the runs.

Gavin Shrum had two hits and drove in one run for JFK. Caleb Hadley had the big hit, a two-run double.

Hollobaugh struck out the first three Fort Loramie batters of the day in the top of the first. In the bottom half, Meyer got the first two outs. After a ball glanced off the elbow of Shrum, a flyout to right retired the side.

Both sides were shut down in the second as well, though Jaden Rishel of JFK got the game’s first hit.

Hollobaugh added two more strikeouts in the third, plus a soft pop out to shortstop.

In the bottom of the third, the number nine hitter, Santino Ciambotti, led off with a single to left. Alex DeSalvo was then grazed by a pitch.

Michael Condoleon attempted to bunt, but popped it up, with Redskins catcher Darren Hoying able to jump up and snare it for the first out.

Shurm then poked a ball up the middle. it wasn’t hard hit, but it was well placed, as it got through to the outfield, and allowed Ciambotti to score. After a flyout, Hadley drove a pitch into the corner of left field. It landed in fair ground by just a few feet. DeSalvo and Shurm came around to make it a 3-0 lead for the Eagles.

The Redskins then switched to Derek Meyer on the mound, and he got a groundnut to prevent further damage.

Meyer then led off the fourth, and coaxed a walk to become the Redskins’ first baserunner. Jake Sanders reached as Meyer was forced out at second. Sanders then advanced as Hoying grounded out to third.

Fortman belted a ball into right field, which put the Redskins on the board with Sanders. Hollobuagh then got Evan Eilerman to fly out.

After JFK went in order in the bottom of the fourth, Caeleb Meyer reached on an error. A wild pitch moved him to second. JFK got the next two batters on a strikeout and flyout. However, the relay throw after the flyout was off target, and Meyer advanced to third. But the chance would be denied, as Hollobaugh got Trevor Middendorf looking at strike three. JFK then left two runners on the bottom of the fifth.

Derek Meyer beat out an infield hit to short to start off the sixth inning. Elliott Davis went in as a courtesy runner, and was forced out on Sanders’ grounder. A popup and another force play retired the side.

Derek Meyer kept hope alive for the Redskins with a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth.

The first three hitters of the seventh for Fort Loramie — Eilerman, Caeleb Meyer and Grant Albers —

all made contact. All hit the ball to left, but Eilerman’s and Albers’ balls were caught for outs. Devin Raterman kept it going with a walk.

Pinch-hitter Owen Pleiman came through with a single up the middle that scored Meyer, and put the tying run (Raterman) at second.

Derek Meyer then hit a ground ball to Eagles third baseman Condoleon. He gloved it and stepped on third for the force play to clinch the win.

Game Notes

Fort Loramie was well represented by its fan base. They showed their appreciation afterwards as the team headed to its bus.

The game was a fast-moving one, played in just 1 hour and 45 minutes.

JFK faced Lincolnview for the Division IV title on Sunday afternoon with JFK prevailing over the Lancers, 4-0, to become state champs.

Score By Innings

Fort Loramie 000

100 1 — 2 4 0

John F. Kennedy 0 0 3

000 x — 3 5 2

WP — Hollobuagh; LP — C. Meyer.